Ulaanbaatar, November 14, 2024 /MONTSAME/. People in Need (PIN) NGO in partnership with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Mongolia completed the REACH Project and held a meeting-discussion to present the project results on October 29, 2024. The participants of the meeting discussed challenges in protecting the rights of children of herder families, particularly those affected by dzud, the natural disaster that occurs during Mongolia’s extreme winter and early spring, in the context of climate change, and shared experiences and good practices.

Running from May to October 2024, the project addressed critical educational, health, and child protection needs in 18 remote soums across Bayan-Ulgii and Khovd aimags.

Present at the meeting were Members of the State Great Khural Beisen Bulan and Dr. Luvsanjamts Ganzorig, Health and Social Policy Advisor to the President of Mongolia Badamtsetseg Batmunkh, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Mongolia Helmut Kulitz along with representatives from key partners-Children's and Family Development and Protection Departments in Khovd and Bayan-Ulgii aimags.

H.E. Mr.Helmut Kulitz, the German Ambassador praised the initiative: “Rather than simply dispensing aid material, the set-up of the project envisaged from the very beginning to analyze, and improve where needed, existing local structures, tighten local cooperation, probe into response action and improve preparedness and effective response for the next dzud, whenever it will happen."

Dr. Beisen Bulan, Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Environment, Food, and Agriculture, highlighted the importance of protecting vulnerable communities:
“As a country deeply tied to our nomadic traditions, Mongolia’s herders are at the frontline of climate change impacts. This project has become instrumental in addressing urgent needs and resolving critical issues effectively. The REACH Project demonstrates the power of partnerships to bring real solutions to our herder communities, helping them not only survive but thrive in the face of climate challenges.”

Dr. Luvsanjamts, Member of Paliament stated: “Our commitment to herder families must go beyond emergency aid.  It is essential that we work towards long-term solutions that protect their livelihoods and ensure the well-being of their children. The REACH project serves as a commendable model in this regard. The outcomes of this meeting will be important in shaping our future efforts in policy development and practical actions.”

Dr. Amarjargal Dagvadorj, Head of Programmes, People in Need Mongolia, emphasized the importance of local engagement: “By working closely with local stakeholders from the outset, we ensure our interventions are tailored, maximizing effectiveness and promoting sustainable change within the local system. The project has demonstrated an effective model for implementing measures against the harm to herder households and violations of children's rights caused by dzud.”

Tunjee Dondogdorj and Baurjan Khadan, heads of the Children's and Family Development and Protection Departments in Khovd and Bayan-Ulgii aimags highlighted the groundbreaking nature of the project, noting that this initiative was the first project in their aimags to effectively reach herder households and deliver crucial child protection services.

The REACH Project, a continuation of PIN’s long-standing presence in Mongolia, builds on the organization’s first intervention during the dzud of 2008-2009. Since then, PIN has focused on both immediate humanitarian relief and long-term development, particularly in light of the growing impacts of climate change.

REACH Project Achievements:

• Child Protection: A team of 30 professionals conducted risk assessments for 270 herder families and 18 school dormitories, providing tailored advice to reduce risks. Child protection multi-disciplinary teams were introduced to communities.
• Educational and Developmental Support: 3,400 children—including 540 from herder families and 2,860 from school dormitories—received educational materials, books, and vitamin packages. Each dormitory also received 100 sets of books to encourage productive use of free time.
• Financial Assistance: 270 households were provided with one-time cash assistance of 660,000 MNT to meet the educational and health needs of their children.