As SDC started addressing gender equality issues in all its activities, a Gender mainstreaming workshop was held on November 10-12, in Ulziit soum, Dundgovi aimag. The field workshop in the intervention area of Green Gold pasture management programme was conducted with participation of over 20 people from ongoing 5 main project implementing units and 2 prospective project units. Workshop was moderated by Mr. Felix Fellmann, SDC Deputy Country Director, Ms. Annemarie Sancar, SDC Gender Policy Advisor, Ms. Joy Ogan, International Advisor, and Ms. Uranbileg Jamba, NPO.

Participants of the workshop conducted field studies on lifestyles of rural herdsmen, its gender relations, gender equality issues as well as roles of men and women in daily lives; and agreed to reflect the findings and gender specific activities in projects future action plans. Although men traditionally dominate in Mongolian society and play also a major role in family affairs with some gender imbalances, it was observed that today men and women in the rural area are relatively gender-balanced and have flexible roles in social and family life, both being satisfied.

Also the participants studied carefully the community development processes of Pasture-User Groups in field intervention areas of the Green Gold programme in Ulziit soum. While participants had an opportunity to share their project experiences and practical issues, they discussed how to make project activities more effective and what should we consider in the future, in terms of gender balances, community-based development or similar activities of other projects. Experience of "Oshiin uguuj" NGO, implementing Green Gold project in the soum, shows how local people can effectively use their common interest, assets and efforts to tackle local socio-economic issues collectively within their own community and need to take more initiative and ensure active participation in their community-based activities.

The workshop participants agreed on the use of gender sensitive approach for project planning which shows that gender equality issues were successfully concluded after three days of field work. It should be pointed out that the workshop provided good opportunity to familiarize with culture and lives of rural people, to know each other well and to share experiences of different projects. On behalf of all participants of the workshop, we would like to express sincere gratitude to our colleagues of Green Gold Programme and "Oshiin uguuj" NGO, who prepared and organized the workshop well;moderators for their useful and practical guidelines; and to the local people and administration of Ulziit soum, Dundgovi aimag for their hospitality and warmreception.