Improving domestic violence response and wastewater treatment

On Thursday, the government and Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a three million USD grant agreement to strengthen the prevention and response to domestic violence, and a 20 million USD loan to expand the scope of ongoing wastewater treatment projects in Mongolia.

The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Finance Ch.Khurelbaatar, ADB Country Director for Mongolia Yolanda Fernandez Lommen, First Secretary of Japanese Embassy in Mongolia Hiromichi Miyashita, and representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs.

Lommen noted, “The grant is ADB’s first stand-alone project addressing domestic violence, which is a critical issue with serious social and economic implications. The national study revealed that women aged between 25 and 49 experienced the highest rates of domestic violence resulting in loss of work days and income in addition to physical and psychological damage.”

The project aims to strengthen the quality of and access to prevention and multi-disciplinary responses to domestic violence. Financed by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, it will establish shelters in three provinces and two districts, develop institutional capacity, and empower survivor women economically.

The project will also ensure accessibility of people with disabilities (PWDs), who are at high risk of gender-based violence, to protection services. It will establish PWD-accessible shelters and train PWDs as peer educators and pilot support groups.

Behavior change communication activities under the project will engage men, boys and girls in project sites to increase understanding of domestic violence and promote positive role modeling behavior.

As for the wastewater treatment project, 20 million USD will be spent to replace outdated and inefficient treatment systems in Baruun-Urt, Bulgan, Chinggis, Mandalgovi, and Murun soums, where more than 115,000 people live in.

“This project will bring many benefits to city residents by facilitating the ongoing growth and development of the target cities under improved environmental standards. It supports ADB’s Strategy 2030 by making cities more livable,” said Lommen.

New wastewater treatment facilities with an individual operating capacity of 3,000 cubic meters are planned for establishment in the five province centers. ADB will also invest in vacuum evacuation trucks to improve sanitation in ger areas and prevent ground and surface water pollution. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.