1 MONGOLIA MARKS CENTENNIAL WITH A NEW COURSE FOR CHANGE WWW.EASTASIAFORUM.ORG PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      2 E-MART OPENS FIFTH STORE IN ULAANBAATAR, MONGOLIA, TARGETING K-FOOD CRAZE WWW.BIZ.CHOSUN.COM PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      3 JAPAN AND MONGOLIA FORGE HISTORIC DEFENSE PACT UNDER THIRD NEIGHBOR STRATEGY WWW.ARMYRECOGNITION.COM  PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      4 CENTRAL BANK LOWERS ECONOMIC GROWTH FORECAST TO 5.2% WWW.UBPOST.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      5 L. OYUN-ERDENE: EVERY CITIZEN WILL RECEIVE 350,000 MNT IN DIVIDENDS WWW.GOGO.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      6 THE BILL TO ELIMINATE THE QUOTA FOR FOREIGN WORKERS IN MONGOLIA HAS BEEN SUBMITTED WWW.GOGO.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      7 THE SECOND NATIONAL ONCOLOGY CENTER TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN ULAANBAATAR WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/20      8 GREEN BOND ISSUED FOR WASTE RECYCLING WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/19      9 BAGANUUR 50 MW BATTERY STORAGE POWER STATION SUPPLIES ENERGY TO CENTRAL SYSTEM WWW.MONTSAME.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/19      10 THE PENSION AMOUNT INCREASED BY SIX PERCENT WWW.GOGO.MN PUBLISHED:2024/12/19      КОКС ХИМИЙН ҮЙЛДВЭРИЙН БҮТЭЭН БАЙГУУЛАЛТЫГ ИРЭХ ОНЫ ХОЁРДУГААР УЛИРАЛД ЭХЛҮҮЛНЭ WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     "ЭРДЭНЭС ТАВАНТОЛГОЙ” ХК-ИЙН ХУВЬЦАА ЭЗЭМШИГЧ ИРГЭН БҮРД 135 МЯНГАН ТӨГРӨГ ӨНӨӨДӨР ОЛГОНО WWW.MONTSAME.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     ХУРИМТЛАЛЫН САНГИЙН ОРЛОГО 2040 ОНД 38 ИХ НАЯДАД ХҮРЭХ ТӨСӨӨЛӨЛ ГАРСАН WWW.NEWS.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     “ЭРДЭНЭС ОЮУ ТОЛГОЙ” ХХК-ИАС ХЭРЛЭН ТООНО ТӨСЛИЙГ ӨМНӨГОВЬ АЙМАГТ ТАНИЛЦУУЛЛАА WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     Л.ОЮУН-ЭРДЭНЭ: ХУРИМТЛАЛЫН САНГААС НЭГ ИРГЭНД 135 МЯНГАН ТӨГРӨГИЙН ХАДГАЛАМЖ ҮҮСЛЭЭ WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     “ENTRÉE RESOURCES” 2 ЖИЛ ГАРУЙ ҮРГЭЛЖИЛСЭН АРБИТРЫН МАРГААНД ЯЛАЛТ БАЙГУУЛАВ WWW.BLOOMBERGTV.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     “ORANO MINING”-ИЙН ГЭРЭЭ БОЛОН ГАШУУНСУХАЙТ-ГАНЦМОД БООМТЫН ТӨСЛИЙН АСУУДЛААР ЗАСГИЙН ГАЗАР ХУРАЛДАЖ БАЙНА WWW.BLOOMBERGTV.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/20     АЖИЛЧДЫН САРЫН ГОЛЧ ЦАЛИН III УЛИРЛЫН БАЙДЛААР ₮2 САЯ ОРЧИМ БАЙНА WWW.BLOOMBERGTV.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/19     PROGRESSIVE EQUITY RESEARCH: 2025 ОН “PETRO MATAD” КОМПАНИД ЭЭЛТЭЙ БАЙХААР БАЙНА WWW.BLOOMBERGTV.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/19     2026 ОНЫГ ДУУСТАЛ ГАДААД АЖИЛТНЫ ТОО, ХУВЬ ХЭМЖЭЭГ ХЯЗГААРЛАХГҮЙ БАЙХ ХУУЛИЙН ТӨСӨЛ ӨРГӨН МЭДҮҮЛЭВ WWW.EAGLE.MN НИЙТЭЛСЭН:2024/12/19    

