The Asia Foundation

On July 7, 2006, The Asia Foundation, through its Book for Asia Program, partnered with Elsevier Asia-Pacific and donated over 1,500 medical books and education materials to the Health Science University of Mongolia (HSUM). The book donation...

On July 7, 2006, The Asia Foundation, through its Book for Asia Program, partnered with Elsevier Asia-Pacific and donated over 1,500 medical books and education materials to the Health Science University of Mongolia (HSUM). The book donation supports research, training, and contributes broadly to medical education in Mongolia.

Mongolian language version

On July 7, 2006, The Asia Foundation, through its Book for Asia Program, partnered with Elsevier Asia-Pacific and donated over 1,500 medical books and education materials to the Health Science University of...

Mongolian language version

On July 7, 2006, The Asia Foundation, through its Book for Asia Program, partnered with Elsevier Asia-Pacific and donated over 1,500 medical books and education materials to the Health Science University of Mongolia (HSUM). The book donation supports research, training, and contributes broadly to medical education in Mongolia.

On March 10, 2006, The Asia Foundation signed an important agreement with the Children’s Book Palace that will provide space and help to distribute as many as 100,000 books nationwide over the next three years. The event was attended by...

On March 10, 2006, The Asia Foundation signed an important agreement with the Children’s Book Palace that will provide space and help to distribute as many as 100,000 books nationwide over the next three years. The event was attended by Minister of Education, Culture and Sciences Enkhtuvshin, Deputy Secretary of MPRP, Idevkhten, U.S. Ambassador Pamela J.Slutz, and Todd Smith, Head of the Canada Fund. The Asia Foundation’s Books for Asia program received generous support from both the U.S. Embassy and from the Canada Fund, which put books in the hands of tens of thousands of students, scholars, and citizens nationwide.

On March 31, 2006, The Asia Foundation donated 1200 English language text books, on various subjects, for adults and children, to 30 rural (soum level) public libraries throughout Mongolia. This moving event gave librarians, some from remote...

On March 31, 2006, The Asia Foundation donated 1200 English language text books, on various subjects, for adults and children, to 30 rural (soum level) public libraries throughout Mongolia. This moving event gave librarians, some from remote rural areas, the opportunity to directly receive the donation on their communities’ behalf. “I want to thank The Asia Foundation for donating these books, which will be useful to a variety of people in our community and will enrich their knowledge of English and the U.S.” said Dulamsuren from Sukhbaatar Province in Mongolia. “I have been a librarian for 33 years and these are the first English-language books that our library has received, thank you!”

Mongolian language version

On March 31, 2006, The Asia Foundation donated 1200 English language text books, on various subjects, for adults and children, to 30 rural (soum level) public libraries throughout Mongolia. This moving event...

Mongolian language version

On March 31, 2006, The Asia Foundation donated 1200 English language text books, on various subjects, for adults and children, to 30 rural (soum level) public libraries throughout Mongolia. This moving event gave librarians, some from remote rural areas, the opportunity to directly receive the donation on their communities’ behalf. “I want to thank The Asia Foundation for donating these books, which will be useful to a variety of people in our community and will enrich their knowledge of English and the U.S.” said Dulamsuren from Sukhbaatar Province in Mongolia. “I have been a librarian for 33 years and these are the first English-language books that our library has received, thank you!”

The Asia Foundation maintains elections programs, including monitor and voter education, in nine countries in Asia. In recent years, the Foundation has implemented significant elections programs in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia,...

The Asia Foundation maintains elections programs, including monitor and voter education, in nine countries in Asia. In recent years, the Foundation has implemented significant elections programs in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Timor-Leste.

In July 2011, Mongolia assumed the Presidency of the Community of Democracies (CoD) from Lithuania. Mongolia's priorities for its two-year term include education for democracy, strengthening regional cooperation, exchange of experiences,...

In July 2011, Mongolia assumed the Presidency of the Community of Democracies (CoD) from Lithuania. Mongolia's priorities for its two-year term include education for democracy, strengthening regional cooperation, exchange of experiences, collaboration with civil society, advancing women's empowerment and countering corruption. The Asia Foundation is supporting Mongolia in its efforts to make the CoD a more operational and action-oriented body.

