Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unforeseen and unprecedented challenges globally, as well as in Mongolia. Traditional and fundamental approaches of development solutions require an urgent need for innovation and change. UNDP Mongolia organized virtually the second Sounding Board of its Transformation Journey with Thought Leaders from the local and international community to dialogue on how Mongolia can tackle the challenges of Covid-19 impacts, through a systems thinking approach and the development of a Transformative “Portfolio of Options”.

Globally, over 207 million people could be further pushed into poverty due to the pandemic according to UNDP’s recent study on Impact of Covid-19 on the Sustainable Development Goals. However, proactive investments in the Sustainable Development Goals across governance, social protection, green recovery and digitalization have a potential to lift 146 million people in fragile and conflict-affected states out of extreme poverty by 2030.

Due to the deep social-economic impact the pandemic is having on all countries, including Mongolia, since the beginning of 2020, UNDP Mongolia is developing a proactive and systems approach to development issues to be a solutions facilitator, rather than a solutions provider. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic exposed many areas in existing systems that are fragile and unfit to carry Mongolia into a better future, leaving no one behind.

The Sounding Board discussed a transformative portfolio of options emphasizing the importance of deliberately seeking a different kind of logic and solutions to the challenges that Mongolia is faced with. UNDP is thus fostering a proactive and deliberative approach to systems transformation to increasingly multifaceted and complex challenges including climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, and growing social inequality.

“The new future is still uncertain and emerging. Nevertheless, the solutions and answers we facilitate for Mongolia should further strengthen dignified lives, rebalance the economy and overall support the resilience of Mongolia’s people and environment, guiding Mongolia on its path to build forward better for the benefit of all women, men, girls and boys in the country. “None of this can happen without committed partners who have joined us in our Sounding Board to support Mongolia in this journey. The Thought Leaders joined her today are helping to shape and inform the options for the future and for that we are grateful” said Ms. Elaine Conkievich, Resident Representative at UNDP Mongolia.

UNDP’s study on Impact of Covid-19 on the Sustainable Development Goals: https://bit.ly/39CjBlq

Source: UNDP