FIRST DAY OF OPEN GOVERNMENT PARTNERSHIP SUMMIT

During the summit, government and non-government organizations and policymakers from around the world gather to discuss open governance and governance in the digital age, as well as greater transparency and accountability with the help of technology in the policy-making process, and the preservation of democracy. Also, Estonia's good experience in transparent e-government and close communication with civil society is a model in the world, and representatives of other countries have created a favorable space for learning.

N. Uchral, ​​Minister of Digital Development and Communications, Member of the State Parliament, Vice Chief of MSF of Mongolia, participated in a high-level round table meeting on "Trends, Challenges, and Innovations: New Frontiers in Digital Governance" and discussed how to advance e-governance in Mongolia, expressed his views on the impact of regional and international norms and standards and how digital governance can be progressed through the Open Government Partnership (OGP).

Before the start of the OGP summit, on September 6, 2023, Secretary of MSF Mongolian B. Bolorsaikhan attended breakfast discussion with representatives from the Asia-Pacific region - Australia, South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and the observer Nepal. During the discussion, the representatives of the countries talked about the problems and challenges facing the region, as well as ways to overcome them and shared their good practices. The representative of Mongolia noted that Vision 2050 long-term development policy can be implemented in harmony with the values ​​and principles of OGP, and that the Mongolia’s National Action Plan intends to discuss challenges and solutions from all stakeholders.

Series of integrated, sectorial and thematic discussions, meetings and interviews are taking place during the OGP by covering inclusion, anti-corruption, immunity, e-governance, civil space, justice, open parliament, budget transparency, public service delivery, environment, climate change, natural resources, and right to information. Multilateral and bilateral meetings and interviews are also being organized among the participants.

Representatives of Mongolia’s civil society, P. Erdenejargal, Executive director of the Open Society Forum NGO, Member of the Mongolia MSF, D. Erdenechimeg and D.Enkhtsetseg, Managers of the governance program at the Open Society Forum NGO, N. Narantsetseg, Head of the Mongolian Natural Saving Fund NGO, L. Bor, Head of the Ikh Baga Bayansharga NGO, M. Enkhbadral, the Executive director of the National Center for Comprehensive Development, B. Uyanga, the Journalist and program manager of the National Center for Comprehensive Development, T.Amarzaya, the Executive director of the Youth Policy Watch NGO, T. Mandkhaikhatan, the Advisor to the Youth Policy Watch NGO are attending the OGP Summit.

Representatives from government include N. Uchral, ​​Minister of Digital Development and Communications, Member of State Parliament, Vice Chief of MSF Mongolia, J. Sukhbaatar, Minister of Mongolia, Chairman of the National Committee to Reduce Traffic Congestion in the Capital City of Ulaanbaatar, Member of State Parliament, His Excellency T.Janabazar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to Kingdom of Sweden, B. Baasandorj, Vice Chief of Cabinet Secretary, Director of Authority of Mongolian Government Supervisory, N. Ankhbayar, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, B. Battsetseg, State Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Development and Communications, B. Bolorsaikhan, National Committee for Human Rights (NatComHR) and Director of Committee Secretariat, G. Chinzorig, Chairman and CEO of Communications Regulatory Commission of Mongolia, B. Myagmarnaran, Director of E-Mongolia Academy, D. Nominchimeg, Officer of NatComHR.

US Department of State, Anti-Corruption Policy Advisor and Coordinator on Global Anti-Corruption Team Schuyler Miller, Coordinator Richard Nephew, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Allison Peters, and USAID representatives have invited Mongolian delegation to attend the Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption to be held in December 2023 and emphasized the importance of state-civil society partnership in fighting corruption.

CIVICUS Secretary General Lisa John commented Mongolia’s regional progress in the Civil Society Index and discussed the situation of human rights defenders in detail, while emphasizing the Law on the Legal Status of Human Rights Defenders and the new mechanism under it, highlighted the need to further protect human rights defenders, support the network of civil society organizations, and encourage human rights education.

Deputy Director of the Country Support at the OGP Shreya Basu and Acting Regional Lead of Asia-Pacific Ivy Ong both emphasized the importance of Mongolia paying its membership fee to the OGP, and the Fifth National Action Plan of Mongolia (NAP V) to be submitted by December 2023. During the development and detailed planning of NAP V, it was recommended to ensure multi-stakeholder participation, to focus on the cooperation of civil society and the state, and to introduce good practices such as glass accounts, budget management, and digitization of government procurement that have been successfully implemented to other countries.

Mongolian delegation has received ‘Honorable mention” award for the "e-Mongolia initiative, Ministry of Digital Development and Communications" during OGP Awards 2023 ceremony.