Events

Name organizer Where
MBCC “Doing Business with Mongolia seminar and Christmas Receptiom” Dec 10. 2024 London UK MBCCI London UK Goodman LLC

NEWS

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Flu, flu-like illnesses surge in Mongolia's capital amid severe air pollution www.xinhuanet.com

The prevalence of flu and flu-like illnesses is surging in Ulan Bator, the capital of Mongolia, amid severe air pollution, according to the country's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) on Monday.
Nationwide, 277,000 people sought outpatient care in the past week, with 7.7 percent showing symptoms of influenza or influenza-like illness, the NCCD said in a statement.
The NCCD urged the public to take strict infection prevention measures, including wearing masks, to combat the high prevalence of flu and flu-like illnesses amid the worsening air pollution.
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Support for OSCE principles reaffirmed at 31st Ministerial Council in Malta www.ubpost.mn

The 31st Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council took place in Ta Kali, Malta, on December 5-6, with a delegation from Mongolia led by L.Munkhtushig, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two-day session saw participation from foreign ministers and senior officials from the OSCE’s 57 member states and 11 partners for cooperation. Key topics discussed included the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, regional security, human rights, and pressing economic and environmental challenges. Internal matters such as the organization’s budget and senior official appointments were also addressed.
During the discussions, State Secretary L.Munkhtushig reaffirmed Mongolia's unwavering support for the OSCE’s fundamental principles and initiatives. He emphasized the country’s commitment to collaborative efforts in areas such as democracy promotion, human rights protection, good governance, and combating corruption. Mongolia has been a partner since 2004 and became a full member in 2012, reinforcing its role within the organization.
The council concluded with significant institutional decisions aimed at bolstering the OSCE's capacity to respond effectively to complex security issues. Notably, consensus was reached on appointing a new OSCE Secretary General and Heads of Institutions, strengthening leadership to steer the organization during uncertain times. Malta's Chair-in-Office, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg, highlighted the importance of these developments, stating: “Consensus is not a relic of the past but an achievable reality when collective interests take precedence over individual differences.”
Borg stressed that these outcomes were not mere formalities but vital for the OSCE’s function and effectiveness. “These decisions reaffirm our ability to address today’s security challenges,” he added, underscoring the OSCE’s enduring role in promoting peace, democracy, and human rights, and supporting conflict prevention and comprehensive security. Reflecting on the year’s theme, ‘Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Security’, Borg noted that Malta had laid a strong foundation for the organization to meet future demands and be better prepared for challenges ahead.
The council’s closing also marked the transition of the OSCE Chairmanship to Finland for 2025, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. Incoming Chairperson-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen highlighted that Finland’s leadership would focus on resilience, particularly amid Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. “We aim to enhance the OSCE’s operational capacity and empower people in neighboring areas to live in democratic states governed by the rule of law,” Valtonen said, reaffirming the importance of OSCE principles.
In his closing remarks, Borg called on member states to renew their commitment to the organization’s foundational principles. “Let us leave behind a legacy of peace, security, and prosperity for future generations. An investment in the OSCE is an investment in the spirit of possibility,” he concluded.
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Mongolian Prime Minister visits Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque www.wam.ae

Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, Prime Minister of Mongolia, visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, accompanied by Odonbaatar Shijeekhuu, Ambassador of Mongolia to the UAE, and his accompanying delegation.
Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai and the accompanying delegation toured the mosque's halls and outer corridors, learning about the mosque's cultural message of coexistence, tolerance, and openness to others, inspired by the values of the founding father.
Accompanied by Dr. Yousif Al Obaidli, Director-General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, they also learned about the significant role played by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre in promoting the true essence of Islamic culture, building bridges of understanding with various cultures around the world, and what distinguishes it from other places of worship.
He and his accompanying delegation were briefed on the history of the grand edifice, the mosque's aesthetics, and the exquisite Islamic architectural arts that are evident in every corner.
They also viewed the unique artifacts and the finest examples of Islamic civilization's artistic and architectural designs throughout the ages, which come together in the mosque's design to reflect the beauty of cultural harmony and unity in a single creative work.
At the end of the visit, the guest was presented with a copy of the book "Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque: Flow of Peace," the latest publication by the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre. The book takes readers on a photographic journey to explore the architectural beauty of the mosque through a collection of award-winning photos from the "Spaces of Light" competition, highlighting the mosque's unique architectural art.
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Interview: Mongolia-China eco-cooperation fruitful, says minister www.xinhuanet.com

Mongolia-China cooperation in combating desertification, conserving biodiversity, and mitigating climate change is fruitful and flourishing, Mongolia's Minister of Environment and Climate Change Saldan Odontuya has said.
Joint environmental initiatives are a key area of bilateral eco-cooperation, said the minister in an interview with Xinhua, adding that they are in line with the shared goals outlined in the 2022 joint statement on advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era between Mongolia and China.
To further strengthen cooperation in desertification prevention, the two countries have jointly established the China-Mongolia Desertification Prevention and Control Cooperation Center. A research team from Peking University is preparing a comprehensive technical and economic feasibility study, and a joint working group is conducting research on the project, the minister added.
As part of this collaboration, China has supported Mongolia's "Plant a Billion Trees" plan, which aims to plant at least 1 billion trees by 2030 to combat desertification.
China International Development Cooperation Agency has reached an agreement with Mongolia's Ministry of Economy and Development and other relevant agencies to advance desertification prevention. Additionally, Mongolian officials and environmental experts have traveled to China to learn from the country's desertification control experience.
Odontuya highlighted the success of a joint project between Mongolia and China from 2018 to 2024, which aimed at protecting the critically endangered Gobi bear (Mazaalai) through technical assistance to improve research conditions and facilitate collaboration between Mongolian and Chinese scientists.
The Gobi Desert is home to rare and endangered species, such as the Gobi bear, Przewalski's horses (Takhi), argali wild sheep, snow leopards, and migratory birds. This area is the only habitat of the critically endangered wild Bactrian camel (Khavtgai).
Looking ahead, Mongolia seeks to expand cross-border conservation efforts, with an emphasis on wildlife migration routes protection, zoonotic diseases prevention, and capacity-building, Odontuya said.
Mongolia-China cross-border preservation, collaborative research, and cross-border corridors significantly contribute to protecting the species in their native habitats and conserving biodiversity, the minister noted.
In southern Mongolia's Gobi Desert, the government is developing infrastructure in an environmentally sustainable manner to protect wildlife like the white gazelle and Mongolian wild asses (Equus hemionus), the minister said.
"We have already begun approving and implementing standards for wildlife-friendly crossings and fences," Odontuya said. "Drawing on this experience, Mongolia is ready to collaborate with China to make the border fences between the two countries more wildlife-friendly."
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Mongolia’s Corporate Income Tax: A Gateway to Growth and Global Expansion www.etl-global.com

Mongolia’s Corporate Income Tax (CIT) structure offers a compelling incentive for businesses and investors, balancing economic growth with a supportive tax environment. With a 10% rate on profits up to MNT 6 billion (USD 1.8 million) and 25% on higher earnings, Mongolia’s CIT encourages local business growth while remaining competitive for international corporations.
The government provides targeted tax breaks in key sectors like mining, renewable energy, and export industries, fueling opportunities in sustainable development and resource-rich ventures. A streamlined, digital tax-filing system makes compliance straightforward, enhancing transparency and efficiency.
For companies seeking new markets, Mongolia’s CIT framework offers a rare blend of low taxes, high growth potential, and strategic incentives—an attractive choice for ambitious businesses ready to expand in Asia.
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Rio Tinto’s abandoned Panguna copper mine still a threat, report says www.bloomberg.com

