Mongolia : Supporting Knowledge Sharing for Sustainable Partnership Impact

Project Name

Supporting Knowledge Sharing for Sustainable Partnership Impact

Project Number

55247-001

Country / Economy

• Mongolia

Project Status

Closed

Project Type / Modality of Assistance

• Technical Assistance

Source of Funding / Amount

TA 6741-MON: Supporting Knowledge Sharing for Sustainable Partnership Impact

Source	Amount
Technical Assistance Special Fund	US$ 225,000.00

Operational Priorities

• OP6: Strengthening governance and institutional capacity

Sector / Subsector

• Public sector management / Public administration

Gender

No gender elements

Description

The TA will support MNRM to commemorate the partnership anniversary through series of knowledge-sharing events and activities to engage all ADB's key stakeholders, including the government, civil society, private sector, academia, youth, and media, in a forward-looking discussion. A year-round commemoration includes provincial-level regional conferences, nationwide competitions, and a high-level event. MNRM will use knowledge solutions captured from these activities to develop policy-relevant recommendations and to strengthen effectiveness of operations.

Provincial-level regional conferences will be organized in four regions southern, northern, western, easternto facilitate dialogue with local stakeholders on development challenges and on-site project experiences. These outreach events will provide opportunity for ADB, local governments, civil society, and project beneficiaries to share innovative practices and lessons from project design and implementation and to replicate successful practices in future ADB operations.

An innovative high-level event will provide a venue for a broad range of stakeholders and ADB to effectively capture and share experiences and knowledge, including tacit knowledge, to further strengthen partnership impact. The event format will be decided based on the COVID-19 situation in the country. The event will have thematic sections where local thought leaders, prominent global speakers will be invited to deliver TEDx style speeches on emerging development issues and best practices. Each section will be concluded with a panel discussion. Winners of nationwide competitions and project beneficiaries will be invited to share their stories. Side events will include the launch of a high-quality publication, release of an anniversary documentary, display of value-added products supported by ADB-funded projects, and exhibitions of historic photos and children's drawings. As part of the main event, MNRM plans to organize an academic conference on "Sustainable, Inclusive Development in Mongolia: Innovations and Solutions" where academic research papers by sector experts, think tanks, and civil society organizations will be presented and discussed. Knowledge-based solutions to address the country's development challenges will be documented in an innovative-format multimedia knowledge product.

Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

ADB has been Mongolia''s largest multilateral development partner since 1991, playing a central role in the country''s transformation to a middle-income, market-based economy. ADB has supported the government''s efforts to stabilize and restructure the economy, strengthen necessary institutions and human resources, and build vital infrastructure helping Mongolia successfully complete the transition process. Working closely with the government to meet the country's development needs, ADB has evolved and expanded its operations in Mongolia to foster economic diversification, inclusive social development, and regionally integrated and competitive growth.

Despite the development achievements, Mongolia remained vulnerable to external shocks and dependent on commodity prices. With increasing urbanization, the country is facing a number of challenges including unemployment, limited access to urban and social services, pollution and traffic congestion. Moreover, economic recession caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) related lockdown threatens livelihoods and put a strain on fiscal resources for health care, with the economy contracting by 5.3% in 2020.

To counter the negative effects of COVID-19, ADB has provided comprehensive assistance to Mongolia totaling $394.6 million to support the government''s efforts. To date, ADB has committed $3.73 billion in cumulative lending, grant, and technical assistance to Mongolia for projects across various sectors. In addition to sovereign financing, ADB works directly with Mongolia's private sector. ADB''s private sector investment in the country has reached $490 million today.

In 2021, ADB is entering into a new country partnership Strategy (CPS) 2021-2024 with Mongolia. As well as representing the start of the new CPS period, this year commemorates the 30th anniversary of ADB-Mongolia partnership. The milestone provides an opportunity to look back at the three-decade partnership to understand achievements, learn from experience, and hold a dialogue on future partnership goals. Moreover, it is important to identify and document innovative practices and lessons from ADB's 30-year engagement with Mongolia to maximize the development impact of ADB''s future operations in the country and the region.

Impact

Sustainable impact of ADB-Mongolia partnership increased

Project Outcome

Description of Outcome

Commitment of stakeholders to use knowledge and lessons from the 30-year ADB-Mongolia partnership enhanced

Progress Toward Outcome

ADB will organize a main commemoration event in November. An innovative high-level event will provide a venue for a broad range of stakeholders and ADB to effectively capture and share experiences and knowledge to further strengthen partnership impact. The event will have thematic sections where local thought leaders, prominent global speakers will be invited to deliver TEDx style speeches on emerging development issues and best practices. Each section will be concluded with a panel discussion. Winners of nationwide competitions and project beneficiaries will be invited to share their stories. Side events will include the launch of a high-quality publication, release of an anniversary documentary, display of value-added products supported by ADB-funded projects, and exhibitions of historic photos.

As part of the main event, we plan to organize an academic conference on "Sustainable, Inclusive Development in Mongolia: Innovations and Solutions" where academic research papers by sector experts, think tanks, and civil society organizations will be presented and discussed.

Implementation Progress

Description of Project Outputs

Innovative practices and lessons from ADB operations shared and discussed

Knowledge-based solutions for development effectiveness identified and documented

Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)

A national event management firm was recruited on 3 September 2021.

To ensure successes are well understood and that lessons are learnt, ADB is carrying out a series of commemorative activities to engage all its key stakeholders, including the government, civil society, private sector, academia, youth, and media, in a forward-looking discussion.

As part of this, a series of five provincial-level regional conferences are being organized to facilitate a dialogue between ADB and local stakeholders on the region's development challenges and on-site project experiences. The first three conferences were held in June, August, and September comprising southern, central, and eastern provinces. Upcoming two conferences will comprise the northern and western regions. These outreach events will provide opportunity for local governments, civil society, and project beneficiaries from all over the country to share innovative practices and lessons from project design and implementation.

Geographical Location

Nation-wide

Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects

Environmental Aspects

Involuntary Resettlement

Indigenous Peoples

Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation

During Project Design

During Project Implementation

To ensure successes are well understood and that lessons are learnt, ADB is carrying out a series of commemorative activities to engage all its key stakeholders, including the government, civil society, private sector, academia, youth, and media, in a forward-looking discussion.

Business Opportunities

Consulting Services

Two national firms will be engaged to provide nonconsulting services. A national event management firm will be recruited to provide professional event planning, design, production, and management service for three provincial-level regional conferences and the main innovative high-level event. A national event coverage firm will be engaged to provide high-quality event photography and videography services for the provincial-level events and to produce multimedia knowledge products following the events. The firms will be recruited through request for quotation (RFQ) method.

ADB will engage the firms following the ADB Procurement Policy (2017, as amended from time to time) and its associated project administration instructions and/or staff instructions.

Contact

Responsible ADB Officer

Ganzorig, Gantuya

Responsible ADB Department

East Asia Department

Responsible ADB Division

Mongolia Resident Mission (MNRM)

Executing Agencies

Asian Development Bank

Timetable

Concept Clearance

-

Fact Finding

-

MRM

-

Approval

29 Jun 2021

Last Review Mission

-

Last PDS Update

28 Sep 2021

Funding

TA 6741-MON