Mongolia officially launches their national assessment of ROAM

Prof. Shahbaz Khan delivering opening remarks at the meeting

Mr. Boldsaikhan Sambuu, Secretary-General, Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO highlighted the relevance of the assessment in addressing national digital challenges such as digital divide, misinformation, disinformation, and freedom of journalists.

Otgonjargal Gantulga, Project Manager of Digital Era NGO - the implementation partner of the project, presented the Digital Era NGO and its mission to deliver consulting service of digital transformation along with digital literacy trainings to Mongolian users.

Xianhong Hu, Programme Specialist at UNESCO and Simon Ellis, International technical advisor, provided an overview of the whole project, underlining the process and methodology behind the implementation of the ROAM framework.

Dr. Xianhong Hu introducing UNESCO's Internet Universality ROAM-X Framework

Both experts stressed that the unique strength of the framework resides in its unique holistic view which protects all human rights, promotes multistakeholdarism to empower national actors and vulnerable groups while providing an accurate diagnosis of Mongolia's Internet policies and digital environment.

Representing Digital Era NGO, Ms. Ariunzul Liijuu-Ochir presented the projected timeline for the completion of the national assessment of ROAM, potentially making Mongolia the first country to finalize the evaluation in the Asia-Pacific region and the 6th report of the national assessment of IUIs series.

She also highlighted the importance of addressing the accessibility issue for people with disabilities as well as vulnerable groups and trusted that the assessment could help improve national policies on accessibility

As the meeting gathered national stakeholders from various sectors composing the Multi-stakeholder Advisory Board (MAB), focal points of the ROAM project emphasized the significance of the Board's role in providing guidance and support to the research team throughout the data collection and review process.

MAB members attending the kick-off meeting offline

Mongolian stakeholders all recognized the relevance of the study to grasp the complexity of the Internet's development, and its impact in effectively addressing the Internet for optimum contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNESCO reaffirms their support to Mongolia in developing and submitting Internet related policies based on the findings of the project in relations to the Mongolia Digital Nation Strategy and help in addressing digital divides to bring together a more inclusive Internet which leaves no one behind.

Related links:

• IUIs Project website
• Join the Dynamic Coalition on IUIs
• National IUIs reports
• AI and ROAM