Mongolia: Food and Nutrition Social Welfare Program and Project (Capacity Development Project)

Health - Health system development - Nutrition

As a consequence of the recent change of government in July 2012, the Ministry of Social Welfare and Labor has been divided into two: (i) Ministry of Population Development and Social Protection (MPDSP), and Ministry of Labor.

Four phases of proxy means test (PMT) implementation have been conducted and full nationwide coverage was achieved in May 2012. Intersectoral database. ADB recommended that the institutional processes and policies put in place for accessing data be maintaine and that the working group be re-established and continues to ensure sustainability of the system. The community-based small grant program to support the vulnerable households' food supply has been very successful. Consultants have completed drafts of reports on (i) nutrition monitoring and early warning systems; (ii) impac evaluations of subsidy for assistance for disabled and elderly for prosthetic devices and social assistance for caregivers; and (iii) a knowledge product titled: "Building Blocks of Social Welfare Reform in Mongolia (2002-2012).

Much has been accomplished over the past months in the distribution of food stamps and implementation of PMT despite the change in the government. The project is on track and has achieved its immediate development objectives.

The project's closing date date was extended to September 2014 train new project staff who will take over the administration of the ensuing loan of $20 million additional financing for Grant 0137 approved on 11 December 2013. The extension will support further activities strengthening the social systems and IT systems for social insurance.

Component 2

2.1. Capacity development tools for national and local stakeholders and institutional strengthening designed and implemented by January 2013.

2.2. A communication strategy to ensure transparent implementation of the food stamp program developed and implemented by December 2013.

Component 3: Strengthening social welfare strategies and systems

3.1. Effective food crisis response by 2013.

3.2. A package of reform of social welfare strategies by July 2013.

3.3 An early warning and response system to respond to social shocks by July 2013.

Component 1: Design and implementation of a targeted food stamp program

1.1 Innovative targeting approaches for food stamps pilot-tested by December 2009.

1.2. A mechanism for delivering food stamps is established by June 2009

Ongoing. Package 5: Institutional Development fielded in Jan 2011.

Ongoing. Package 5: Institutional Development fielded in Jan 2011.

Ongoing.

In progress. International Cosultants fielded in March 2011.

In process.

In process. Package 5 consultants fielded.

Ongoing.

In progress.

Achieved.

Achieved.

Achieved.

Achieved.

Achieved.

Review missions were fielded September 2012 and November 2013. Todate, more than 100,000 people across Mongolia, about 1 person every 20, are receiving food stamps for an average amount of 45,000 MNT per household per month (the amount of Food Stamps varies with the size of the household) . Food stamps are redeemed in specified shops in every soum and khoroo and allow people to purchase basic food items. The social welfare law approved by Parliament in January 2012 clearly refers to food stamps in Article 22 providing the platform for its development and making it an important policy tool. The food stamp program was transferred to the General Social Welfare Office in June 2013 and FSOU consultants continue to provide capacity building and assistance in implementation.

Reports and presentations from the international consulting services. Consultants have completed reports on: (i) food price increases impact assessment; (ii) nutrition monitoring and early disaster warning systems; (iii) food stamp operations and impact assessment; (iv) impact evaluations of (a) subsidy for assistance for disabled and elderly for prosthetic devices; (b) social assistance for caregivers; (c) community based social welfare services and (d) livelihood support activities; (v) fiscal sustainability of social welfare programs; (vi) institutional analysis of the social welfare sector and (vii) a knowledge product titled: _Building Blocks of Social Welfare Reform in Mongolia (2002-2012): a synthesis of achievements, key contributory factors, and challenges ahead_. Findings from all reports were dissemintated at workshops in November 2013.

Program Grant

A team of 7 national consultants, to be headed by a Team Leader will form the FSOU to undertake the setting up activities and coordinate the implementation of the Food Stamp Program. The team will be complemented by intermittent international assistance (4 person-months). The FSOU will be lodged within the PIU and will also provide technical support, coordination, monitoring and supervision of the work of the consultants under Components 2 and 3. A total of 252 person-months of consulting inputs will be provided by these consultants over 3 years. Government will hire the 7 national consultants and the international targeting specialist before start before starting the Program indicatively from October 2008 to prepare for the implementation of Component 1 of the Program (21 person-months national and two person-months international). These consultants wil be hired by Government under the program.

Project Grant

The Project will require a total of 74 person-months of international and 224 person-months of national consulting services financed under the ADB grant. The international and national consultants will have expertise in (i) targeting, (ii) impact analysis, (iii) monitoring and evaluation, (iv) institutional capacity building, (v) social expenditure analysis, (vi) development communication, (vii) community/rural development, (viii) social safety nets, and (ix) civil registration. The consultants will be selected and engaged in accordance with ADB's Guidelines on the Use of Consultants (2007, as amended from time to time). Qualtiy and cost-based selection procedure using a cost quality-ratio of 80:20 will be applied.

All procurement to be financed under the program grant will be carried out in accordance with ADB's Guidelines on Procurement.

In accordance with the simplified disbursement and procurement procedure for program loans, the grant proceeds may be utilized to procure goods and services (excluding local duties and taxes) produced in and procured from ADB's member countries, other than those specified in the list of ineligible items, which will be provided to the Government at a later stage and those financed by other multilateral and bilateral official sources, and imports from non-ADB member countries. All procurements under the program (component 1) will be done through normal commercial practices for the private sector or the Government's prescribed procurement procedures acceptable to ADB, with due consideration given to economy and efficiency.

All procurement to be financed under the project grant will be carried out in accordance with ADB's Guidelines on Procurement. Advance procurement and retroactive financing is being discussed with the Government.