69 percent of Mongolia’s population lives in city areas and 48.9 percent of population or 1.7 million people lives in Ulaanbaatar. Also, 70 percent of registered businesses, 84 percent of trade and services, and 96 percent of universities are concentrated in Ulaanbaatar.

There are too many problems, such as air pollution, traffic jams, water supply and climate change, which relate to the urbanization. The World Health Organization /WHO/ supports and advices governments on these issues. The WHO last updated its Air Quality Recommendations in 2021. The annual average concentration of PM2.5 in the air should not exceed 5 μg/m³, as this level is considered safe for human health according to the WHO.

In Ulaanbaatar, the annual average PM2.5 level in 2020 was 41 μg/m³, which is more than eight times higher than the WHO’s recommended limit. In particular, the study found that PM 2.5 levels were 14 times higher than the standards set by the WHO between October and March.

Due to the air pollution, deaths from stroke and heart attack account for 39 percent of all deaths. From November 29 to December 5, the National Center for Communicable Diseases tested 223 samples from the Ulaanbaatar city surveillance unit and other locations for SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2 viruses. Of the total samples, 4.9 percent were found to be SARS-CoV-2, 21.5 percent were found to be SARS-CoV-2, and 5.3 percent were found to be A(H1N1)pdm09.

The Government of Mongolia, the German Development Bank (KfW), and the Global Fund have signed a €29.0 million "Debt Conversion Agreement." The agreement was signed by Mongolia’s Minister of Finance, B. Javkhlan; KfW's Director for East and Southeast Asia, Frank Böne; KfW's Senior Portfolio Manager, Andrea Godon; and the Executive Director of the Global Fund, Peter Sands.

Under this agreement, the repayment of the €29 million loan owed by the Government of Mongolia to KfW will be converted into a grant. This financial support will be allocated to Mongolia's health sector, creating an opportunity for targeted investments in healthcare.

This marks the first time in Mongolia’s history that a debt repayment has been successfully converted into a grant. This sets a precedent for utilizing innovative financial instruments to address the country’s development needs.

Translated by ChatGPT

With the support of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung of Germany, the Mongolian Wool and Cashmere Association (MWCA) and the Mongolian Light Industry Workers’ Union (MLIWU) developed a “Tariff Agreement” in the cashmere sector. The agreement was signed by representatives from MWCA, Cashmere Holding LLC, Khanbogd LLC, and MLIWU.

The agreement, which was developed in line with Article 31 of the Labor Law of Mongolia, Convention No. 98 of the International Labor Organization, and international norms and basic principles of labor will enter into force on January 1, 2026.

This is the first time that a collective labor agreement has been concluded in Mongolia that complies with international labor standards.

A list of more than 230 occupations in the cashmere industry and job descriptions were developed in detail at each stage of production. Based on criteria such as skill requirements, effort, responsibility, and working conditions, a network of standard wage rates for the cashmere industry is anticipated to be established, a salary coefficient is determined, and the methodology for evaluating occupations is developed.

The introduction of this system will support decent employment in the cashmere industry and establish and enforce scientifically based international wage standards necessary for the development of sustainable production.

Mongolia has ratified the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education.

The convention, which was approved by the UNESCO General Conference in 2019, has been acceded to by 33 countries, with Mongolia becoming the 34th.

The document supports member states in the recognition of higher education diplomas and degrees to promote the right to education and enhance academic mobility.

Trade & Development Bank of Mongolia (TDBM), the oldest in Mongolia, has become the first bank in the country to offer Apple Pay to its customers.

This milestone underscores the bank's commitment to providing modern and secure payment solutions, responding to the increasing demand for mobile payment options in the country.

Apple Pay, which expanded into Mongolia in early 2024, offers a secure, fast, and convenient way for users to make payments using their Apple devices. TDBM moved quickly to integrate this service, recognizing its potential to improve the user experience for its customers. The bank’s decision to introduce Apple Pay is aligned with its goal of enhancing financial accessibility and convenience for Mongolian consumers.

In order to make this integration possible, TDBM collaborated with Compass Plus Technologies, a payment technology provider. The two companies worked together to ensure a smooth and efficient rollout of Apple Pay, allowing TDBM customers to use the service for everyday transactions at a wide range of locations that accept Apple Pay worldwide.

Representatives TDBM, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration, emphasizing that adding Apple Pay was a vital step in improving convenience for customers. He highlighted that the service would allow users to make payments on the go, offering greater flexibility for both personal and business use.

Employing new technologies

TDBM's partnership with Compass Plus Technologies is part of the bank's broader strategy to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving payment landscape. As part of its long-standing relationship with Compass Plus, TDBM continues to adopt innovative technologies to meet the needs of its customers.

