For half a century, the United Nations Growth Program has performed a job in strengthening Mongolia’s democracy, civil society, and growth with quite a few applications and initiatives. Matilda Dimovska, the UNDP resident consultant in Mongolia since 2023, presently leads the engagement and operations of UNDP within the nation. She spoke to The Diplomat in regards to the present progress on U.N.-led initiatives and initiatives, and the impression on Mongolian individuals’s lives. (This interview had been frivolously edited for readability.)
UNDP opened its consultant workplace in Ulaanbaatar in 1973. Within the 51 years since, regardless of Mongolia’s progress, growth, and modernization, there are nonetheless many challenges in each authorities and civil society. Because the resident consultant of the UNDP, what are your views and evaluation on a few of the U.N. initiatives which were efficiently carried out in Mongolia?
Thanks for this chance to debate UNDP’s work in Mongolia. Over the previous 5 a long time, UNDP has been a trusted accomplice, working intently with the federal government to construct a extra simply, equitable, and inclusive society. Our formal settlement with Mongolia dates to 1976, however our partnership started even earlier. We’re trying ahead to celebrating our fiftieth anniversary in 2026. All through this time, UNDP has performed an important function in supporting Mongolia’s democratic transition, the shift to a market financial system, and now the achievement of the Sustainable Growth Targets.
Among the many most vital contributions of UNDP are the event of the important thing pillars of a market financial system, but in addition of democracy and accountability. For instance, UNDP performed function within the institution of Khas Financial institution, now one among Mongolia’s main industrial banks. Or the institution of Gobi Cashmere manufacturing facility, on the time an rising non-public firm for the important thing Mongolian commodity and now the main cashmere firm on this planet.
We’re additionally happy with our function in establishing the core establishments to guard human rights and the integrity and accountability of the general public service – the Nationwide Human Rights Fee and the Unbiased Authority In opposition to Corruption. Equally, UNDP contributed to the institution of the Nationwide Emergency Administration Company, the inspiration for a extra resilient Mongolia.
In January, you wrote a bit titled “Mongolia’s Clear Power Transition: A Pathway to Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.” You highlighted that the federal government of Mongolia’s goal, “as outlined within the State Coverage on Power 2015–2030, goals for a renewable power share of 20 p.c by 2023 and 30 p.c by 2030 of its put in capability.” What are a few of the steps Mongolia can and may take to beat the challenges you talked about within the article, reminiscent of “lack of infrastructure reminiscent of entry roads, transmission and grid community, and the funding”?
Clear and renewable power is the best way of the sustainable future for Mongolia and the world. Certainly, Mongolia has a number of challenges that have to be addressed so as to efficiently embrace the transition to renewable power, and there are a number of essential steps are vital.
For instance, we see in different circumstances how crucial it’s to replace the present power system and infrastructure, reminiscent of transmission networks and entry roads, as they’re important to help renewable power initiatives.
Phasing out of coal-based power manufacturing necessitates funding in renewable power. Regulatory reforms are often used for that objective, to incentivize investments in renewable power.
It’s essential to keep away from any destructive socio-economic impacts from the transition to renewable power. For these functions, tailor-made social safety for affected weak teams generally is a very efficient instrument. A shift in habits – each in authorities coverage and public attitudes – towards clear power may even play an important function.
Lastly, securing the mandatory sustainable financing for these efforts is vital to turning Mongolia’s renewable power imaginative and prescient right into a actuality.
What are a few of the UNDP initiatives or initiatives assist Mongolia mitigate these challenges? Might you elaborate on the 2024 Nationwide Human Growth Paper that was lately revealed?
Thanks for this query. At present, UNDP is supporting Mongolia in overcoming a few of the challenges of its transition to renewable power.
To begin with, we lately launched the 2024 Nationwide Human Growth Paper, which affords complete coverage suggestions for implementing a Simply Power Transition, making certain that such a transition is each sustainable and inclusive. We hope to supply good evaluation and supply choices and concepts for policymaking. Now we have plans to make use of this doc as a foundation for additional help to Mongolia in precise preparation of a Simply Power Transition coverage framework.
Moreover, we help addressing a few of the burning points, like using coal-based heating, which is a core trigger for Mongolia’s excessive air air pollution. Within the ger districts of Ulaanbaatar and Darkhan cities, we’re piloting renewable-based heating options as a strategy to fight air air pollution, help livelihoods, and supply options for the bigger transition. This intervention additionally introduces a local weather finance mechanism by way of carbon credit score buying and selling, laying the groundwork for a nationwide carbon market.
