The second experience sharing workshop was organized in Tunkhel area of Mandald soum. Totally 25 participants from all sites were participated. The bi-monthly experience sharing meeting was planned for 2009 with purpose to review and reform the community mobilization process through learning cycle. First workshop was conducted in February in Bayankhongor aimag which has developed sharing method, governance assessment and planning method. This second meeting was focussed for long term visioning and media advocacy.

Community development team of SAM project organized an experience sharing workshop  on NGO Governance for the project local facilitators and NGO Executive Committee members from four project sites in Bayankhongor aimag on 12-15 February, 2009. This was first experience sharing meeting for local facilatators and NGO representatives.  Agenda included general concept on NGO governance,  experience sharing dialogues and keeping financial records and discussion of some urgent matters e.g. management and potential use of bath house and tractors. (Please download its report in detail).

Organizational Development for Community based Enterprise Promotion" 3 day workshop was organized in Mandal Soum, Selenge aimag for artisanal miners of association ‘Duush Mandal Khairhan Kholboo-DMKK' in January 13 - 15, 2009.  Main objective of the workshop was to develop an appropriate organizational model for community based gold processing plant management.  The specific and immediate objectives were as follows:
-  To assess and develop organizational development plan;
-  To review and start Management Plan preparation process for gold processing plant;
-  To assess and coach on organizational record keeping system. Please download: detailed workshop report.

SAM Project in cooperation with a NGO Center for Community Development organized training "Community Facilitation Process" for ASMs and local government officials in project sites Jargalant & Bumbugur soums of Bayankhongor aimag, Bornuur of Tov aimag, and Mandal soum of Selenge aimag in July-September, 2008.

Uyanga soum is one of hottest ASM points in Mongolia. It lies 490 km far from Ulaanbaatar and 60 km far from the aimag center. Total number of population is more than 11 thousand and soum has seven baghs that is the smallest administrative unit. Soum infrastucture is well developed with access to the central region power supply line and livestock husbandry and mining are the main economic sectors in a soum. Uyanga soum gets 70% of the soum budget only from the mining sector.  Mining sector has been developed in Uyanga soum effectively when Erel LLC started to exploitate the gold in Ult mine accompanied with the development of different service sectors such as mobile phone, petrol station, hotel, cafeteria, grocery and auto repair.  There are more than 50 mining enterprises in a soum, which deals with exploitation and prospection for gold.  Most of these enterprises carry their mining activities in Ult and Buuruljuut area that are 10-18 km far from the soum center.

“Sustainable artisanal mining” project, Mongolian Cooperative and Training Center is implementing “Development of Official groups for Sustainable Artisanal mining” project with the aim to make contribution to and support Uyanga soum mining sector.

The project goal is to contribute to responsible artisanal mining development by assisting artisanal miners in Uyanga soum to work under the organizational structure of partnership with socially responsible members and contribute to local sustainable development; to prepare facilitators to support their development, strengthen facilitators’ capacity and create favorable condition to work with licensed enterprises and local government. For detailed information: Report on project implementation process.

“Artisanal miners are now sticking together pens and papers”, said Mr. B. Khuldorj, SAM Project Manager after his attendance of the forum called “Mercury free Life” of the Artisanal and Small Scale Miners’ Association (ASMA) in Bornuur Soum of Tuv Aimag on February 02, 2008.

Artisanal miners and local authorities in Shinejinst, Bumbugur and Jargalant Sums of Bayankhongor aimag organized experience sharing meetings to get know their problems, their plans on how to cooperate and expectations from the Government and project. During their meetings the Government Resolution No 28 and respective ASM regulation were presented and potential cooperation and roles of Sum governments were openly discussed. Additionally, booklets on ASM occupational safety, and conflict management were distributed to participants.

SAM project in cooperation with the Government of Bayankhobgor Aimag organized a regional forum "Reduce unemployment and poverty through transformation of artisanal mining into small scale mining" on 12-16 November, 2007. The forum was attended by over 100 participants representing the Ministries e.g. Industry and Trade, Social Welfare and Labour. Nature and Environment, agencies e.g. MRPAM and National Security Council, local Governments e.g. Umnugovi, Uvurkhangai, Gobi-altaim and Bayankhongor aimags, artisanal miners, economic entities/companies, local NGOs and civil societies.   Out of 100 participants, there were about 60 individuals were artisanal miners. Agenda of the forum included presentation of the current status of ASM operations,  potential partnership and cooperation, challenging issues and exchanging of ideas and comments on the discussing issues. For instance, the participants discussed about immediate needs of ASM legal and regulatory framework (ASM law), organizational forms (e.g. partnerships and coperative) among artisanal miners, professional training (e.g. blasting) required for artisanal miners, regisration and issuance of ID cards/personal documents to artisanal miners, development of small and medium enterprises, access to bank and financial services, and adherence of ASM occupational and health safety instructions and other ASM related issues. Participants of the forum developed a Recommendation and Call Up. Please download: Recommendations; Detailed report; Notes).