The bank, which has been serving Mongolian businesses and individuals since its establishment in 1990, offers a wide variety of banking services. By introducing Apple Pay, the bank is reinforcing its position as a leading player in the Mongolian financial sector while promoting digital payment solutions that are safe, efficient, and widely accessible. This move also reflects the bank's broader aim to support the growth of Mongolia's digital economy and enhance the overall financial experience for its users.

On December 11 in Mongolia, H.E. Mr. IGAWAHARA Masaru, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Mongolia, and H.E. Mr. Sandag BYAMBATSOGT, Minister of Defence of Mongolia, signed the Agreement between the Government of Japan and the Government of Mongolia concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology (PDF)Open a New Window. The Agreement will enter into force after the completion of the necessary procedures between the governments of the two countries.

The Agreement establishes a legal framework for the Governments of Japan and Mongolia regarding the handling of defense equipment and technology to be transferred between the two governments in order to implement projects to be jointly determined including those contributing to international peace and stability. Specifically, it stipulates procedures to determine and confirm each specific transfer as well as basic rules on the proper use of the transferred defense equipment and technology.

The conclusion of this Agreement will ensure appropriate control over the defense equipment and technology transferred between Japan and Mongolia, especially regarding any subsequent transfer to a third party or any extra-purpose use. It is expected that this Agreement will contribute to closer cooperation between Japan and Mongolia for defense equipment and technology, and maintaining and improving the production and technological bases for Japan’s defense industry, thereby contributing to the security of Japan.

Two new reports published by the World Bank today offer policy options for strengthening Mongolia's financial sector and private sector, and recognize Mongolia's reform efforts and climate commitments. But they also highlight the need for better policy coordination and implementation across agencies to maximize impact.

"Creating a more efficient financial sector and a supportive environment for private investment can offer Mongolia significant development opportunities," said World Bank Country Manager for Mongolia Taehyun Lee. "A strategic, well-coordinated approach that aligns with sectoral policies will help the country achieve a more diversified, equitable and resilient development."

Building the Foundations for Financial Sector Development outlines comprehensive reforms Mongolia could adopt to address banking sector vulnerabilities and improve market development. It identifies steps policy makers could take to reform the country's legal and judicial system and strenghten its central bank in order to make it easier for banks to extend credit to the private sector, which fell from 60 percent of GDP in 2013 to 41 percent in 2022. New businesses, investments in assets, and access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) also decreased over this period. Banks' reluctance to take risks reflects the high concentration of Mongolia's banking system, in which the top three banks hold about 80 percent of assets.

The report stresses the importance of strengthening the independence, governance, and oversight of the Bank of Mongolia. It calls for better sharing of credit information; improved enforcement of contracts, including through judicial decisions; and out-of-court workouts. It also suggests restarting the government securities issuance program, in order to create a liquid market for domestic government securities, which is essential for developing the domestic capital market and improving the foreign exchange market.

Meanwhile, Boosting Mongolia's Private Sector and Green Competitiveness proposes policy actions to increase productivity and private investment, especially outside the mining sector. It recommends three main strategies, including i) making regulations more predictable and reducing bureaucracy through digitalization; ii) improving the capabilities of SMEs (through quality certification and technology adoption, for example) to help them grow; and iii) supporting public-private efforts, in order to attract private investment in renewable energy, energy efficient production, and sustainable agribusiness.

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Mongolia’s northernmost province hosts one of the world’s clearest lakes, Lake Khuvsgul. It’s a popular vacation destination for Mongolians and other tourists. While soaking in the last days of summer 2024, Volunteers Darcy, Noa, and John enjoyed hospitality at a small camp on the lake's southwestern shore. They soon discovered that the camp’s owner and manager, Yadam Otgonbayar, known as “Otgoo,” was also a part of the Peace Corps family.

Otgoo was born in 1966 and grew up in a small village at the southern tip of Lake Khuvsgul. She eventually became a Russian language teacher.

In 1991 Mongolia was transitioning to democracy and initiated a partnership with the Peace Corps in order to educate its citizens in English. News of the arrival of foreign English teachers spread throughout the country.

A quest to learn English

Upon hearing the news, Otgoo asked her school director if she could leave to study English to become an English teacher. The director declined Otgoo’s request because she was the school’s only Russian teacher.

Otgoo, however, is not one to take “no” for an answer. She quit her job and traveled to Sukhbaatar, where Peace Corps Volunteer Paul Dewey was teaching. There she approached a school director and asked to live in a dorm room while attending English lessons. He agreed. Although the school dorm had no heating, Otgoo was determined to make it work.

For two years Otgoo studied under Paul. By day she attended English lessons, and at night she borrowed Paul’s teaching materials and taught the same lessons to a small group of students at the school where she was living. The tuition she collected from her students enabled her to buy food and other necessities.

From student to teacher

One day, while Otgoo was studying in her dorm room, Paul came by to tell her that the Peace Corps was hiring teachers to teach Mongolian to the next Peace Corps Trainee cohort. He encouraged Otgoo to apply, given her skill in English and enthusiasm for teaching. She decided to apply.

