IWRA Mongolia Chapter
Background
The term “Water Security” has been identified as an area of focus for water research and management during the eight-year period (2014-2021) by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Hydrological Program. For this the urban water security is considered to be the vital point for the successful implementation of the program. According to the United Nations it is projected that by 2050, 68% of the world population will be living in the cities. Compounded by climate change driven natural disasters and rapidly growing population concentration, urban water security is the emerging issue globally and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia is no exception.
Adopting sustainable water systems towards urban water security needs to be addressed through multiple disciplines far beyond water access and sanitation. Gaps in research activities have been persisting on a variety of topics regarding urban water security, specifically for the developing countries such as Mongolia. As such, there is an urgent need to galvanize the Mongolian water sector to better understand the value of the water, by conducting research on emerging and future urban water security issues in the context of the SDGs and to document these studies. For these reasons the IWRA Executive Office established the Mongolia Chapter on the theme of Urban Water Security.
Dr. Angela Million, née Uttke, is Professor of Urban Design and Urban Development at the School of Planning Building and Environment at Technische Universität Berlin. She is also Director of the DAAD-Global Center of Spatial Methods for Urban Sustainability SMUS – www.gcsmus.org . Her research focuses on participatory urban design and building and planning culture (Baukultur), with a special interest in multifunctional infrastructure development and cities as educational setting. With partners transdiciplinary research in that field is carried out and explores design-concepts and flexible infrastructure development for building-integrated water-reuse combined with food production and community building – http://www.roofwaterfarm.com/en/
Nomundari is a young hydraulic engineer who is interested in urban water management and policy integration. She is employed for the project management consultant team for the Bulk Water Supply Expansion Project implemented by Millenium Challenge Account-Mongolia. Nomundari is IWRA’s Mongolia Chapter Bureau chairperson and founder; she is responsible for the overall coordination of the chapter.
Dr. Ariuntuya is lecturer of Environmental Engineering at the German-Mongolian Institute for Resources and Technology (GMIT). Her research focuses on the industrial wastewater treatment technology. She worked as a researcher and as a consultant on national and international projects related to her interests including “Experimental research and technology to reduce its technological waste water contained chemicals and primary processing wastewater in Wool scouring small and medium enterprises”, “Technology to make new felt-based materials from tanning solid wastes”, and “Design of dissolved air flotation to treat industrial wastewater”
Christian is a young water professional, knowledge management and data professional with a background in economics (BSc), biology (BSc), natural and water resources management (MSc, MSc). He is the founder and executive editor at Water Science Policy and a Climate Policy Analyst at LBST managing and supporting a range of projects related to environmental impact assessments, renewables and biodiversity.
Silvia is a water resources specialist at ADB, where she supports the design of projects in the People’s Republic of China and Mongolia. She also works on knowledge management and is one of the authors of the Asian Water Development Outlook 2020. Prior to joining ADB in 2018, she was a research assistant at the University of Oxford, a United Nations Fellow and a Programme Officer for the Italian Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Addis Ababa. In Ethiopia, she managed water and sanitation multi-donor projects co-financed by the European Investment Bank and the French Agency for Development Cooperation. She is passionate about science communication and is the co-founder of the digital magazine Water Science Policy.
Myadagbadam has bachelor’s degree in water supply and sewerage system engineering.She has worked in the development of water supply and sewerage system design drawings in various projects. Myadagbadam is IWRA Mongolia Chapter communication and website officer who will provide support for chapter activities and chairpersons.
Bolor is a graduate student with an M.S. in Natural Resources at the University of Missouri. Her interest is in the assessment and management of mining impact on water quality. She has more than five years of working experience as a metallurgist. Bolor is the IWRA Mongolia Chapter Bureau secretary; she is responsible for arranging meetings, recording and distributing, filing minutes, and exchanging correspondence.
Objectives
The Mongolia Chapter objectifies conveying knowledge about urban water security to water professionals and industry, young professionals, students and community representatives at all levels of government, including national and international agencies, in order to facilitate open dialogue on the operational conditions and management of urban water with the ultimate goal of disseminating knowledge of water security for all. The series of engagement activities raising civic participation on discussion about economic, political and social challenges seeks to promoting solutions and best practices for the water community. We hope to bring about holistic and sustainable impact on the urban communities.
