CAS for Mongolia
Interim Strategy Note for 2009 - 2010

The World Bank’s Board has endorsed a new strategy of support for Mongolia as the country comes to terms with the short and long-term impacts of the global economic downturn. 

A new interim strategy, approved today, provides a framework of support for the next 18 months while economic conditions in Mongolia stabilize. Its goal is to support the Government of Mongolia to address urgent crisis needs while also addressing longer term reforms needed to reduce the impact of future shocks.

It focuses on three key areas: improving fiscal sustainability in a mineral-based economy; protecting the poor and vulnerable; and encouraging transparent and prudent mining investments and a more competitive and stable medium-term business investment climate.

• improving fiscal sustainability in a mineral-based economy 
  
• protecting the poor and vulnerable
  
• encouraging transparent and prudent mining investments and a more competitive and stable medium-term business investment climate. 

Poor and vulnerable groups are especially at risk due to rising unemployment, declining prices for raw materials in the livestock sector and recent inflation. The Government has responded with an ambitious short-term macroeconomic program to navigate impacts of the global crisis and begun to put in place policy reforms to make the economy more resilient in the medium-term.

Arshad Sayed, World Bank Country Manager for Mongolia said: “The global economic crisis has highlighted some key areas of vulnerability for Mongolia. This strategy will help the country deal with the short-term crisis that is especially hitting the country’s poorest people while also working towards a more sustainable economic future.” 

CAS for Mongolia 2010 - 2011

Consultation process on CAS 2008-2011 is still continued since the WB started series of consultation meetings with all stakeholders: the Parliament, the Government, CSOs, private sector, external partners and public in March 2007. 

According to new CAS draft the following 3 pillars are considered as main areas of focus of the WB program in Mongolia for upcoming years based on broad consultations with stakeholders in UB, other cities and aimags. These are:

1. Enhance the development impact of the mining economy
2. Improve rural livelihoods and environment
3. Make Ulaanbaatar a more livable city