Mongolia

In vast Mongolia, Mercy Corps connects isolated herding families to economic and educational opportunities, as well as to each other.

Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps

Mongolia is an arid and remote land where nomads constitute nearly one-third of the population. Mercy Corps is supporting herding families and rural communities through economic, agricultural and educational programmes. These girls are studying the Mongolian language at a school supported by Mercy Corps. One word they may learn is “tan,” the term for an ancient blend of medicinal herbs. Honoring this heritage, our TAN Project combines local resources to help rural Mongolians build a stronger economy and civil society that also preserves important traditions.

Special Report: Boundless Horizons ›

Despite isolation and challenges, Mongolian families are united in their pursuit of a more vibrant economy as limitless as the country's vast blue skies.

Blog Post: A harsh reality for Mongolia's herders ›

Topics: Rural, Livelihoods, Financial Services, Economic Development, Agriculture

Even though analysts are reporting that most markets have begun to emerge from the crisis, Mongolia's people — particularly herders — are still feeling the worst of it.

Blog Post: Work, Play and Learning in the Gobi Desert ›

Late last month, I took a train with my Mercy Corps Mongolia colleagues to Dornogovi — an far-flung southern province on the Chinese border — for a semi-annual meeting.

Blog Post: Planting the Mercy Corps flag on Europe's highest peak ›

Batmanlai, a Mercy Corps driver from western Mongolia's Zavhan aimag, recently climbed to the top of Russia's Mount Elbrus — the highest peak in Europe.

Video: Mongol Rally 2008 ›

The Mongol Rally is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure — a journey from western Europe to Mongolia's capital, Ulaanbaatar, in a car with an engine no bigger than one liter. This epic drive takes participants across some of the world's most forbidding terrain.

Supporting Projects in Mongolia ›

In Mongolia, Mercy Corps supports rural communities and herding families through economic, educational and agricultural programmes. Over the past six years Mercy Corps has established a strong reputation across the vast Gobi region, and continues to work to ensure a robust economy that preserves ancient traditions.

Mongolia: Yak Tallow Bio-diesel ›

This project will convert yak tallow, a waste product, into bio-diesel to help to reduce air pollution, generate extra income for poor herders and contribute to a reduction in worldwide CO2 levels.

Photo Essay: Faces of the Gobi ›

Here are some of the people and landscapes that writer Roger Burks and photographer Thatcher Cook encountered on a two-week, 1,600 mile journey over Mongolia's deserts, mountains and steppes.

Opening Drawers ›

Topics: Economic Development

How does traditional Mongolian nomad furniture end up in children's rooms in Amsterdam, more than 4,000 miles away? A combination of craftsmanship and connections, with a little help from Mercy Corps.

Better School Lunches - No, Really ›

Topics: Agriculture, Children, Peaceful Change

Throughout much of Mongolia, school meals are the only nutrition that students receive. Mercy Corps helped make them more nutritious.

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Mongolia Facts

Population (2008): 3 million
Size: 19th largest country
Human Development Index rank: 112 (out of 179)
Mercy Corps has worked here since 1999
Primary work: Economic development for rural businesses, veterinary and other support to traditional herders, support of local organisations and access to commercial financial services
World's second largest land-locked country
World's most sparsely-populated country

Program Details

Since 1999, Mercy Corps has supported rural Mongolian communities and herding families with economic, agricultural and civil society programs.

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Recent posts on globalenvision.org, Mercy Corps' student-written blog that explores the confluence of markets and poverty alleviation through news, commentary and discussion.