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.

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/

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.

During his working visit to the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister of Mongolia Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai paid a courtesy call on Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. At the meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues related to expanding and developing Mongolia-UAE relations and cooperation.

Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene presented the 2024-2028 Action Program of the Government of Mongolia, outlining its key objectives. The two sides exchanged views on specific measures to expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation. The two parties reaffirmed their shared interest in advancing collaboration in mining, mineral resources, renewable energy, urban development, digital development, agriculture, and tourism, emphasizing the importance of mutually beneficial partnerships.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed his full support for intensifying collaboration in these sectors, noting his confidence that joint efforts would elevate Mongolia-UAE relations and cooperation to a new level.

The two sides also agreed to cooperate and share experiences in preparation for Mongolia’s hosting of the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP 17) in 2026.

On December 3, 2024, Prime Minister of Mongolia Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai held a meeting with President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the One Water Summit held in Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

At the meeting, the two sides expressed their interest in developing cooperation between Mongolia and France in the mining sector in an environment-friendly manner and collaborating to ensure water supply and water security in the Gobi region.

Furthermore, the parties expressed commitment to paying special attention to commencing and implementing major projects that would intensify Mongolia-France cooperation in the near future.

At the regular session of the Cabinet of Mongolia on December 4, 2024, Uchral Nyam-Osor, Head of the Cabinet Secretariat of Mongolia, presented measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions and providing clean energy in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia.

The population of Ulaanbaatar has increased by 27 percent over the past 10 years and tends to exceed 2.5 million by 2030 if this growth rate continues. Eighty percent of Ulaanbaatar’s air pollution is attributed to stoves used by households in ger districts and steam boilers operated by businesses and institutions. Ten percent comes from the more than 500 thousand vehicles on the roads, while the remaining portion is caused by other sources such as thermal power plants, ash ponds, road dust, and open waste. Although various measures have been implemented in recent years to reduce air pollution, the intended results have not yet been achieved.

Currently, the level of CO2 greenhouse gas emissions in Ulaanbaatar city exceeds the permissible limit by 30.7 percent, posing risks to public health. Alleviating carbon emissions through adopting clean energy or new decentralized energy sources, utilizing advanced and internationally qualified technologies, is being explored as a solution. This is an effective way to reduce air pollution in Ulaanbaatar in the short term. Most cities have adopted liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a thermal energy source, demonstrating that it is clean, safe, accessible, non-toxic, and more efficient. In Ulaanbaatar, it is feasible to implement such a project in three phases at the ger districts.

In connection with the presentation, the Cabinet assigned Minister of Energy of Mongolia Choijilsuren Battogtokh, and Governor of the Capital City and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar Nyambaatar Khishgee to study options for establishing decentralized energy systems in Ulaanbaatar and increasing installed capacity. They were also tasked with identifying solutions to provide households in ger districts with advanced energy sources, reducing their reliance on refined coal briquettes.

The Ulaanbaatar City Procurement Department has launched a tender worth 28 billion MNT to supply standard-compliant stoves to households in ger districts.

According to the tender notice posted on tender.gov.mn, the project is titled “Procurement of Standard-Compliant Household Stoves within the Air and Environmental Pollution Reduction Program for Households Excluded from Ger District Redevelopment Plans.” It was publicly announced on December 2.

The total budget allocated for the tender is 28,296,000,000 MNT, or 28 billion MNT. A total of 32,000 stoves are to be purchased, which equates to 884,250 MNT per stove.

The project targets households in ger districts not included in redevelopment plans, aiming to increase the number of stoves meeting the MNS5216:2016 standard and ensure safe and healthy living conditions for residents.

Interested parties must submit their bids as outlined in the tender documents before 9:00 AM on December 24, 2024, with the tender opening scheduled for the same day.

Approximately 70% of all households in Mongolia live in ger districts, with 273,000 of these households located in Ulaanbaatar.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been a total of 38,304 earthquakes in Mongolia.

