IMPACT REPORT 2016-2018 This impact report is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United State Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of World Learning and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. Welcome to the Leaders Advancing Democracy (LEAD) World Learning is an international nonprofit organization Mongolia 2016-2018 Impact Report. The World Learning empowering people and strengthening institutions through team is proud to provide you with this overview of LEAD education, sustainable development, and exchange programs program activities as well as our impact to date. in more than 60 countries. For 85 years, World Learning has worked to create a more peaceful and just world, and World Learning launched LEAD in September 2016 and we have operated in Mongolia since 2002. LEAD Mongolia since that time we have formed many partnerships and is made possible by the generous support of the American worked with some of Mongolia’s best and brightest young people through the United States Agency for International leaders. Our unique fellowship is unleashing the leadership Development (USAID). potential of Mongolia’s young democracy advocates; the LEAD Alliance is building networks with other young leaders in Asia; and LEAD is also encouraging thousands of high schoolers across the country to engage in civic life. We hope you can find some time to get involved - check out our opportunities at the end of this report - or to support one of the very many important LEAD initiatives. 4 Leaders Advancing Democracy (LEAD) Impact Report 2016-2018 5 What is LEAD? MONGOLIA Leaders Advancing Democracy (LEAD) Mongolia is a five-year initiative designed to build the country’s next generation of democracy champions through a variety of leadership opportunities, international exchanges, and civic education. This is achieved through three intersecting activities: LEAD Mongolia is an intensive LEAD Alliance connects Civic Education for High School fellowship program for up to Mongolian emerging leaders Students encourages young 227 young Mongolian leaders with like-minded peers in Asia people to get involved in civic from a variety of sectors to and positions them as regional life. This includes sponsored KYRGYZSTAN BHUTAN MYANMAR come together to network and leaders. It is an opportunity to competitions in which students confront challenges through showcase Mongolia’s story of take action to improve their positive impact projects. peaceful democratic transition. schools and communities. Partner: International Republican Partner: Mongolian NGO, the Institute (IRI) in Mongolia Center for Citizenship Education LEAD Mongolia (CCE) LEAD Alliance High School Civic Education 6 Leaders Advancing Democracy (LEAD) Impact Report 2016-2018 7 LEAD Mongolia LEAD Mongolia is an intensive will remain in Mongolia to take part fellowship designed for the the in-country thematic program. LEAD Mongolia by next generation of democratic champions and involves leadership LEAD Mongolia Fellows represent numbers to date opportunities, international a uniquely diverse cross-section exchanges, and implementation of viewpoints, experiences, and of projects to improve their professions. 97 communities. The LEAD Mongolia Mongolian Fellows representing fellowship is open to applicants LEAD is providing a compelling UB and 18 provinces between the ages of 25 and 40 who model where leaders come can articulate a unique vision for together from different positive democratic development in backgrounds to forge a cross- Mongolia. sectoral force for inclusive change. 11 Together, LEAD Mongolia Fellows positive impact projects Over the five-year period, LEAD plan and implement projects on implemented by fellows as part of program Mongolia will bring together 227 issues important to them related to Why LEAD? emerging leaders, known as LEAD three policy themes: Mongolia Fellows. Of these fellows, - Poverty and unemployment 137 will take part in our U.S. - Environment and urbanization 26 Mongolia has served as a model of peaceful Faced with rising unemployment, corruption, exchange program while 90 Fellows - Transparency and anti-corruption. partner organizations involved and successful democratic transition for 28 and fast-growing discontent with their country’s in LEAD Fellows’ activities years. However, its younger generation has political climate, Mongolia’s emerging young increasingly been marginalized from civic and leaders are increasingly less optimistic and political processes and disengaged from elections. less likely to engage in civic or community This poses a threat to Mongolia’s democracy, work to combat these challenges. In response, 3,734 particularly as young people (aged 15-34 years LEAD supports the development of the next direct beneficiaries of our LEAD old) comprise more than one third of the country’s generation of change agents whose leadership Fellows’ projects population. will combat civic indifference, revive optimism, and help forge a common vision for the successful democratic trajectory of both 1,384,276 Mongolia and the region. people reached through advocacy or public awareness 8 Leaders Advancing Democracy (LEAD) campaignsImpact Report 2016-2018 9 Since 2016, World Learning has hosted two LEAD U.S. Exchange Programs, which include PROJECT PROFILE an intensive academic program at the University of Virginia (UVA) Center for Politics as well as World Learning headquarters in Washington, D.C. Through our In-Country Thematic Program, 30 We wanted to raise our voice against fellows to date have taken part in an intensive corruption. We hope to make aware not only skills retreat and experiential thematic experience kids, but also parents since they directly influence all in Mongolia. In both programs, fellows learn their children’s behavior.” - Student participant about advocacy and community mobilization, conflict resolution, and project design and Transparency through the Eyes argues that most Mongolian citizens Transparency through the Eyes implementation. of Youth is one of the 11 projects have come to accept corruption of Youth brought high school LEAD Mongolia Fellows have as part of their everyday lives and university students into the implemented since the program’s and have no idea how to address development of vital transparency Above all, I learned how to work with inception. it. Consequently, young people and anti-corruption curriculum. diverse people. The best practical skill of the LEAD Mongolia program was become less enthusiastic and less Through a series of student-led having participants from different careers, Lack of transparency and increasing likely to engage on the social and competitions involving up to 30 backgrounds, religions, religious beliefs, corruption threaten to erode policy issues important to them. schools, TAC received 36 youth- genders, ages, ethnicity, physical abilities, citizens’ trust in governance and made videos that both inform and socio-economic status, and organizations come faith in Mongolia’s democratic But this team of 11 LEAD Fellows empower young people to act together under one goal.” - Temulin Batjargal, transition. Mongolia scored only 36 has an idea about how to change against everyday corruption. These LEAD Mongolia Fellow of 100 points on the 2017 Corruption all that. Beginning in late 2017, the videos have been viewed online by Perceptions Index reported by TAC team launched Transparency more than 325,000 people to date Transparency International and through the Eyes of Youth project to and touch upon the impact of petty To date, 100 percent of program alumni report By the end of the program, we hope to see a ranked 103 among 180 countries spur awareness among youth about corruption in health, education, and that their new LEAD connections and networks substantive network of 227 of Mongolia’s most (180 being the most corrupt), which what transparency is, why they other sectors. The TAC team worked help them effect change - a positive indicator promising leaders, who are connected and ready is well below the regional average. should care about it, and what they with students and teachers to of LEAD’s premise that the seeds of democratic to take on tough challenges. LEAD Mongolia In fact, Mongolia fell 16 places from can do to combat corruption. “We transform these video submissions advancement take root when young emerging Fellows will possess the knowledge and skills to its rank on the 2016 Corruption have to start with young people,” into easy-to-teach, video-based changemakers are brought together. Another 97 advance public policy, pursue positive change, and Perceptions Index - an evident says TAC team leader and attorney curriculum which has been shared percent of fellows report their LEAD experiences engage other Mongolian citizens to address the setback in a country struggling Munkhjargal Munkhbat. “But there with 778 high schools in all 21 have increased their appreciation for democratic most pressing community needs. to root out years of corruptive is no high school level education provinces of Mongolia. The result is governance and provided them critical skills to practices. about transparency. People think innovative, engaging materials that play a role in strengthening Mongolia’s democracy. the only way to decrease corruption are inspired by youth and ready for The LEAD Mongolia Transparency is to punish officials who take teachers to use. & Anti-Corruption (TAC) team bribes.”