SDG OPEN DAY showcases actions towards SDGs in Mongolia

SDG Open Day, held on 10 September at Ulaanbaatar’s Sukhbaatar Square, was packed with around 150 busy tents representing government agencies, non-governmental organizations, international development partners, and private entities promoting and celebrating their efforts to achieve the SDGs.

The opening ceremony was attended by dignitaries such as Minister of Economy and Development Ch. Khurelbaatar, Minister of Foreign Affairs B. Battsetseg, UN Resident Coordinator Tapan Mishra, President of the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry O. Amartuvshin, foreign ambassadors, and representatives from international organizations, including UN agencies in Mongolia.

From recycling to labour rights, participating organizations shared their activities with the public. Many booths offered services on-site, including e-Mongolia, a digital platform for a range of public services, and counselling and legal advice in the SDG 5 Gender Equality tent. 

From education to renewable energy, to climate action and peacebuilding, local SDG initiatives were creatively displayed and participants actively engaged with enthusiastic visitors.

As many as 5,000 people visited SDG Open Day and had the chance to learn about SDGs and be inspired for further actions.

Recycling in the Spotlight

Raising awareness about plastic pollution, Namuunaa Bayarjargal, a 16-year-old high school senior, stood at the center of the event, telling visitors about how to recycle or reuse trash.

She attends Erdmiin Urgoo, a public high school where all students sort or reuse their trash. Erdmiin Urgoo students displayed their repurposed items, including handmade paper, toys, and tools. They taught people how to make their own recycled paper to create flashcards and other useful items.

“Even though it was challenging to teach my parents, I worked part-time to show my commitment and bought different coloured garbage bags and bins to sort garbage at home. Now, my parents easily sort the garbage at home,” she proudly stated.  

The event called for a collective presentation of local and citizen-led initiatives on plastic recycling and zero waste movements as side events highlighted at SDG Open Day. 

Focus on Education

The non-profit organization All for Education exhibited photos depicting how education has become a key factor in expanding inequality. They delivered the message that the country needs to do more to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Others, like Tomyo EdTech and Faro Foundation, representing the private sector and civil society, attracted many visitors with their initiatives to make education more inclusive by closing the digital literacy gap. 

Gender Equality and Inclusion

The National Center Against Violence tent was busy with people seeking legal counsel, mental health counselling, and a definition of domestic violence. 

Chuluundolgor Bat, head of the Wheelchair Users Association, said, “We spent an incredibly busy and productive day promoting the reproductive health rights of people with disabilities. We had to answer many questions, such as how others can be members of our organization and where to fix their wheelchairs.” 

Members of the LGBT community had a tent to engage with the public to raise awareness and advocate for non-discrimination and inclusion. 

Job Fair, Scholarships, and Digital Hubs

Featured events included a job fair connecting employers with their future employees and helpful services such as job profiling and career counselling.

Scholarship Hub was one of the most popular booths, offering information and services about 15 domestic and international scholarships.

The digital area impressed visitors with attractive presentations from leading tech companies, including Meta’s VR experiences and essential services available on the e-Mongolia platform.

SDG Champions Awarded

At the end of SDG Open Day, SDG Champions were awarded for their outstanding initiatives for the SDGs and Vision 2050, Mongolia’s long-term development policy. The event organizers presented these awards to acknowledge local initiatives, in recognition of individual, collective, and corporate initiatives designed to further inspire more action.

The SDG Champions:

The Eco-Schools and Kindergartens initiative, led by the Environment Information and Training Center was named the Academic Institution SDG Champion. The Eco-Schools and Kindergartens initiative has mobilized around 30 per cent of local schools and kindergartens through environmental education and advocacy for behavioural change in schools.

The National Federation of Pasture User Groups was named the Civil Society Organisation SDG Champion for their tireless efforts to restore rangeland health by raising awareness among herders to protect nomadic herding culture and pasture ecosystems. 

The Mongolian Horse Paradise Initiative won the award for SDG Champion in the category for individuals leading sustainability actions. This initiative contributes to saving horses from slaughter and preserving nomadic culture, tapping into local tourism potential.

Blind Care, a mental health mobile application, won the SDG Champion award among the applicants from the private sector. Blind Care is a free app, and over 10,000 users have received mental health advice since its launch. The app contributes to dealing with mental health problems, one of the most pressing societal issues in Mongolia.

Among the many excellent entries, the judges’ panel recognized two more private sector initiatives. They gave the SDG Champion award to MCS Coca-Cola’s initiative for collecting and recycling plastic water and soft drink bottles. The second one was also presented to Shambala 2056, an engineering project working on building a green town in the Gobi equipped with renewable energy, smart agriculture systems, and tourism infrastructure.

In recognition of these initiatives, UN Mongolia is confident that others have been encouraged and inspired to follow in the footsteps of these champions to create a greener and more sustainable future for generations to come.

UN Resident Coordinator in Mongolia Tapan Mishra said that he is very pleased to see all great works and initiatives of the stakeholders in the implementation of the SDGs. “I am sure with this commitment, we will be able to achieve inclusive and sustainable development in Mongolia,” he added.

The piece was written by Khaliun Bayartsogt with support from Soyolmaa Dolgor, UN RCO Communications and Advocacy Officer. 

More photo highlights from the SDG Open Day