Rio Tinto Group contributed to widespread damage due to waste left at an abandoned copper mine in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, and risks to local communities are ongoing, a report has found.
Panguna, which was operated by Rio subsidiary Bougainville Copper, was once one of the world’s largest copper mines. It was shut in 1989 after local protests over the disbursement of revenue from the mine degenerated into a civil war that killed as many as 20,000 people. The project has remained abandoned and Rio has struggled to obtain access to the site for remedial purposes.
In 2021, Rio agreed to fund an independent study, undertaken by environmental firm Tetra Tech Coffey. The report released Friday found serious contamination to the Jaba-Kawerong river and its tributaries, while the tailings dam — where waste from the mine is stored — is unstable and at risk of collapse. There is a risk of landslides, and parts of the mine are so unstable that there’s a threat to human life in nearby communities, it said.
“While we continue to review the report, we recognize the gravity of the impacts identified and accept the findings,” Rio’s Australia chief, Kellie Parker, said in a statement.
The Human Rights Law Centre, which lodged a complaint to the Australian government that prompted the report, welcomed the findings and called on Rio to commit to addressing its recommendations. It said the miner should contribute to a “substantial, independently managed fund to help address the harms caused by the mine and assist long-term rehabilitation efforts.”
“This is a defining moment for Rio Tinto’s social license to operate,” the centre’s legal director, Keren Adams, said in a separate statement. “Rio Tinto now has a critical opportunity to demonstrate that it is serious about meeting its human rights and environmental obligations by committing to remediation.”
(By Paul-Alain Hunt)
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Mongolia Eyes India as Third Destination for Coal Exports www.thediplomat.com