Between January 1, 2024, and December 5, 2024, 38,304 earthquakes were recorded across Mongolia and its border areas. Of these, 22,610 earthquakes occurred within the territory of Mongolia. Among these, 36 were of magnitude 3.5–4.4, and 4 were of magnitude 4.5–5.6. The magnitude of earthquakes is measured on a scale of up to 8, with intensity evaluated on a 12-degree scale.

Magnitude vs. Intensity:

Magnitude measures the energy released at the earthquake’s source, beneath the ground.

Intensity is measured on the surface, assessing the impact on people and structures.

Magnitude Scale Effects:

2.5 or less: Recorded only by instruments.

2.5–5.4: Felt by people; minor damage possible.

5.5–6.0: Causes slight structural damage.

6.1–6.9: Can damage urban areas.

7.0–7.9: Results in severe damage.

8.0 or higher: Causes catastrophic damage, with near-complete destruction near the epicenter.

Earthquakes are natural disasters that can claim many lives and destroy human-made structures. Over recent years, the frequency and intensity of earthquakes have increased not only in Mongolia but also globally.

The most recent significant earthquake occurred at 6:16:56 AM on December 5, 2024, at "Shivdeg," located in the 3rd district of Khuvsgul Province's Khankh soum (286 km southwest of the provincial center, and 10 km east of the soum center). It had a magnitude of 5.2.

The strongest earthquake recorded in Khuvsgul Province in the last decade occurred on January 12, 2021, in Khankh soum, with a magnitude of 6.5.

Earthquake Preparedness:

Earthquakes and their associated risks are critical issues that require everyone’s attention. To ensure safety, the public is encouraged to prepare for earthquakes, learn response measures, and seek guidance from resources such as www.belenbai.mn. Being informed can help protect yourself and others from potential disasters.

Translated by ChatGPT

The U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Business Excellence for Sustainability and Transparency (BEST) program, helped 5,397 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Mongolia secure $100.4 million (MNT 329.7 billion) in loans and create over 4,000 new jobs in just five years.

Launched in 2019 with $15 million in USAID funding, the BEST program supported entrepreneurs with training on financial management, marketing, and, crucially, loan applications and documentation.

One of USAID’s key achievements was strengthening both women-led and rural SMEs. Out of the total loans facilitated by USAID, more than half were awarded to women-led businesses, empowering 3,005 female entrepreneurs. The program also provided $500,000 (MNT 1.7 billion) in grants to 176 startups and small businesses in rural provinces. This funding helped businesses purchase new equipment, create new jobs, and boost economic activity in underserved areas. With participants from Ulaanbaatar and 12 rural provinces, BEST also fostered collaboration among businesses that led to the formation of non-governmental organizations which have partnered with local governments to develop and approve regional development strategies, ensuring lasting benefits for SMEs.

“USAID’s BEST program has laid a strong foundation that will empower small businesses to thrive in Mongolia for years to come,” U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia Richard Buangan said. “I’m confident and excited that we will continue working with Mongolia’s private sector to create opportunities and long-term economic prosperity.”

Building on the success of the BEST Program, USAID will launch a second phase in 2025 – an anticipated $10 million (MNT 34 billion) investment over five years to enhance SMEs’ energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, and competitiveness to further support Mongolia’s economic growth and diversification. USAID invites eligible organizations to apply for this opportunity on grants.gov under Opportunity Number 72043825RFA00001. Applications are due by February 12, 2025.

Mongolia exported 74.2 million tons of coal in the first 11 months of this year, the Mongolian Customs General Administration reported on Thursday.

This marks a significant year-on-year increase of nearly 24 percent compared to the same period in 2023, according to official data released by the administration.

Coal remains one of Mongolia's key export commodities, reflecting the country's rich mineral reserves.

Initially, Mongolia set a coal export target of at least 60 million tons for 2024. However, buoyed by strong performance, the target has been revised upward to 75 million tons.

In 2023, Mongolia achieved a record coal export volume of 66.7 million tons, setting a new benchmark for its coal trade.

Building on this momentum, the Asian country plans to export at least 80 million tons of coal next year as outlined in its draft law for the 2025 state budget.