As Mongolia moves into a new phase of its development, driven predominantly by rapid economic growth in the extractive industries, it faces a number of significant challenges. Rapid rates of urbanization are leading to an increasingly...

As Mongolia moves into a new phase of its development, driven predominantly by rapid economic growth in the extractive industries, it faces a number of significant challenges. Rapid rates of urbanization are leading to an increasingly overwhelming concentration of the population in urban centers, especially Ulaanbaatar.  As a result of this rapid population growth, more than half the area of Ulaanbaatar today consists of unplanned settlements called ger districts, which house more than half of the city's residents and nearly 25 percent of Mongolia's total population. The Asia Foundation has been working to support improvements in the ger districts for a number of years.

Mongolia is experiencing unprecedented growth and change, fueled by revenues from mining. Although the country's transition to democracy has been relatively smooth, citizen satisfaction is low. The concentration of economic opportunity in the...

Mongolia is experiencing unprecedented growth and change, fueled by revenues from mining. Although the country's transition to democracy has been relatively smooth, citizen satisfaction is low. The concentration of economic opportunity in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, has created a huge urban migration, with nearly 50 percent of Mongolians now living in the capital. Meeting the needs of recent arrivals in Ulaanbaatar and creating economic opportunities in other regional cities will be important if Mongolia is to deliver sustainable, broad-based improvements in the welfare of its population. The government of Mongolia is committed to fostering more responsive and capable local governments to improve citizen satisfaction, recognizing that decentralization often contributes to better development outcomes. Policymakers, led by the office of the president, are therefore pursuing an ambitious agenda to revive Mongolia's decentralization process.

As mining grows in importance to Mongolia's economy, local communities and the environment will increasingly feel the impact. Effective government institutions and citizen participation in local resource decisions will be imperative. Since...

As mining grows in importance to Mongolia's economy, local communities and the environment will increasingly feel the impact. Effective government institutions and citizen participation in local resource decisions will be imperative. Since 2006, The Asia Foundation has promoted responsible mining in Mongolia by supporting collaboration between industry, government and civil society.

The Asia Foundation provided a grant to the Mongolian Women Farmers’ Association (MWFA) which now trains 500 poor households every year to raise vegetables and poultry, and thereby generate income. This effort is intended to reduce...

The Asia Foundation provided a grant to the Mongolian Women Farmers’ Association (MWFA) which now trains 500 poor households every year to raise vegetables and poultry, and thereby generate income. This effort is intended to reduce poverty, inspire micro-entrepreneurship, build stronger communities and neighbourhoods, and discourage social ills such as alcoholism, and domestic violence against women and children.

Mongolian version

The Asia Foundation provided a grant to the Mongolian Women Farmers’ Association (MWFA) which now trains 500 poor households every year to raise vegetables and poultry, and thereby generate income. This effort...

Mongolian version

The Asia Foundation provided a grant to the Mongolian Women Farmers’ Association (MWFA) which now trains 500 poor households every year to raise vegetables and poultry, and thereby generate income. This effort is intended to reduce poverty, inspire micro-entrepreneurship, build stronger communities and neighbourhoods, and discourage social ills such as alcoholism, and domestic violence against women and children.

The Asia Foundation deployed 17 two-person teams to observe the parliamentary election. Other international observation efforts included a total of 26 teams deployed by locally based embassies and international non-governmental organizations,...

The Asia Foundation deployed 17 two-person teams to observe the parliamentary election. Other international observation efforts included a total of 26 teams deployed by locally based embassies and international non-governmental organizations, and 9 teams from overseas deployed under the aegis of the Asia-Pacific Democracy Partnership.

The Mongolian Women Farmers’ Association (MWFA) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, established in 1999. The association’s main activities are to train single-parent women-headed households to grow and sell organic...

The Mongolian Women Farmers’ Association (MWFA) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, established in 1999. The association’s main activities are to train single-parent women-headed households to grow and sell organic vegetables and poultry, and thereby increase their income.

In 2006 and 2007, The Asia Foundation (TAF) provided grants to the MWFA as part of its program promoting economic development and fighting against domestic violence. This report is an evaluation and assessment of the benefits and impacts of the project. 