Mongolia and India are taking major steps to boost economic activities between Ulaanbaatar and New Delhi. Amid disruptions in Australian coal supplies to India, in tandem with Mongolia’s drive to diversify its export destinations, the two countries are embarking on a new deal that may create a new supply line from Mongolia to India.
In late November, the Mongolian and the Indian governments discussed what could be a major deal for both Ulaanbaatar and New Delhi: exports of coking coal, which is a critical raw material for India’s steel industry. The deal concerns two specific companies, JSW Steel and Steel Authority of India (SAIL), but if it succeeds it will pave the way for more companies to follow.
Currently in progress, the India-Mongolia preliminary pact would involve exporting “coal, copper, and transit of these minerals.” Given Mongolia’s landlocked position, the country’s economy requires strategic connectivity with its neighbors for the use of their trade ports. Mongolia’s exports to third destinations will need to transit through either Russia or China, and those logistics will be reflected in India’s cost-benefit analysis.
In recent years, the changes in Australian coal supply to India and the intermittent tensions between India and China have pushed India’s Modi government to seek alternative sources of coal. Any India-Mongolia coal trade thus would be likely to transit through Russia. For Mongolia, these geopolitical tensions and economic rivalries only offers a window of opportunity for meeting it own economic goals.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), between 2000 and 2022, India’s coal consumption rose 219 percent. India’s continued growth and economic goals require a major uptake in coal consumption. Following Australia-India supply chain issues, in 2021, India’s JSW Steel imported 8,000 tons of high-quality coal from Mongolia as a test drive, the Mongolian Mining Journal reported. In that case, the coal transited through China. To Mongolia’s landlocked economy, having India, a major coal consumer, as a customer can make a big difference in revenue and development, while signaling other global partners to consider Mongolia as a coal exporter.
Today, around 90 percent of Mongolia’s coal production is exported to China. The construction of railways and improving connectivity supports Mongolia’s export to its neighbors but also to third countries. As I wrote previously for Foreign Policy, new railroads are expected to increase “exports to between $14 billion and $17 billion in 2025-2028 and $20 billion by 2029.”
Considering the distance, pricing, taxation, and China-Mongolia railway connectivity, there is no better export destination than China. At the same time, Beijing’s extensive financial and technological shift to renewable energy will have a direct impact on Mongolia’s coal exports, forcing Ulaanbaatar to seek additional buyers. Although this by no means will replace China as a major buyer, in the long run, it does behoove Ulaanbaatar to secure alternative destinations for its exports.
In the last decade, Mongolia and India have successfully leveraged their strategic partnership in starting multiple economic ventures. India’s investment in Mongolia’s first oil refinery is one notable example. According to Mongolia’s Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority, “The oil refinery is expected to reduce dependence on fuel imports and [reduce] foreign exchange outflows by 20 percent and increase Mongolia’s budget revenues by $150 million.” The refinery, with an output of 1.5 million tons, is supposed to be operational in 2026.
As Mongolia continue to seek avenues to diversify its energy sector, India’s participation will be crucial. In 2009, India and Mongolia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation in radioactive minerals, nuclear energy, and uranium development in Mongolia. Similar to France’s interest in Mongolia’s uranium deposits, India is also looking to activate previous agreements into working mechanisms.
In 2019, during Mongolian President Battulga Khaltmaa’s state visit to India, the two countries signed multiple agreements that boosted their ties in diverse sectors including exploration and uses of outer space, cultural exchanges, animal husbandry, and enhancing disaster response.
In line with Ulaanbaatar’s third neighbor policy and its economic goals, Mongolia is constantly searching for diverse avenues to increase exports, attract investment, and remain globally relevant with its abundance of natural resources. Mongolia’s government, headed by Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, is pushing the diversification agenda while also strengthening its comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia and China.
These efforts supplement geopolitical shifts and emerging trade routes, which Mongolia has no control over nor direct access to. In this context, Mongolian coal exports to India have the potential to reduce Ulaanbaatar’s landlocked conundrum.
As Mongolia and India will celebrate the 70th anniversary of thee establishment of diplomatic relations in 2025, Ulaanbaatar and New Delhi’s cooperation will continue to expand on economic, trade, scientific, technical, and humanitarian issues. The two countries’ economic partnership, specifically exports of Mongolian coal to India, has the potential to create a new trade route Ulaanbaatar can utilize more broadly.
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ADB, Orchlon School Sign $13.5 Million Loan for Mongolia’s First Internationally Certified Green Campus www.adb.org

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a senior secured 45.7 billion Mongolian togrog (equivalent to $13.5 million) loan with Orchlon School and Kindergarten Complex LLC to support Mongolia’s first internationally certified green campus.
The financing will support the construction of a new 4-floor new school annex that incorporates climate mitigation and adaptation features, and includes modern facilities such as laboratories for science, arts, and engineering courses, as well as indoor multipurpose halls for sports. The campus aims to be certified under the internationally recognized Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE) program, targeting at least 20% savings in energy, water, and embodied energy in materials.
“This project marks ADB's first private sector intervention in Mongolia's education sector and underscores ADB's commitment to fostering inclusive and sustainable development in the country,” said ADB Director General for Private Sector Operations Suzanne Gaboury. "By supporting the country’s first green campus, we are enhancing educational infrastructure while promoting environmental sustainability and resilience."
Mongolia is among the countries most impacted by climate change. The natural hazards caused by climate trends have increased the risk of absenteeism and dropouts, which could lead to reduced access to education, lower attendance rates, and potentially poorer learning outcomes. Green buildings are still relatively new in Mongolia.
"We are thrilled to partner with ADB on this groundbreaking project," said Orchlon School Principal and Founder Batmunkh Dashdeleg. "This expansion will allow us to provide more students with high-quality, bilingual education that preserves and promotes Mongolian culture, while also setting a benchmark for green building practices in Mongolia."
Established in 2001, Orchlon is the largest private K-12 institution in Mongolia. It is the only Mongolian school that provides a dual curriculum from preschool to grade 12, comprising the Mongolian National Secondary Education curriculum and the Cambridge International curriculum. With nearly 2,000 students and a strong focus on academic excellence and holistic development, Orchlon has received numerous accolades and continues to lead in educational innovation.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.
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European Union and United Nations support Mongolia’s progress in public finance and decent work www.eeas.europa.eu

