The Partnership in Transparency Initiative: A Transformative Organization

PTI is a new model for addressing corruption, focusing on a multi-stakeholder and multi-dimensional approach. The organization started as an informal network linking around a dozen national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with the aim of promoting openness and transparency within government agencies. PTI's first activities after its establishment in April 2013 were focused on developing a common understanding about corruption and conflict of interest. This was seen favorably by Mongolia's nationally mandated agency to combat corruption, the Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC). With the endorsement of the IAAC, the activities of individual PTI members could gain leverage under the PTI umbrella. Civil society organizations in Mongolia are implementing increasingly innovative approaches to promote government transparency. For example, NGO Liberal Women's Brain Pool (LWBP) gathered data about public procurement in one aimag, supporting the development of a constructive relationship between LWBP and the aimag administration. A citizen's committee was established to monitor public services at the aimag level and within selected administrative sub-districts. Another example is that of NGO MONES (Mongolian Women's Fund), which developed and implemented a program focusing on budget transparency in four selected Ulaanbaatar kindergartens. Traditionally, the state-run kindergarten sector has been neither open nor amenable to providing the public with information about its budget or internal management procedures. MONES set about changing this by establishing a relationship with parents and teachers, providing information about the laws governing the right to information, anti-corruption, and conflict of interest. PTI has given serious consideration to its internal workings, establishing a Project Steering Committee in October 2013. The committee is entrusted with coordinating PTI activities, formulating guidelines, and developing strategies on how best to sustain activities and results through its diverse membership. PTI also works at the level of the collective, advocating on issues that can help gain traction. For example, based on the results of NGO PANI's monitoring, and pressed by PTI, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science revamped its website to give more accessible and informative data concerning the education budget. PTI has established a strong relationship with the IAAC, which has increased the IAAC's understanding about the role and contribution of civil society. PTI members have signed memoranda of understanding with the IAAC, helping to create space for civil society to promote public service accountability as well as provide cover for civil society to undertake such activities. As a result, PTI is now able to receive modest funds from the IAAC to continue its activities. The IAAC is keen on joint-programming with PTI members, which has led to combined efforts in the form of trainings. An example is the series of trainings for over 600 government officials from 20 government agencies in the first quarter of 2014. Partnering with NGO Woman for Social Progress (WSP), WSP was responsible for organizing the event and the content of the training, with IAAC taking responsibility for inviting the participants. PTI has a membership of 11 organizations, including Democratic Education Center (DEMO), Globe International, Khuvsgul Dalai Eej, Mongolian Association of Local Authorities (MALA), Mongolian Women's Fund (MONES), Orkhon-XXI Century, Public Administration New Initiative (PANI), Transparency Foundation, Women Leadership Foundation (WLF), Woman for Social Progress (WSP), and Zorig Foundation. Despite being a new network, PTI has established itself as a "brand" for civil society involvement in anti-corruption activities and initiatives, accepted and supported by the IAAC. PTI's Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (PMP) aims to strengthen democratic governance by building a more transparent and accountable regulatory and legislative environment. The plan includes indicators, targets, outcomes, data sources, data collection, and frequency. The goal is to improve the legal and regulatory environment designed to increase transparency and accountability.