Ulaanbaatar city, December 8, 2021 – Millennium Challenge Account – Mongolia (MCA-Mongolia) organized an online forum as part of the national campaign led by the National Sub-Council on Trafficking in Persons to highlight Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)’s updated Counter-Trafficking in Persons (C-TIP) policy and MCA-Mongolia’s efforts to ensure zero-tolerance for Trafficking in Persons (TIP) in the Mongolia Water Compact’s infrastructure activities.

The event was attended by relevant government and non-government key stakeholders including the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, Ministry of Construction and Urban Development, U.S Embassy in Mongolia, National Human Rights Commission, National Gender Equality Committee, and relevant NGOs and CSOs.

Fatema Sumar, MCC’s Vice President for the Department of Compact Operation and  Sodontogos Erdenetsogt, MCA-Mongolia’s Chief Executive Officer    

Sodontogos Erdenetsogt, MCA-Mongolia’s Chief Executive Officer

MCC’s Vice President for the Department of Compact Operation, Fatema Sumar emphasized in her opening remarks that “We are confident that MCA-Mongolia’s cooperation with the government and non-government organization in addressing social and gender risks for infrastructure projects will set a good practice for other projects not only in Mongolia but in other countries”.

MCA-Mongolia’s Chief Executive Officer, Sodontogos Erdenetsogt opened the meeting and noted “We are pleased that MCC is not only supporting the implementation of water infrastructure projects, but also bringing new values, regulations, standards, and best practices in the infrastructure sector of Mongolia.”

Sharon Rogers, Gender and Social Inclusion Director, MCC

Otgonchimeg Altangerel, MCA-Mongolia's Gender and Social Inclusion Director

Participants emphasized MCA-Mongolia’s leadership in developing collaborative relationships with key stakeholders and setting clear requirements for C-TIP, sexual harassment, women’s employment in infrastructure activities as well as ensuring zero-tolerance policy for TIP. Ch. Amarbayasgalan, Senior Officer for Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence at the Regulation Counsel for Crime Prevention in Mongolia, expressed willingness to cooperate on efforts against labor exploitation and labor-related issue prevention, and organizing training and meetings for contractors. “Although the legal environment in Mongolia is well established, there is a lack of enforcement and implementation. We hope that other infrastructure projects in Mongolia would replicate similar practices as set by MCA-Mongolia” said S.Dondov, an Advisor to the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.

A.Lkhamserjid, Senior Analyst of Sector Training, Human Resources, and Management, MCUD

S. Donrov, Advisor to the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare

The Biden Administration’s firm stance against gender-based violence and sexual harassment through the MCC-funded projects in partner countries was also highlighted by Mr. Gregory May, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S Embassy in Mongolia in his closing remarks.

Gregory May, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S Embassy in Mongolia

For further information about MCA-Mongolia’s efforts in ensuring gender and social inclusion for infrastructure activities, please use the below link to find MCA-Mongolia Social and Gender Integration Plan.