The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), alongside the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), concluded the "SDG-Aligned Budgeting to Transform Employment in Mongolia" (SDGBE) project.
Launched in October 2020 as part of the European Union’s €50.8 million Budget Support Programme for Mongolia, the €7.4 million project has been instrumental in enhancing Mongolia’s public financial management and employment systems. By aligning budget planning with national development priorities, it has advanced sustainable development, decent work, and inclusive economic growth.
Key results include the adoption of Results-Based Budgeting (RBB) to align budget proposals and reporting with Mongolia’s development priorities. Six budget governors and local governments will now implement results-based budgeting starting in 2025, supported by an online system launched at the Ministry of Finance. To improve transparency, the project enhanced public and parliamentary oversight of budgets, enabling better analysis of policy effectiveness, piloting SDG performance audits and encouraging public participation in budget discussions.
On employment, the project introduced more proactive and client-focused policies for wage-based and self-employment measures. In technical and vocational education and training (TVET), it supported demand-driven curricula, inclusive learning environments, and alignment with international standards, including the approval of the National Qualification Framework and Occupational Indexing. Labour standards were also improved including enhanced capacity for labour inspectors and public awareness campaigns about decent work and youth rights in the workplace.
H.E. Mr. Enkh-Amgalan L. acknowledged the significant contributions and achievements of the project, stating, “The Government of Mongolia, particularly the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Protection, will continue to enhance and sustain results-based policies and budgeting approaches to ensure accessible and efficient public services, contributing to social and economic development.”
Collaboration between public and private sectors also advanced economic growth, with initiatives like developing export products in the camel milk and offal meat value chains. Young entrepreneurs received support to build businesses, while technology transfers strengthened agri-food systems.
H.E. Ms. Ina Marčiulionytė, Ambassador of the European Union to Mongolia, celebrated the project as a significant milestone in 35 years of European Union-Mongolia diplomatic relations. She stated, “I hope all stakeholders can sustain the achievements of the project and prioritize to continue capacity building, knowledge sharing, and the adoption of best practices in public financial management and employment services.”
During the event, partners discussed strategies to sustain these achievements, with a focus on institutionalizing Results-Based Budgeting and enhancing employment outcomes. Resources developed during the project were shared through a dedicated knowledge website: www.sdgbeproject.mn
Ms. Matilda Dimovska, UNDP Resident Representative in Mongolia, added, "What we have done over the last four years has laid down roads—the foundation for a nationwide journey toward sustainable, human and environment centered development. The systems are in place, the tools are ready, and the vision is clear. So, now I call for taking what we have built together and moving forward with even greater determination."
The training of over 17,000 public sector officers in areas such as results-based management, budget oversight, employment promotion, and labour standards highlights the transformative impact of the project. This sustainability effort has created a multiplier effect, benefiting hundreds of thousand job seekers, unemployed individuals (including youth in remote areas and persons with disabilities), as well as employers seeking more productive and satisfied workers, and employees striving for better working conditions.
About European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It acts globally to promote sustainable development of societies, environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.
About UNDP
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.
About FAO
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is the leading international agency dedicated to achieving food security for all and ensuring that no one is left behind. Active in over 130 countries, FAO works to eliminate hunger, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. Guided by its Four Betters—Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment, and a Better Life—FAO partners with governments, organizations, and communities to deliver innovative, sustainable solutions to global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change, creating a resilient and equitable future for people and the planet.
About ILO
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work.
The International Labour Organization is the United Nations agency for the world of work. We bring together governments, employers and workers to drive a human-centred approach to the future of work through employment creation, rights at work, social protection and social dialogue.
For further inquiries:
Otgongerel Kh., SDGBE Project Communications Officer (otgongerel.khalzanbanid@undp.org)
Tselmeg Chuluunbaatar, Press Officer,
Project knowledge website: https://sdgbeproject.mn/
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Mongolia sees value in virtual collaborations www.peacecorps.gov

