The agreement comprises three loans and one grant as part of three projects in Mongolia.

Fernandez Lommen, ADB country director for the East Asian country, said the projects aligned with the ADB’s strategy for Mongolia which “supports government efforts to foster inclusive growth and ensure opportunities for all, particularly people from disadvantaged backgrounds”.

“We are ready to work closely with the government of Mongolia to improve education quality while also helping address the country’s most pressing problem, which is air pollution, to help improve people’s quality of life.”

The loan for air quality, worth $130m, will focus on various key reform areas, including strengthening the regulatory framework for reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in the country.

The second project aims to improve people’s access to quality education by narrowing the gap in the number of children going to school.

It will also support reforms in the curriculum, help train teachers, managers and local education administrators, as well as improve teaching and learning materials.

The third project will focus on early identification of children with disabilities through medical and social interventions, the bank said.

It will also improve service delivery for people with disabilities. The loan will be supported by a $2m grant from the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction.