Harry Li, MAAPPS // March 20, 2015
In my last blogpost, the group debated on what our next steps should be. A division pursuing publication and policy recommendations was consented upon. Half of the group, including myself, formed a policy-oriented group exploring the feasible recommendations to promote local engagement with EITI. The other half of the group focuses on drafting a document, incorporating the previous findings and recommendations from the policy group.
The policy group discussed on the best options in promoting proliferating education about EITI reporting at both the national and sub-national level. After careful feasibility researches, we have narrowed down to seven possible places where EITI reporting can be educated to the public: banks, schools, libraries, healthcare facilities, gas stations, citizens’ hall and sum centers. We decided to focus more on the rural population rather than citizens in Ulaanbaatar because rural citizens are more affected regionally from the mining activities.
In terms of method, we have quite a few feasible ideas. We find the use of cartoon extremely effective. EITI Guatemala and EITI Peru have created a short cartoon series explaining the significance and role of EITI in their countries’ mining industries. We find that simple and easy to understand. Not all rural citizens have the time or interest to read a 10-page report with heavy data charts, thus a cartoon with/or a catchy slogan may be more effective in this case.
My research focus is on the Mongolian Citizens’ Hall. On December 2009, the President of Mongolia, Elbegdorj Tsakhia, formally opened the Citizens’ Hall. With the German embassy, TAF and OSI providing technical assistance, it is a public hearing forum is located in the capital and is designed to encourage civil participation in the planning and decision-making process. Although the citizens does not have law-making power here, but Citizens’ Hall seek, consider and incorporate reactions of citizens to already drafted legislations. The goal is to establish a tradition of citizen engagement in Mongolia, thus strengthening the governmental transparency and implementation of policy through consensus. Creating the Citizens’ Hall was part of a concerted effort on behalf of the governing party to ‘consolidate its young democracy’. The Citizens’ Hall uses all types of social media (website, Facebook, twitter) and broadcasts major debates. Events are usually attended by parliament members, government officials and experts. By January 2012, 15 out of 21 provinces, 5 out of 9 districts of the capital city established Citizens’ Hall.
Since more provinces promoting legislature engagement with Citizens’ Hall, perhaps, it is possible to put up posters of cartoons and infographics about EITI in these centers. Also, we should also make copies of our detailed report (written by the publication group) available in those centers.