Call for Applications among Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working with marginalized groups in Ulaanbaatar City and Umnugobi province to participate in Digital Inclusion through the CSO empowerment (DICE) project.

If you are:

• Formally registered CSOs according to Mongolian legislation.

• Based in either Ulaanbaatar city and Umnugovi province

• Proven track record working with the elderly, people with disabilities, rural households, women, and vulnerable youth in Ulaanbaatar or Umnugovi

• Have a gender-balanced staff, with a minimum 70/30 ratio

• Willingness to commit to the required capacity development activities

• Not received any support previously from any project/activities focusing on digitalization/ digital transformation/digital literacy

We invite your CSO to participate in the Digital Inclusion through the CSO empowerment (DICE) project.

If selected, you will receive the following benefits of participating in the DICE project.

• CSOs will strengthen their digital skills and organizational security and resilience levels;

• CSOs can participate in the CSO capacity development program and the Digital Literacy Training of Trainers.

• CSOs will benefit from organizational risk assessments to assess cybersecurity levels and identify foreseeable threats and recommendations for improvement

• CSOs can register as members of the Civil Society Now platform and participate in the call for proposals announced via the platform, complemented by monthly drop-in sessions designed to fortify their competencies in operating at an international standard.

• CSOs can apply for a small grant (which will be announced twice in late 2024 and early 2025) to cover the following eligible activities:

o strengthen digital, media literacy, and digital threats competencies of marginalized communities

o Digital and media literacy educational activities, including online and in-person classes

o Awareness-raising campaigns and media events

o Activities to increase knowledge of and access to public services via digital technology

o Actions that promote citizens' engagement in the democratic process via digital technology

o Public demonstration actions/events to highlight the potential of e-democracy tools

o Development of accessible training and informational materials

Who we are?

People in Need (PIN) has been operating in Mongolia since 2009. Our INGO strives for a Mongolia where local communities are strengthened, respective of human rights, and empowered to be the drivers of change and equal opportunities. Apart from providing emergency relief, PIN builds the capacities of cooperatives, civil society organizations, and local authorities, supports sustainable living, strengthens higher education, promotes environmental protection, and raises awareness about air pollution.

Faro Foundation NGO’s mission is to advance digital literacy and bridging the digital divide through education. With a comprehensive approach, the foundation engages in curriculum development, training, policy advocacy, campaigns, and events to fulfill its mission.

Background for the implementation of the project

Mongolia’s transition towards a “Digital Nation” provides remarkable opportunities for citizens in every aspect of life, from access to public services to e-participation in democratic processes. However, this ambitious transition also presents a series of risks and can further widen the social and economic divide in the country. It hinders marginalized communities’ access to digital services and their ability to engage in democratic processes as they have limited access to technology and deficient digital literacy levels. Furthermore, critical gaps remain in the legal and policy framework aimed at protecting civic rights in the digital society, resulting in a growing digital divide, dis/misinformation, cyberbullying, and cyberattacks that threaten societal cohesion and contribute to the fragmentation of society.

Besides, citizen participation through e-platforms, as stated in Mongolia's State Great Khural Law Article 391, is promoted, but CSOs need to be more open about whether this engagement is counted. They perceive a gap between e-participation processes and tangible influence on decision-making, with government institutions needing to acknowledge CSO voices. This has resulted in negative opinions and a perception of minimal impact on the decision-making process. While e-tools for digital participation provided by the government have evolved, a noticeable trend is that social media, especially Facebook, influence government decisions. However, this trend also presents an opportunity to enhance the participation of communities and CSOs in the decision-making process via e-tools.

On the other hand, Civil society organizations form the foundation of Mongolia’s democracy and have a critical role in the capacity-building of marginalized communities. However, challenges to accessing international funds and leveraging global expertise continue challenging local CSOs. According to several surveys conducted among CSOs, issues such as insufficient ICT proficiency, low digital security skills among CSOs, and limited understanding of digital transformation hinder progress. They need more resources and capacities to address the economic, social, and political inequality regarding access to, use, or impact of information and communication technologies.

People in Need (PIN) has launched a new platform called “Civil Society Now” – commonly called CSN as a knowledge hub to address these challenges. In addition, PIN, partnering with the Faro Foundation (Faro), has designed a holistic, locally driven action that empowers civil society to be critical drivers of inclusive digitalization in Mongolia. Specifically, PIN and Faro will work with CSOs to (i) improve CSOs’ internal digital capacities, (ii) strengthen the digital and media skills of marginalized citizens, support increased access to e-services and raise citizens’ voices through digital technologies, and (iii) to advocate for a more inclusive regulatory framework that puts people in the center of digital transformation. The action is rooted in its human rights-based approach that puts citizens’ interests at the forefront of Mongolia’s digital transformation.

Objective of the Call for Applications

The main objective is to disseminate project information among CSOs openly and transparently and express their interest and participation in the project activities to strengthen the capacity of CSOs, focusing on promoting the digital literacy of marginalized communities and inclusive digital policies.

The DICE project is, therefore, expected to empower CSOs to be effective independent actors that contribute to inclusive digital transformation and enhanced democratic space in Mongolia.

If you want to participate, please fill out the below application form!

Application

An applicant must fill out the application form linked here: https://forms.office.com/e/e1wnh4AQtd

All relevant information showing that the applicant CSO and the proposed activities are eligible under this advertisement.

If CSOs possess additional documents, they are requested to submit them to purevbat.bolorchuluun@peopleinneed.net by 13 March 2024. Please ensure that the subject line includes "DICE_CSO".

Basic Timeline and Selection

Applications will be evaluated to meet all the criteria through a duly entrusted review committee comprised of PIN and Faro staff.

Activity Timeline

Application Deadline March 13

Information Sessions In Umnugovi: 11 am, on 29 February

In Ulaanbaatar: 9 am, on 14 March

Selection results The results will be distributed to the applicants by 22 March 2024.