LocationsUNDP and Ulaanbaatar City Sign MoU to Advance Green and Inclusive Urban Development
August 21, 2026
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 21 August 2026 - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Governor’s Office of the Capital City of Ulaanbaatar today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the 17th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. The MoU sets out a framework for cooperation to support green, inclusive and climate-resilient urban development in Mongolia’s capital over the next three years.
As one of Asia’s fastest-growing capital cities, Ulaanbaatar faces mounting pressures related to urban expansion, service delivery, environmental degradation and climate resilience, particularly in ger areas. The MoU builds on ongoing cooperation to address these challenges through integrated urban planning, sustainable financing and community-led green development.
The MoU sets out a framework for cooperation in five key areas: supporting green, inclusive and climate-resilient integrated urban planning in Ulaanbaatar; scaling up green financing for urban green infrastructure; developing community-led green development models in ger areas, including a co-financed community park; facilitating the certification of greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved through the Supporting Renewable Energy Transition in Ger Districts; and exploring opportunities to mobilize finance for the potential expansion of renewable energy interventions in ger districts, including through high-integrity carbon markets.
“For Ulaanbaatar, sustainable development is about making everyday life better for our residents, from cleaner public spaces and more accessible services to healthier, more liveable neighborhoods,” said Purevdagva Byaruuzana, Governor of the Capital City and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar. “This cooperation will help the city translate its long-term development priorities into practical actions that respond to the needs of people, especially communities living in ger areas.”
Under the partnership, Green City indicators will be developed in alignment with Ulaanbaatar’s urban development master plan, the Governor’s Action Plan and annual plans. The cooperation will also support efforts to expand public-private co-financing for green infrastructure and explore opportunities to mobilize finance, including through high-integrity carbon markets.
Lionel Laurens, UNDP Resident Representative in Mongolia, said: “Driven by rapid urban growth, Ulaanbaatar is facing unprecedented pressure on infrastructure and basic services. UNDP will work alongside the Government and the Municipality to help identify community-centred, practical, and effective solutions. Our cooperation will concentrate on green urban planning and budgeting, stronger public-private partnerships, and high-integrity carbon market opportunities that can help advance urban priorities at scale and accelerate the green energy transition.”
The cooperation is anchored in two UNDP-supported initiatives: the Green and Inclusive Cities in Mongolia project, a joint initiative of UNDP and the Government of Mongolia funded by the Global Environment Facility, and the Supporting Renewable Energy Transition in Ger Districts for an Increased Benefit to Livelihood project. Together, these efforts support climate-resilient and nature-positive urban development, cleaner energy solutions in ger areas, and sustainable urban investment.
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For inquiries, contact:
Khulan Bayarsaikhan | UNDP Mongolia | Communications Analyst | khulan.bayarsaikhan@undp.org | 976-99096434
