As Mongolia marks World Meteorological Day, attention turns to the science and systems that help the country anticipate climate risks, protect lives, and plan for a more resilient future. This year also coincides with 50 years of partnership between UNDP and Mongolia, a milestone reflected in long-standing collaborations that have strengthened national institutions over decades. At the heart of this partnership stands National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring (NAMEM), whose long-standing cooperation with UNDP has played critical role in advancing Mongolia’s meteorological and environmental monitoring systems.

Mongolia’s vast geography and extreme climate make reliable meteorological and environmental information essential for national development. From droughts and dzuds to floods and heatwaves, weather and climate patterns shape livelihoods, ecosystems, and economic stability. From the outset of its engagement in Mongolia, UNDP supported national efforts to strengthen meteorological and environmental monitoring capacities, at a time when such systems were still emerging.

During the early years of cooperation, working alongside NAMEM, UNDP supported the establishment of an information and computing center, which strengthened centralized data processing, long-term climate records, and systematic environmental analysis. This effort improved the accuracy and reliability of weather forecasting nationwide, benefiting people across the country.

As the country’s development context evolved, so did the partnership. Climate risks intensified, and national planning increasingly relied on timely, high-quality data. UNDP’s support expanded to institutional strengthening, technical advisory services, and support for integrating climate and environmental information into national policies, early warning systems, and decision-making processes.

A major recent milestone in this long-standing collaboration has been the introduction of high-performance computing capacity to support climate and environmental modeling in Mongolia. NAMEM received a next-generation computing system from UNDP’s ADAPT project, funded by the Green Climate Fund, which significantly improved the country’s capacity to handle complex climate data. This capacity enables more accurate forecasting, improved risk analysis, impact-based forecasting, and stronger early warning, particularly for rural communities whose livelihoods are most exposed to climate variability.

For NAMEM, this development represents more than a technological upgrade. It reflects forward-looking risk management, where science and data guide decisions before hazards escalate into crises. “Our partnership with UNDP has been valuable in strengthening Mongolia’s meteorological and environmental monitoring system. It has reduced uncertainty, improved the accuracy of weather forecasts, and enabled robust modeling of future climate trends, supporting more informed planning and risk management across agriculture, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness,” said the Director General of NAMEM, Battulga Erkhembayar.

The UNDP Resident Representative in Mongolia, Matilda Dimovska, emphasized that this cooperation reflects the UNDP’s long-term commitment to supporting national institutions. “Strong institutions are essential for sustainable development, and they are built through long-term partnerships. Building on five decades of collaboration, UNDP looks ahead with a continued commitment to strengthening national capacities that support evidence-based, climate-resilient, and future-fit development in Mongolia.”

As UNDP marks 50 years of partnership with Mongolia, this collaboration with NAMEM stands as a clear example of how long-term support for national capacity can deliver lasting impact. On World Meteorological Day, it serves as a reminder that behind every forecast lies decades of investment in knowledge, institutions, and trust and that building resilience is a continuous journey grounded in partnership.

Published Date:2026-03-25