Mongolia is endowed with rich mineral resources, consisting of more than 8,000 deposits of 440 different minerals, which now account for 20 percent of the GDP and are fueling Mongolia’s economic growth. As themining sector develops and grows in importance for Mongolia’s economy,local communities dependent on natural resources for their livelihoods areincreasingly vulnerable to the impacts that mining is causing in terms ofland degradation and water pollution. Effective government institutionsand citizens’ participation in environmental decisions are therefore crucialto prevent conflict, safeguard natural resources, and ensure sustainable economic growth.

Since 2006, The Asia Foundation has been implementing an environmen-tal program in Mongolia to help the nation address its emerging challengeof balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability, by prac-ticing responsible mining principles, protecting water sources, increasingconservation through empowering local communities, and facilitating thecooperation of stakeholders. Central to the Foundation’s environmentalwork is promoting constructive dialogue between public, private, and civilsociety sectors to effectively engage different parties with different intereststo reach a common goal – to contribute to local sustainable development.

ENGAGING STAKEHOLDERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL

CONSERVATION PROJECT

The Asia Foundation’s Engaging Stakeholders for EnvironmentalConservation (ESEC) project began in 2010 and works to address the key challenges that Mongolia faces in protecting its natural resources andcommunities from the adverse effects of mining.

The goal of the ESEC project is to establish responsible use of water andsoil resources through dialogues that promote a long-term, collaborativeprocess among citizens, local governments, and mining companies. ESECsupports the establishment of multi-stakeholder engagement councils andmechanisms used to encourage responsible resource use at the local level,and promotes effective communication among government authorities.

Environment Programs in Mongolia

FACTSHEET

PROJECT GOAL

Mongolia's artisanal mining sectorcontributes to sustainable local development,including the realization of the right to ahealthy environment and the right to decent work.

PROJECT DURATION

July 2013- December 2016

PROJECT PARTNERS

Sustainable Artisanal Mining Project,Ministry of Mining, local governments, NGOsand citizens.

PROJECT SUPPORTERS

ESEC II is jointly supported by the SwissAgency for Development and Cooperationand The Asia Foundation.

ESEC II PROJECT

HEADQUARTERS465 California Street, 9th FloorSan Francisco, CA 94104 USATel: (415) 982-4640Fax: (415) 392-8863info@asiafound.org

WASHINGTON, DC1779 Massachusetts Ave., NWSuite 815Washington, D.C. 20036 USATel: (202) 588-9420Fax: (202) 588-9409info@asiafound-dc.org

MONGOLIAOrient Plaza 3rd Floor G. Chagdarjav Str. 9Ulaanbaatar, 14210 MongoliaTel: 976 (11) 330-524Fax: 976 (11) 311-497country.mongolia@asiafoundation.org

www.asiafoundation.org

ESEC has been implemented in 50 soums of 15aimags during 2010-2013, and was funded by theEmbassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, theSwiss Agency for Development and Cooperation(SDC), and The Asia Foundation.

Based on the success of ESEC I, a second phaseof the program (ESEC II) was launched in 2013to address the environmental impacts of artisanaland small-scale mining (ASM) and aims to miti-gate negative environmental impacts from pastand current ASM, such as water and soil degrada-tion. The project is designed to enhance the con-tribution that Mongolia’s artisanal mining sectormakes to sustainable local development, includingpromoting respect for the right to decent workand the right to a healthy environment. Amongits activities, the ESEC II project complementsSDC’s current Sustainable Artisanal Mining

project and will introduce responsible and sus-tainable ASM rehabilitation approaches that areeasily available, economically feasible, and sociallyacceptable for miners and local communities.These “frugal rehabilitation” approaches will betested and demonstrated in hard and alluvial goldand fluorspar artisanal and small-scale mining.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

SCHOOL- AND HOUSEHOLD-LEVEL WATER TREATMENT AND SAFE STORAGE Based on six years of water quality monitoringprogramming in Mongolia prior to and part ofESEC, The Asia Foundation, with funding fromUNICEF, is now implementing the 1.5 year pilotproject, Environmental Protection: School- andHousehold-Level Water Treatment and SafeStorage (HWTS), in 12 soums of Khuvsgul aimag.The project’s main objective is to reduce the inci-dence of waterborne diseases by enabling localinstitutions and partners to monitor water qualityat the point of source and point of use and topromote environmental protection. The project isbeing implemented within the framework ofUNICEF’s water, sanitation, and hygiene(WASH) program to ensure that primary schoolchildren have access to clean and safe water andsanitation facilities and practice good hygiene.The evidence gained from this pilot project onintegrated child-friendly, healthy approaches forcommunities and schools will be used to informthe program design for future growth.

11/2013

• Reduced conflicts and tensions through Local Multi-stakeholder Councils — a platform for discussion and negotiation between local government, communities, and mining companies — in 31 soums.

• Created a knowledge base through development of 16 manuals and guidebooks to increase under-standing of responsible mining, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable resource use.

• Developed a model ASM reclamation site on two hectares of an abandoned artisanal mining site inUyanga Soum of Uvurkhangai aimag, in collaboration with local artisanal miners, the soum govern-ment, and a local environmental NGO.

• Trained local government officials (environmental inspectors, water guardians, water engineers) andsoum secondary school teachers in simple, low-cost methods of monitoring water quality and soil toimprove environmental protection.

• Increased citizens’ active participation in environmental conservation through the establishment oflocal environmental monitoring groups in 39 soums.

The Asia Foundation

is a nonprofit international

development organization

committed to improving

lives across a dynamic

and developing Asia.

Headquartered in San

Francisco, The Asia

Foundation works through

a network of offices in

18 Asian countries and in

Washington, DC. Working

with public and private

partners, the Foundation

receives funding from

a diverse group of

bilateral and multilateral

development agencies,

foundations, corporations,

and individuals.

ESEC I PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS