Ulaanbaatar, December 10, 2024 – MCA Mongolia hosted a workshop to share the findings of the Affordability Study with key stakeholders in the water sector. Attendees included representatives from the Water Service Regulatory Commission, Energy Regulatory Commission, USUG, Ulaanbaatar Housing and Public Utility Authority, private utility providers, the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Protection, the Municipality of Ulaanbaatar, and the Labour and Social Protection Authority.
The workshop featured a presentation of the 2023–2024 Affordability Study on Ulaanbaatar households, followed by discussions on how household affordability for water may change between 2020 and 2030. Participants explored assumptions about household income trends, challenges faced, and the methodologies used in the study.
The study’s findings will inform the development of a water social policy that shall aim to address the challenges low-income families face in accessing water and sanitation services. Introducing a targeted support for vulnerable households while also helping water operators recover costs, ultimately will enhance water service sustainability of Ulaanbaatar in the long term.
###
About the MCC-Mongolia Water Compact This $462 million project is a partnership between the American and Mongolian people made possible by $350m in MCC grant funding and the $111.76m contribution from the Government of Mongolia which demonstrates their commitment to working together to achieve economic growth and poverty reduction in Ulaanbaatar. The Mongolia Water Compact is funding major infrastructure projects, including the construction of new wellfields and two large plants - an Advanced Water Purification Plant and Water Recycling Plant which will be the first of their kind in Mongolia. In addition, the Compact will invest in policy measures to create a financially and environmentally sustainable future for the water sector of Ulaanbaatar. As a result, the water system in Ulaanbaatar will have been expanded to deliver 80% more drinking water, allowing for the city’s future expansion.