World Vision International Mongolia (WVIM), USAID, and local stakeholders convened to reflect on the outcomes of the “Mongolia Dzud Emergency Response II” (MONDER II) project. The discussion highlighted key achievements of the project, which aimed to provide critical support to herder communities impacted by Mongolia’s devastating dzud disaster.

MONDER II, funded by USAID, delivered over $700,000 in cash assistance, animal fodder, and hygiene kits to approximately 5,700 herder households. This emergency aid was essential in safeguarding livelihoods and addressing the social and psychological challenges faced by families during the harsh winter. “The most important part of this program is helping herder households prepare and respond to future dzuds,” remarked Thomas Crehan, USAID Mongolia Senior Development Advisor, emphasizing the project’s focus on long-term resilience.

One of the standout features of MONDER II was the development of a specialized training module on “Gender-Based Violence During Disasters” (GBV), a pressing issue often exacerbated during emergencies. The module, informed by an independent study, trained 190 members of Child Protection Multidisciplinary Teams across 33 provinces, equipping them with the tools to identify and respond to GBV effectively.

Additionally, the meeting spotlighted updates to Mongolia’s Winter Livelihood Standard by the Disaster Research Institute, underscoring efforts to strengthen local emergency response frameworks. The MONDER II project also facilitated discussions on disaster risk reduction strategies, working closely with the Emergency Management Department and local authorities to build herder resilience against future crises.

The MONDER project, executed in two phases, has collectively provided over $1.6 million in aid, underscoring USAID and WVIM’s commitment to Mongolia’s herder communities. As a key partner, WVIM showcased its expertise in emergency response, ensuring that the lessons learned from MONDER II pave the way for stronger, more resilient local disaster management systems.