Ulaanbaatar
UNICEF and UK to Establish “Growing Up Green” Early Childhood Development Center
Society
Ulaanbaatar,
August 13, 2025 /MONTSAME/. UNICEF Mongolia and the British
Embassy in Mongolia will jointly build an energy-efficient model Early
Childhood Development (ECD) Center.
UNICEF
and the British Embassy in Mongolia have signed a partnership agreement to launch
the “Growing Up Green” project—a climate-smart Early Childhood Development Center
in Orkhon aimag.
The
project will renovate an existing public building in Erdene bag of Bayan-Ondor
soum, transforming it into a coal-free, energy-efficient, and child-friendly
environment. Once operational, the center will provide healthcare, nutrition,
early childhood education, and parental support services for over 500 children
under the age of five. The project is being implemented with co-funding from
the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom
and the Governor’s Office of Orkhon aimag.
During
the agreement-signing ceremony, UNICEF Representative in Mongolia Evariste
Kouassi-Komlan remarked, “This partnership brings together two of
Mongolia’s most pressing priorities: climate action and early childhood
development. By phasing out coal and transitioning to renewable energy, we are
safeguarding children’s health and ensuring a greener future for them.”
British
Ambassador to Mongolia Fiona Blyth highlighted, “The United Kingdom has long
supported Mongolia’s efforts to achieve a greener future and inclusive
development. That’s why we’re proud to support this initiative that promotes
local development. We remain committed to cooperating with international
partners to protect the environment, support child development, and build a
future where every child can thrive in a healthy and safe environment.”
The
project will reduce heat loss at the ECD Center by installing a solar-powered
heating system, an indoor air-conditioning system, and creating an outdoor landscape
area. In addition, the center plans to offer training programs for parents and caregivers
on parenting, nutrition, health, and sustainable living.”
The
initiative, aligned with Mongolia’s National Early Childhood Development
Program and the goals of the Paris Agreement, will serve as a pilot project to
demonstrate the feasibility of integrating renewable energy into local
infrastructure. Over the next five years, the model will be scaled across the
country, eliminate coal use in public buildings, and strengthen local climate change
resilience.
The project is scheduled to begin in August 2025 and end in March 2026.