As part of the application process Otgoo taught an English lesson for the Peace Corps program manager to observe. Otgoo recalls watching her fellow applicants, who were all trained English teachers from Sukhbaatar. They knew their students well and had clearly rehearsed their lessons with their students.

When Otgoo's turn came, she proudly introduced herself to the students and showed a map of her home province. “Hello, I’m Otgoo. I’m from Khuvsgul. Do you know where Khuvsgul is?” During the rest of the lesson, Otgoo asked her students questions and described her life in the northern province. Later she learned that the Peace Corps program manager was also from Khuvsgul.

Otgoo was hired to be a language and culture facilitator (LCF) for the Peace Corps, where she worked with Trainees in 1993–1994. One of her students, Layton C., said, “I was blessed and grateful to have achieved advanced Mongolian language proficiency, in large part due to Otgoo’s inspiring teaching.”

Teaching university-level English

After finishing her second year as an LCF, Otgoo heard about an opportunity to teach English at the business and management university in Ulaanbaatar, about 200 miles south of Sukhbaatar. Although she was not a trained teacher, by then her English skills were strong. She came to the interview with some trepidation. When she walked into the interview room, she was surprised to see yet another Peace Corps former student, Frank D. Once again, Otgoo was, in her words, “a very lucky woman.” She got the job.

Otgoo taught many students at the business and management university, earned an MBA, and studied hospitality in Europe. However, economic conditions in Mongolia were difficult in the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse.

Returning to Lake Khuvsgul as an entrepreneur

One day, Otgoo received a phone call from a former university student that she’d taught, then working for the provincial government in Khuvsgul. The government was looking for people to open new businesses. Otgoo had never owned a business and had no idea what sort of business she could start, but her former student immediately issued her a business-owner’s certificate and told her, “Go tell people in Khuvsgul that you’re a business owner, and they will help you.” So she did.

Otgoo returned to Khuvsgul as the new owner of a yet-to-be-developed ger (nomadic tents) camp. As backpackers trekked along the lake, Otgoo approached them for their business and asked them to spread the word. She offered them a place to sleep and a meal of fresh fish, which she caught in the lake.

Continuing to spread the Peace Corps spirit

Today, Otgoo is the proud owner of “Nature’s Door” ger camp on the southwest shore of Lake Khuvsgul. Nature’s Door has 12 gers, a restaurant, and a studio where Otgoo occasionally teaches English lessons to camp managers and local teachers. Otgoo manages a team of cooks, cleaners and security guards, whom she refers to as her “internal customers.” She feels her responsibility is to care for them and provide them with productive and meaningful jobs.

As more and more businesses establish themselves around the lake, Otgoo finds herself discouraged by the attitudes of local business owners who assume tourists are rich and have nothing to offer but money. Instead, she believes tourism should be seen as an opportunity to exchange cultures. Business owners and managers should focus on providing tourists with an authentic experience and improving the lives of their employees, just as Peace Corps did for her.

At the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, UNDP and the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Protection, co-organized an inter-ministerial discussion on Mongolia’s national report for the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The event brought together government officials and development partners to assess progress and outline the path forward in advancing gender equality.

The year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. This landmark global framework, endorsed by 189 countries, remains pivotal in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Addressing violence against women, one of the declaration’s 12 critical areas of concern, continues to be an urgent priority.

Mongolia’s national review, led by the Ministry of Family, Labour, and Social Protection with technical support from UNDP, identifies key lessons and actionable solutions to advance the objectives of the Beijing Declaration. These findings were presented at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Beijing+30 in Bangkok in November 2024 and will contribute to global deliberations at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women in March 2025.

His Excellency Enkh-Amgalan Luvsantseren, Minister for Family, Labour and Social Protection of Mongolia, stated “The Beijing Declaration has been a guiding framework for Mongolia’s efforts to promote gender equality. This review is more than a report—it is a call to action. By enhancing inter-ministerial coordination, we can accelerate progress and fulfill our commitments to the women and girls of Mongolia.”

Ms. Matilda Dimovska, UNDP Resident Representative in Mongolia, emphasized UNDP’s commitment: “UNDP is proud to support Mongolia in this crucial review of the Beijing Declaration. The findings present a clear roadmap for future actions and partnerships that will drive progress toward gender equality and ensure that no one is left behind.”

Ms. Cai Cai, Chief of the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Section, Social Development Division at UN ESCAP, highlighted the broader regional context: “The Asia-Pacific region’s progress on the Beijing Declaration demonstrates the power of regional collaboration. Mongolia’s proactive approach provides a compelling example of how national priorities can align with global objectives for gender equality.”

The inter-ministerial discussion reaffirmed the critical role of collaborative efforts in addressing gender-based violence and advancing gender equality in alignment with the Beijing Declaration’s vision.

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