An Integrated Coordination Group on the COVID-19 response kicked off in Mongolia

The ICG was established to coordinate COVID-19 related efforts of multiple stakeholders across humanitarian, health and socio-economic dimensions to alleviate public health threats and prevents the COVID-19 outbreaks in Mongolia. Deputy Prime Minister S. Amarsaikhan and UN Resident Coordinator Tapan Mishra are co-chairing the Group.

In his opening remarks, Mr. S. Amarsaikhan expressed sincere gratitude to the continued support from all development partners to Mongolia in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic on behalf of the Government of Mongolia.

Mr. Tapan Mishra said, “the ICG will provide support to the Government in defining a shared strategic vision for collective health, humanitarian and socio-economic initiatives in Mongolia to prevent, develop and implement the short and medium-term response plans.”

The ICG is intended to be a cross-sectoral platform where all stakeholders with the leadership of the Government, along with Development Partners and the Humanitarian Organizations can discuss potential cooperation in Covid-19 responses impacts on humanitarian, socio-economic and health needs and gaps. The Government can share its plans and actions and obtain feedback from the international, development and humanitarian community as a sounding board and also hear their ideas and suggestions based on global good practices in addressing the challenges together.

Deputy Prime Minister’s Office presented a list of priorities where the Government needs urgent support in containing the current pandemic and minimizing its further socio-economic and humanitarian impacts.

The group will also seek to support coordination of the integrated communication and information dissemination of COVID-19 response measures.

On the occasion of the first ICG meeting, the UN and the DPMO jointly launched  a comprehensive one-stop information platform (www.covidmongolia.mn) that provides real-time data and monitoring on the COVID-19 situation and its socio-economic impact on people and businesses.

This initiative was well welcomed by the participating organisations and some expressed their readiness and support to cooperate and coordinate all their efforts in better response to the current pandemic in Mongolia.