Interest in virtual, intercultural collaboration is growing among Peace Corps Mongolia's partner organizations. Since 2023, in addition to their in-person work, some Peace Corps Mongolia Volunteers have collaborated with partners to complete capacity-strengthening projects online. This enables organizations that are too remote to host a Volunteer to still benefit from collaboration with the Peace Corps while also expanding the Volunteers’ connections and knowledge of the country. Interest is so high and diverse that it has outpaced the volume and experience that the 44 current Volunteers can accommodate.
To meet the increasing number and complexity of partner projects, Peace Corps Mongolia decided to submit the partner requests for virtual collaboration through the agency’s third way to serve: the Virtual Service Pilot (VSP). VSP is especially useful in supporting partner projects that require more specialized skills or fall outside of Peace Corps Mongolia’s typical education sector.
“If the project and activities require someone with more experience or [an advanced] academic background in a specific field than the Volunteers we have in country, then we recommend VSP,” explained Ariunaa, who coordinates Peace Corps Mongolia's online collaborations.
Likewise, virtual service is a new way that U.S. citizens, who have special skills but may not be able to serve in person, can collaborate with Peace Corps partners. We asked a few of the recent Participants to share their experience.
Co-teaching conversational English with aviation staff
With direct flights between the United States and Mongolia now offered, the National Civil Aviation Center of Mongolia’s Aviation Training Center was interested in partnering with the Peace Corps for the first time to enhance their English language training. The training center was excited to provide their engineers and administrative staff members an opportunity to practice conversations with a native English speaker for 14 weeks.
One of the aviation staff members involved shared, “I find the English conversation class with my colleagues to be an amazing experience. It is not just about practicing English; it’s a space where we share personal stories, knowledge, challenges, and push ourselves beyond our comfort zones. This experience will help me communicate more fluently and confidently with English speakers.”
Enhancing an NGO guidebook with the United Nations Association
There are over 20,000 registered NGOs in Mongolia, but less than half are active due to a lack of capacity, financial opportunities, and support. The United Nations Association (UNA) Mongolia sought to change that by expanding its existing guidebook to include chapters on topics such as monitoring and evaluation, financial management, grants management, social entrepreneurship, and advocacy for social impact.
“By developing a comprehensive, ready-to-use guidebook on organizational strategy and management, we aim to provide a sustainable resource for all NGOs to improve their activities according to global best practices. We hope to hold several in-person and virtual workshops to disseminate the learnings,” shared UNA’s secretary general and VSP counterpart, Khishigjargal.
The VSPP involved, Nicora G., shared that even as a Returned Volunteer (Mongolia 2004-2006), virtual engagement allowed her to learn more about the local culture. “It has been interesting to learn about the growth and changes in Mongolia over the past 18 years since I lived there as a Peace Corps Volunteer. It was especially fun to see how the Naadam festival is celebrated in the capital, since I only experienced it in more rural settings. I was very intrigued to see the costume parade and to see the beautiful improvements to Sukhbaatar Square."
Supporting internship programming and mentoring young professionals
Jennifer M., who has over 15 years of related experience, quickly signed up to support the NGO for 25 weeks. Jennifer shared youth-empowerment resources and engaging workshop approaches, which her counterpart incorporated into their trainings for on-the-ground Volunteers and NGO trainers.
The CEO and founder of the NGO said, “The insights I have heard from youth participants are incredible. Participants have attended workshops [on] work-life balance and various soft skills, including stress management and self-observation. I have no doubt that these [lessons] will be important for these individuals in their personal ambitions and more.”
Ariunaa also shared that partners are excited for more online support early next year. “We received requests for virtual collaboration in a variety of sectors, such as environment, climate change, waste management, digital management system development, and social [work]. This shows that [we are] expanding our collaboration in variety of sectors through VSP,” she said.
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