With financial support from the British Embassy, The Asia Foundation sponsored a survey on voter and civic education issues in November and December 2008. The survey results provide a better understanding of public knowledge and expectations...

With financial support from the British Embassy, The Asia Foundation sponsored a survey on voter and civic education issues in November and December 2008. The survey results provide a better understanding of public knowledge and expectations in relation to elections and democratic processes in Mongolia. The objectives of the survey is to: identify potential interventions that will enhance public participation and support free and fair elections; and help ensure that the outcome of elections are accepted as accurately representing the will of the Mongolian people.

With financial support from the British Embassy, The Asia Foundation sponsored a survey on voter and civic education issues in November and December 2008. The survey results provide a better understanding of public knowledge and expectations...

With financial support from the British Embassy, The Asia Foundation sponsored a survey on voter and civic education issues in November and December 2008. The survey results provide a better understanding of public knowledge and expectations in relation to elections and democratic processes in Mongolia. The objectives of the survey is to: identify potential interventions that will enhance public participation and support free and fair elections; and help ensure that the outcome of elections are accepted as accurately representing the will of the Mongolian people.

Mongolia's legal framework for elections generally conforms to most international principles associated with free, fair and credible elections. However, the absence of implementing regulations, ordinances and policies means that the spirit and...

Mongolia's legal framework for elections generally conforms to most international principles associated with free, fair and credible elections. However, the absence of implementing regulations, ordinances and policies means that the spirit and intent of the laws is not fully realized. The objective of this assessment, and other elections-related interventions, is to improve voter registration and balloting procedures, in order to build trust and confidence in Mongolia's elected officials, its government, and its democracy.

Mongolia's legal framework for elections generally conforms to most international principles associated with free, fair and credible elections. However, the absence of implementing regulations, ordinances and policies means that the spirit and...

Mongolia's legal framework for elections generally conforms to most international principles associated with free, fair and credible elections. However, the absence of implementing regulations, ordinances and policies means that the spirit and intent of the laws is not fully realized. The objective of this assessment, and other elections-related interventions, is to improve voter registration and balloting procedures, in order to build trust and confidence in Mongolia's elected officials, its government, and its democracy.

The Mongolian economy is growing at an unprecedented rate. Sustained economic growth is boosting gross domestic product (GDP), supporting job creation, reducing poverty levels, and allowing the economy to expand into new fields. Despite these...

The Mongolian economy is growing at an unprecedented rate. Sustained economic growth is boosting gross domestic product (GDP), supporting job creation, reducing poverty levels, and allowing the economy to expand into new fields. Despite these impressive successes, there have been persistent reports in the media about the existence of corrupt practices. These reports often relate to government employees asking businessmen for non-stipulated fees in return for services, for example, to process or expedite obtaining permits and documents, such as licenses, needed by business to operate. Until now, there has been no data about the pervasiveness of corrupt practices affecting business-government relations in Mongolia. The Study of Private Perceptions of Corruption (STOPP) was designed to obtain a picture of the extent of corruption, based on the experience of members of the business community. Interviewing representatives of small, medium, and large sized business enterprises, this study captures the similarities and differences companies face in relation to corrupt practices, breaking down the findings by sector.

The Mongolian economy is growing at an unprecedented rate. Sustained economic growth is boosting gross domestic product (GDP), supporting job creation, reducing poverty levels, and allowing the economy to expand into new...

The Mongolian economy is growing at an unprecedented rate. Sustained economic growth is boosting gross domestic product (GDP), supporting job creation, reducing poverty levels, and allowing the economy to expand into new fields. Despite these impressive successes, there have been persistent reports in the media about the existence of corrupt practices. These reports often relate to government employees asking businessmen for non-stipulated fees in return for services, for example, to process or expedite obtaining permits and documents, such as licenses, needed by business to operate. Until now, there has been no data about the pervasiveness of corrupt practices affecting business-government relations in Mongolia. The Study of Private Perceptions of Corruption (STOPP) was designed to obtain a picture of the extent of corruption, based on the experience of members of the business community. Interviewing representatives of small, medium, and large sized business enterprises, this study captures the similarities and differences companies face in relation to corrupt practices, breaking down the findings by sector.