Welcome to the United Nations
Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
Key Messages from Mongolia's Second Voluntary National Review
One. Introduction
Mongolia presented its first Voluntary National Review in 2019 and hereby presenting its second review.
This review assesses the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Mongolia for each indicator, the policies, processes, and efforts made at the national level, and the results of applying recommendations from the first review. In addition to considering the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts, this assessment aims to highlight the groups left behind in development and determine how regional development disparities affect sustainable development.
Two. Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals
Following the recommendations of the first review, the policy, planning, and legal framework has been improved by revising the Law on Development Policy and Planning and its Management and by establishing an integrated policy and planning institution. As a result, the “Vision-2050” long-term development policy was adopted and is being implemented in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
In addition to expanding partnerships for sustainable development, public and private sector initiatives have increased, the participation of civil society organizations is becoming more active, and multilateral cooperation continues to strengthen.
The 17 goals and 169 targets of global sustainable development have been formulated into 16 goals and 134 targets in accordance with national characteristics. A total of 191 indicators have been defined, of which 156 are global and 35 national, thus improving the implementation assessment tool and emphasizing the results documented by data based compared to the first review.
Mongolia has made progress at a certain level on 15 goals, and the implementation of one goal, poverty reduction, was assessed as regressive.
The COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts have had a significant negative impact on Mongolia's economy and the implementation of the SDGs. For instance, before the pandemic, real gross domestic product per employed person was increasing, and real economic performance was improving, but in 2020, the economy contracted by 4.6 percent. However, as a result of policy measures taken by the government to revive the economy quickly, the economy grew by 4.8 percent in 2022.
Despite the lack of preparedness for public health emergencies, Mongolia’s rapid response reduced the negative impact of the pandemic. However, a lack of resources and supplies to provide quality and timely services affected access to other health services.
In recent years, access to education has increased, and innovative teaching methods have been introduced, improving the e-learning environment during the pandemic. However, educational inequality has increased.
Disparities in social development, education, and household living standards among different territories are reasons for being left behind in development. Specifically, populations living far from the capital city often have limited access to basic social services and are most at risk of leaving behind in development.
Progress has been made in protecting surface water resources and river headwaters, increasing the forest fund, and protecting plant and animal resources. However, greenhouse gas emissions from traditional agricultural and energy sector activities have not decreased. For example, the share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption has not increased significantly.
Three. Further Actions
To accelerate the further implementation and achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it is crucial to ensure the fundamental principle of sustainable development through various efforts, including:
1. Improving the monitoring and reporting system and the quality of assessment to ensure the implementation of the SDGs in line with medium- and short-term policy priorities;
2. Clarifying the financing and investment environment for the implementation of the SDGs and using it as a means to stimulate multi-stakeholder participation;
3. Strengthening basic social and economic capacities, including expanding international partnerships and regional and local cooperation aimed at reducing the negative impacts of global conflicts, infectious diseases, natural disasters, and climate change, managing risks and adapting to change, and ensuring the availability of resources; and
4. Reducing disparities between rural (regional and local) and urban development by upholding the principle of leaving no one behind, creating transport infrastructure and logistics networks aimed at increasing the production and export of mining and non-mining products, and ensuring equal access to basic social services for the entire population.
We, therefore, encourage support for Mongolia's efforts and participation to achieve sustainable development, expand cooperation, and strengthen partnerships.
