Mongolia has launched the final selection stage of the “National Green Lab” platform, an initiative aimed at supporting nature-based solutions and sustainable financing ahead of the country’s hosting of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP17) in 2026.

Initiated by the Office of the President of Mongolia in partnership with the Mongolian Nature Legacy Foundation and the Business Council of Mongolia, the program seeks to identify environmentally impactful and scalable green projects and prepare them to meet international investment standards.

The platform provides selected projects with two months of technical and financial advisory support, capacity-building programs, and mentorship to help improve investment readiness and connect them with domestic and international investors.

This year’s selection process places particular emphasis on projects related to sustainable pasture management, ecosystem restoration, and conservation, in line with Mongolia’s preparations for COP17 and the UN designation of 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, an initiative proposed by Mongolia.

Projects were accepted in six main categories, including pasture protection, sustainable natural resource use and livelihoods, land restoration and soil health, sustainable supply chains, green finance and market-based conservation financing, and technology-driven pasture management solutions.

A total of 135 projects were submitted, of which 71 advanced to the preliminary evaluation stage. Thirty projects were then shortlisted for the final round, where participants presented their proposals before a panel of judges. More than 10 top-performing projects will advance to the development phase of the National Green Lab platform and receive support for project refinement, investment preparation, and international-level training programs.

Javkhlan Bayarsaikhan, Advisor to the President on Project Coordination and Civil Society Policy, said, “After launching the initiative in February, we accepted project applications through the National Green Lab website. Out of 135 submitted projects, around 70 were selected following registration and preliminary screening. From these, 30 projects advanced to the next selection stage, and we are now working to choose the best proposals for the final round.

“The selected projects will be incubated and further improved until August before being presented during COP17. National Green Lab does not promise direct investment or fundraising. Rather, its goal is to provide free professional support to help projects develop and improve. In other words, whatever type of advice or enhancement a project requires, the platform will provide targeted assistance.

“During this period, participants will also take part in regular training programs, including project development, incubation, and project management training organized by international institutions such as PMI and Ernst & Young. We are also planning two separate events during COP17 where participants will present their projects. At these events, domestic and international investors will have the opportunity to review the improved projects and potentially invest in those they find promising.

“To reiterate, National Green Lab is not an initiative that directly secures investment funding. It is a voluntary collaborative initiative in which partner organizations work together to help projects improve free of charge and prepare them for presentation at the international level,” she said.

Nomindari Enkhtur, Executive Director of the Mongolian Nature’s Legacy Foundation, said, “The Mongolian Nature’s Legacy Foundation is supporting the implementation of this program voluntarily. We are involved in organizing the entire process, from establishing the working office to coordinating operations.

“We will finalize the top 10–15 projects within this week. The selected projects will have the opportunity to present their ideas to the public, foreign delegates, and investors attending COP17. The main goal is to serve as a bridge connecting people with impactful and innovative project ideas to organizations and individuals interested in investment.

“As Mongolia prepares to host COP17, both foreign and domestic investors are showing strong interest in pasture and environmental projects. National Green Lab aims to create opportunities to connect these two sides.

“After the top projects are selected, they will participate in a two-month incubator program providing technical support. Unlike traditional incubators that last for many months, this program is specifically designed to prepare participants for COP17. For example, participants will receive training and advisory support on how to present projects to international investors and how to prepare effective pitches.

“In some cases, projects may demonstrate significant environmental impact but lack financial sustainability. Therefore, depending on each project’s specific needs, professional advice and support will be provided in areas such as finance, environmental impact, project development, and presentation skills. As a result, the selected projects will be prepared according to unified standards, and around 15 projects will have the opportunity to openly present their proposals to the public and investors during a special event organized alongside COP17,” she said.

The judging panel includes representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Mongolia, The Nature Conservancy, the Business Council of Mongolia, the Mongolian Nature’s Legacy Foundation, PMI Mongolia, Trade and Development Bank of Mongolia, and Khan Bank.

Published Date:2026-05-27