Independent Mongolia office opens

The Mongolia Office of American non-government organization PACT has officially begun operating independently.

PACT has been represented in Mongolia since 1999, owrking in partnership with Mercy Corps as part of the Govi Regional Economic Growth Initiative.

The Gobi Initiative is focused on a range of community organizations, including businesses, herders, the government, media and NGOs in teh areas of capacity-building, networking, information-sharing and corporate and community engagemetn.

PACT, which is based in Washington DC, has been helping to strengthen the capacity of local organizations in dozens of countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America since 1971. It is currently working in 14 countries.

Its projects are based on democratic participation in a range of different fields, including food supply, HIV/AIDS, environmental protection, conflict resolution and human rights.

As part of PACT's Mongolia operation, it produces the Rural Business News magazine, television programs, radio series and Market Watch information and is working with the National Center for State Courts on a campaign to raise awareness about Mongolia's judicial system. It is also producing a 26-part television series called Legal Hour in collaboration with GTZ.

There are a number of other projects in the works, including a distance-education program with World Vision.