Rural Women Leading Climate Actions

  • Country: Mongolia
  • Organisation: Mongolian Women's Fund (MONES)
  • Support area: Adapting to the impacts of climate change
  • IKI funding: 112,102 euros
  • Project start: 01/01/2023
  • Project end: 31/12/2024
  • Website: https://mones.org.mn/

Mongolia faces severe climate challenges affecting pastoral livelihoods, including desertification and frequent natural disasters. Increasing livestock numbers accelerate land degradation. In Arkhangai province, women herders are adapting traditional practices to navigate climate change and achieve financial independence.

Supported by the IKI Small Grants programme, the Mongolian Women’s Fund (MONES) trained herders on sustainable livestock management and pasture use, cooperative development, and climate adaptation. The project empowered women to take leadership roles in cooperatives and participate in community decision-making.

As a result, participating herders improved the quality and yield of livestock products, adopted sustainable livestock management practices, and applied animal-friendly, hygienic standards. Notably, two cooperatives -comprising 103 households – earned the “Responsible Nomads” certification, enabling them to establish direct supply agreements with major national companies, thereby increasing their income sources.

GALLERY

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A cashmere goat lying on a sheet. Three men kneeling down to comb the goat.
The organisation offers trainings targeted towards sustainable cashmere production, such as a training for cooperative members on goat combing. © MONES
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A huge conference table in front of a red and blue wall. All seats around the table a taken by women who listen to someone who is not in the picture.
By offering workshops and roundtables for women cooperatives, the project targets the empowerment of women for the cooperative’s leadership and governance. © MONES
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A group of cooperative members learned the technology of silage during a training on the preparation of animal feed. © MONES
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Cooperative members in Bulgan soum are being trained on grain storage and planting techniques. © MONES
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Several women and men sitting in a wooden round tent. They are holding tea cups and listening t a person that is not in the picture.
Training of Bulgan soum's cooperative members
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A representative of a local cooperative speaks at the Arkhangai provincial businesswomen meeting “Start Together” aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs. © MONES
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Samples of value-added products from the “Responsible Nomads” Standard showcased during a training session for members of the cooperatives. © MONES
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A herder is looking at a “Responsible Nomad” cashmere product sample showcased during a training session. © MONES

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

IKI Small Grants supported MONES in their organisational capacity development through:

  • Training module on “Gender and Climate Change”
  • Training on project proposal writing

Links

ENERGY GLOBE Mongolia

ABOUT THE ORGANISATION

The Mongolian Women’s Fund (MONES) is a national, non-profit, independent public foundation established in 2000 with the mission to protect women’s rights and promote a culture of philanthropy for women’s development in Mongolia. MONES actively supports grassroots movements, local women’s organizations, and community groups advocating for women’s rights and environmental justice.