Activities
The series of engagement objectifies to expedite discourse on the goals and ways-forward to the sustainable water transitions and achieving urban water security:
- Definition of urban water security (what does it mean, how we can assess urban water security, what are key challenges and opportunities).
- Highlight good practices and existing challenges of achieving urban water security.
- Defining the priorities of urban water security at different scales.
- Understanding:
Outputs
The Chapter will work on four main tracks of knowledge, policy, technology, and communication to have a holistic and sustainable impact.
The Chapter will undertake the following activities:
- Develop publication of articles, guides and manuals on related topics.
- Organize webinars, conferences, and
- Initiate research papers and
- Facilitate communication and interaction between other regional chapters and members of IWRA.
– What are the many definitions of sustainable water systems and how it can be unified? How sustainable water system differ between cities and economies? Where does Ulaanbaatar stand?
– What is the sustainable water governance, policy, development, and financing; what are the implications of these elements on adopting the sustainable water systems?
– How different cities adopting the new paradigm of sustainable water system towards water security? To what extent have urban areas adopted this and where does Ulaanbaatar stand? To what extent, or in what ways, have urban water systems incorporated or adopted processes and practices of sustainability?
– What are dimensions of the urban water security? And what dimensions Ulaanbaatar needs to apply to improve the sustainable water systems?
- Encourage the promotion of science, technology, and the best practices through IWRA communication
- Policy Dialogues – to be initiated with policy makers, scholars, and practitioners.
- Policy Briefs – based on the policy dialogues.
Recent Updates
The Mongolia Water Leadership Program has objectified conveying knowledge and facilitating dialogue around water security among the water practitioners operating in Mongolia. The program has provided excellent opportunities for the participants to delve into and exchange opinions with international experts and researchers. The 6-month program has boasted and galvanized youth engagement in the water sector in Mongolia.
Read more about the most highly raised issues among the participants here.
Working Groups
Introduction: Efficient and equitable governance is a key for achievement water security. For this, IWRA Mongolia Chapter established Governance Working Group by which the topics related to the water governance will be discussed.
Chair: Nomundari Erdene
Mission: Facilitate open dialogue, conduct research work, promote water governance as a key for sustainable development.
Activities: Webinars and policy briefs. Outputs: Activities every quarter.
Introduction: Key component for urban water management is natural disaster and its associated risks. For this, understanding the risks of natural disaster, its underlying hazards and vulnerability is essential.
Chair: Enerelbuyan Enkhbat
Mission: Conduct and present research works on natural disaster risk reduction.
Activities: Organize webinars and production of research work.
Outputs: Activities once a year.
Introduction: Sustainability in environment and ecology provides the broader concept of human security. Urbanization and environment have always been a topic of debate in terms of compromise.
Mission: Conduct research work on the trade offs and complex relations of urbanization and environment.
Activities: Present the outputs of the research work, conduct and organize online events such as webinars.
Outputs: Articles, policy briefs and webinars.
Introduction: Urban water security is largely dependent on the infrastructure and service provision systems. Although Urban Water Security of Ulaanbaatar has been improved drastically in the last 2 decades, the sole problem that underlies is the inequality for water provision systems.
Chair: Myadagbadam Dulamsurankhor.
Mission: To convene study on the current and previous infrastructure development project and provide interpretation on the objective of the future projects.
Activities: Organize online events, and production of contents. Outputs: Every quarter
Outputs: Every Quarter
Introduction: It is highly experienced that the Mongolian water sector is lagging behind in capacity building. The practitioners and experts in the water sector are in low numbers compared to other sectors. For this reason, the community and youth engagement, especially students who are interested in the topic, are in need to be facilitated.
Chair: Ariuntuya Tserendorj
Mission: To bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Knowledge and experience sharing with young professionals and practitioners.
Activities: Student and young professional engagement events, workshops and seminars. Outputs: Newsletter.
Outputs: Newsletter
Introduction: Variety of the platform for the outreach is definitely an advantage for every platform. The podcasts are well known in its convenience for information delivery via interviews and conversations.
Chair: Tuguldur Enkhtsetseg
Mission: To facilitate open dialogue within the Mongolian and international experts and practitioners operating in the water sector.
Activities: Organize podcasts.
Outputs: Podcast.
