Mongolia

Switzerland supports Mongolia in the areas of democracy, human rights and gender equality; climate change and the environment; and inclusive economic development. After 20 years of successful engagement, Switzerland will end its bilateral development cooperation in Mongolia by 2024. It will phase out its engagement in a responsible manner and ensure that results achieved to date will be preserved.

After the collapse of communism in 1989, Mongolia experienced a social and economic transformation that led to a successful transition to a democratic multi-party system and market economy. Since the adoption of the democratic constitution in 1992, the country has made significant political, social and economic progress, including in reducing poverty. The 'Vision 2050' policy adopted by the Mongolian Parliament, which builds on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, sets a long-term path for development. Mongolia now ranks among the middle-income countries.

After 20 years of successful engagement, Switzerland will end its bilateral development cooperation in Mongolia by 2024. It will phase out its engagement in a responsible manner and ensure that results achieved to date will be preserved.

Democracy, human rights and gender equality

Despite significant progress in this area, ensuring that all people in Mongolia have equal and long-term access to public services remains a challenge. Switzerland promotes decentralisation and government accountability to citizens. It supports efforts that enable citizens to express their needs to ensure that everyone has access to high-quality public services. Switzerland supports, for example, the implementation of the recently enacted decentralisation law and promotes the right of citizens to participate in political processes. Switzerland's parliamentary services collaborate with Mongolia's parliamentary services to advise them on how to organise their processes efficiently and transparently. In the area of gender equality, Switzerland supports a national programme to combat domestic and gender-based violence.

Good governance

Gender equality

Climate change and environment

Climate change and environmental protection are increasingly important issues in Mongolia too. That is why Switzerland will continue its engagement in this area and is working to raise awareness and transfer knowledge on climate and environmental issues, especially among young people. It supports Mongolia's efforts to tackle air pollution, improve waste management and conserve pastureland. Switzerland is helping to expand and to digitalise the waste disposal system in the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar. It is also promoting the systematic inclusion of sustainable development, including climate change and the environment, in school curricula.

Climate change and the environment

Agriculture and food security

Inclusive economic development

Enabling poorer population groups to also contribute to and benefit from economic development remains a challenge. Switzerland helps to ensure favourable conditions for economically disadvantaged people, especially farmers and pastoralists. This enables them to pursue sustainable food and livestock production, gain access to markets to manage their own businesses in a sustainable way, and secure their livelihoods. Switzerland draws on its long-standing experience in Mongolia in the areas of agriculture and vocational skills development, including the integration of young women and men into the labour market and cooperation with the private sector. Specifically, Switzerland helps vegetable farmers to engage in sustainable vegetable production and to grow and market a greater variety of crops. Demand for vegetables in Mongolia is to be increasingly met through locally grown produce. A previous Swiss assistance programme enabled Mongolia to become self-sufficient in potatoes.

Basic education and vocational skills development

Private Sector Development and financial services

Cross-cutting themes: gender equality and governance

Gender equality is key to sustainable development. Switzerland therefore mainstreams gender equality in all priority areas and projects. In concrete terms, this means that it promotes equal access to resources and knowledge and a balanced participation of women and men in decision-making processes.

Accountability, transparency, participation, non-discrimination and efficiency are key elements of good governance and contribute significantly to sustainable development. They are integrated into all priority areas and projects. For example, the authorities are assisted in providing efficient and effective services that respond to the needs of the citizens. At the same time, civic participation is strengthened to allow citizens to express their needs and hold decision-makers accountable if services are not delivered as promised.

Gender equality

Good governance

Further themes

Culture

Culture and the arts contribute to freedom of expression, peacebuilding and sustainable development. Switzerland promotes cultural activities in Mongolia, thereby contributing to cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue. It thus enables local cultural practitioners to gain access to the Swiss and international cultural market.

Art and culture

Approach and partners

Mongolian, Swiss and international implementing partners, NGOs at national and sub-national levels, UN agencies and international financial institutions, civil society organisations and the private sector. Switzerland works to build coalitions and develop common donor positions to support policymaking and dialogue.