AF HOLDS INCEPTION WORKSHOP OF ESEC II PROJECT

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Last week, the Engaging Stakeholders for Environmental Conservation (ESEC) II project held its inception workshop in Ulaanbaatar, said Tuesday an "infomongolia.com" website. Co-implemented by the Asia Foundation and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the project’s goal is to ensure that Mongolian artisanal mining sector contributes to sustainable local development, including the realization of the right to a healthy environment and the right to decent work. The project complements SDC’s Sustainable Artisanal Mining project by introducing responsible and sustainable environmental rehabilitation approaches for abandoned artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sites using a multi-stakeholder approach pioneered by the AF since 2006 through the "Securing Our Future" project and most recently the ESEC I project. The inception workshop aimed at introducing the ESEC II project to different partners and stakeholders in order to enhance cooperation and discussing with partners of the initial work accomplished since the start of the project in July 2013 which will continue until December 2016. During the event, representatives of the State Great Khural (parliament), the Ministry of Mining and the SDC delivered speeches reiterating the importance of the project in addressing the environmental impacts of the ASM to promote sustainable local development. Some 90 guests including representatives from government, international organizations, research institutions and ASM NGOs, attended the workshop to share knowledge and experiences. They also emphasized the project’s significance in terms of its implementation approach and unique area of intervention. Different stakeholders expressed interest in possible cooperation platforms, especially in developing of land rehabilitation measures.