Most lately, with the Ministry of Finance we signed an MOU and agreed to deepen the help and joint work on revolutionary financing devices and leverage each private and non-private financing for the core growth points, together with the transition to wash power.
Gender equality has develop into an more and more vital matter in Mongolian society. Contemplating Mongolia’s small inhabitants, the gender hole generally is a main difficulty for the labor drive, human sources, and human capital. What are a few of the main UNDP initiatives empowering girls and ladies and may you describe the outcomes?
Certainly, if we take a look at the world and Mongolia, one basic difficulty is identical for all. Ladies comprise half if no more than half of the inhabitants. However girls nonetheless are going through an uphill battle in securing equality that displays this truth.
UNDP is actively working to deal with this problem globally in addition to in Mongolia. One in every of our most up-to-date milestones occurred this 12 months in the course of the basic election. With help from our shut accomplice KOICA [the Korea International Cooperation Agency], by way of efficient advocacy, capability constructing, and robust partnership and engagement, we supplied essential help within the revision of two crucial legal guidelines – the Regulation on Parliament Elections and the Regulation on Political Events. The brand new legal guidelines embraced a 30 p.c gender quota for the 2024 election, rising to 40 p.c by 2028. These landmark modifications, together with measures like zipper lists and price waivers, are breaking down limitations for girls in politics, making certain extra girls have a seat at decision-making tables.
Accordingly, for the primary time Mongolia, girls’s illustration within the parliament reached a report 25.4 p.c, propelling Mongolia 35 locations ahead on the worldwide rating and surpassing the regional common. That is large achievement, however the street for full realization of equality nonetheless stays lengthy.
UNDP’s Gender Social Norms Index 2023 revealed that 97 p.c of Mongolians nonetheless maintain not less than one gender-based bias towards girls, believing males are higher political leaders. This factors to the deep-rooted cultural and patriarchal norms that proceed to restrict girls’s full participation in financial and political life – an space the place we should proceed to advocate additional to create extra inclusive alternatives for all.
Analysis has proven that Mongolia’s rivers, lakes, and waterbeds have been shrinking – to not point out that Mongolia is a landlocked nation. Are there any UNDP initiatives that assist Mongolia shield its water sources?
You’re completely proper. Water shortage is a rising problem in Mongolia, notably in rural areas, whereas it’s a part of the ecosystem that’s very important for rural livelihoods. Overgrazing and local weather change have led to 77 p.c of the land being degraded in Mongolia as of 2021. An financial coverage that prioritized mining business and different elements contributed to the drying of rivers and is derived. As rivers and streams dry up, herders are turning to groundwater wells, which isn’t sustainable, making these initiatives to guard springs and streams very important. Sustainable water administration, together with riparian reforestation and restoration, are confirmed to enhance water high quality, move, biodiversity, and groundwater sources.
In UNDP, we handle this difficulty as a part of our help for sustainable livestock-based livelihoods. We’re supporting measures to maintain water ecosystems service for the good thing about the individuals and wildlife, for instance by defending pure springs, setting up and repairing wells, and putting in small-scale water harvesting methods.
The constructive impacts are already evident – herders are seeing improved water availability, more healthy pastures, and a future the place their nomadic lifestyle can proceed in concord with nature. Equally vital, we see proof that the water provide for the wildlife has elevated as nicely, and biodiversity is protected.
To many, Mongolia is a rustic of nomads, horses, and sheep. What are a few of the issues you’ve got skilled in Mongolia that make your appointment right here distinctive? Additionally, throughout your time in Mongolia, what do you hope to perform essentially the most?
Thanks a lot for the query. One of the vital memorable moments I’ve had in Mongolia was once I first held a child goat in my arms throughout my go to to Khovd province. I had at all times been a bit uneasy round animals, however in that second, one thing modified. Overcoming that concern, I felt a novel connection not simply to the animal, however to the deep traditions of this land – a spot the place people and nature coexist in such a particular means.
What additionally stands out is Mongolia’s vibrant, dynamic youth. Their power and untapped potential fill me with hope and inspiration for the way forward for this glorious nation.
Throughout my tenure right here, I hope to contribute to Mongolia in order that it makes use of its present political and growth momentum and ambition, but in addition maneuvers by way of the uncertainties and international dangers, to economically advance in a means that advantages all its present and future generations, to construct a future the place each individuals and the character thrive. Which means progressing in alignment with the Imaginative and prescient 2050 and transferring towards development of its sustainable growth targets, making certain that nobody is left behind.
