This Anti-Corruption Helpdesk brief was produced in response to a query from a U4 Partner Agency. The U4 Helpdesk is operated by Transparency International in collaboration with the U4 Anti-Corruption Resource Centre based at the Chr. Michelsen Institute.
Query
What are the biggest vulnerabilities towards corruption within natural resource management in Mongolia?
Content
1. Overview of corruption issues in Mongolia’s natural resource management
2. Corruption challenges in Mongolia and their potential impact on NRM
3. References
Caveat
There are very few publicly accessible research articles and sources of information focusing on corruption challenges in the Mongolian NRM system.
Summary
The recent discovery of mineral wealth in Mongolia’s rapidly transforming economy brings both development opportunities and governance challenges for the country. Major contracts have been awarded to foreign companies in 2009 and 2011 for the exploitation of the Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mining complex and the Tavan Tolgoi coal mine. Concerns over lack of transparency and corruption surrounding the negotiation process of such deals and of the distribution of mining royalties have led to large scale citizen protests over the distribution of mining royalties. The government is committed to make all citizens benefit from the country’s newly discovered mineral wealth through the creation of a Human Development Fund (HDF) and a direct distribution scheme, using cash transfers to citizens. However, the outcome of these efforts will largely depend on the country’s ability to set up a robust legal and institutional framework that establishes strong corruption safeguards along the extractive value chain and ensures fair and equitable distribution of resource rents to all citizens. In spite of important anti-corruption steps taken in recent years, Mongolia is facing important governance and corruption challenges. The quality of governance, as captured by major governance indicators, seems to be declining over years, especially with regard to government effectiveness and control of corruption.
Authors
Marie Chene, Transparency International, [email protected]Reviewers
Robin Hodess, Ph.D., Transparency International, [email protected]Date
29/11/2012
