General data

ACF France's Mission

Launch date: 2001
Local staff : 32
Expatriates : 5

Country key figures

Population: 2.8 million inhabitants (2008)
Life expectancy: 65 years (2006)
Human Development Indicator : 115th in world ranking out of 182 (2009)
GDP per inhabitant : 1036 USD (2006)

Sources : WHO, World Bank, UNDP

Context

In 1990, Mongolia was economically unstable, in the transition between a planned economy and a market economy based on a process of general privatization. The series of bankruptcies which ensued spared no sector of the economy, making unemployment rise and product prices fall. The prices of imported goods then rose, increasing the poverty level in the provinces and urban centres, currently between 25 and 50% (it was only 14% in 1991).
Since 1999, the situation has not stopped deteriorating following successive climatic catastrophes: the «Dzüüds» in winter (very cold weather with strong snowstorms) and droughts in summer. This led to the death of more than 4 million animals (about 15% of the national herd), in a country principally made up of keepers of livestock. Such a crisis had a very heavy impact on food security of the poorest households. A social aid policy does exist (social aids, child benefit) but its impact is limited (corruption, “soviet” bureaucracy, benefits reserved for listed people …).

Many of them, having lost everything during this period, decided to move to the urban industrialized centres in the hope of finding work there, thus increasing the number of unqualified unemployed people in towns already considerably affected by the crisis. At the same time, many shepherds are still trying to carry on in the rural areas, but without being able to compensate for their losses.
A ministerial reshuffle in January 2006 led the government directed by Tsahiagiin Elbegdorja to resign. The Democratic Party then went into opposition and a new coalition was formed. In April 2006, several demonstrations were held in front of the parliamentary building. The demonstrators demanded the dissolution of parliament and protested against growing corruption in Mongolia.

In 2008, the global food crisis did strongly impact Mongolia. The cost of basic food items increased drastically: 160% for the bread and 140% for the rice
The summer 2009 record the strongest flood in Ulan Bator since 43 years. 26 persons have been killed in the country, and 126 families lost everything in Ulan Bator suburban. The flood also represented a huge sanitarian risk; ACF did adequately adapt the ongoing project, to adjust the latrines designs.

Today:
Mongolia faced a dzüüd climatic disaster during the 2009/2010 winter. This crisis was characterized by a longer and colder winter than usual. These strong conditions occurred while the national livestock was weak and the herders were indebted. In some areas the losses reached 100% of herders animals.

ACF in Mongolia

In spite of a low population (2 736 800, December 2009 estimated, Wikipedia) and an optimistic economic situation, ACF decided to keep Mongolian mission opened to conduct research projects aiming to reduce unprivileged population vulnerability, in a “calm” political and security context. A special attention has been paid to improvement of water access and sanitary conditions in peri-urban areas of Ulaanbaatar city (“Ger areas”).

In 2009, ACF started an innovating project of practical researches in water, sanitation and hygiene promotion (entitled “Piloting Options & Reinforcing Local Capacities to Improve Access to Water, Sanitation & Hygiene”), aiming to experience various technical options fitted to peri-urban areas of Ulaanbaatar city and reinforcing local capacities.

Ulan Bator

Water, sanitation and hygiene

-    Development of solutions for improved potable water access: Water kiosk (Shops that sell drinking water) construction, water delivery services, selling subsided water storage systems…

-    Identification and practical test of several options for domestic sanitation systems and public promotion and acceptance: dry toilets, emptying services and comport, decentralized greywater treatment…

-    Improving domestic water management and hygiene practices: development of pedagogical tools, aiming environmental protection promotion trough school and kindergarten interventions (including water-borne diseasesawareness, water consumption and sanitation practices), improve access to appropriate domestic water containers...

-    Capacity Building & Sector Strengthening: creation of a Project Management Unit (PMU), development of local stakeholders’ (local authorities, private sector partners & hygiene sector workers) capacities in terms of water and sanitation service management.

Uvs

Food Security

-    After the dzüüd period, Action Contre la Faim conducted 2 assessments in Uvs Provinces of Mongolia (March and June 2010). In March, we noticed the province lost 300 000 animals, based on an inventory of 2 300 000 heads before the winter.

-    These huge animal losses are due to an impoverishment of the herders unable to buy or collect the animal feed for only 1 to 2 months extended winter when a strong cold weather came and prevented grazing during more than 4 months in certain areas. The lack of feed weakened the animals, which could not resist to low temperature.

-    In order to mitigate the abandonment of the mode of subsistence and their migration towards the urban centers, this increasing the number of unqualified unemployed people in towns. ACF sets up activities to support the nomadic herders.

These activities take place according to 2 major axis:

•  Distribution of animal food to vulnerable herders. This support will allow them to face the next winter in acceptable conditions

• Distribution of daily food rations to the most vulnerable herders families.

Funding

Oulan-Bator :

•    Agence de l’eau Seine-Normandie,
•    Agence de l’eau Artois – Picardie,
•    Veolia Fondation.

Uvs :

•    ECHO (European Community Humanitarian aid Office)
•    French Embassy / CIAA