Setting up a local NGO branch in Mongolia brings up some obvious logistical hurdles. Mongolia is a landlocked country, wedged between Russia to the north and China to the south. A natural calamity called a “dzud,” or severe winter cold, makes life more difficult for both aid workers and herders alike.
But aside from such initial considerations, what should international NGOs be thinking about when they set out to open a branch in the East Asian nation of more than 3 million? More than 100 international NGOs have set up shop in the country, with local NGOs numbering over 5,000 as of 2005. Devex talked to a chief of a local Red Cross branch in Bayankhongor province, over 600 kilometers southwest of Mongolia’s capital Ulaanbaatar, about what newcomers need to know:
International organizations planning to open a local branch, particularly in the provinces, need to understand that respect for local culture and traditions is non-negotiable.
About the author
Lean Alfred Santos@DevexLeanAS
Lean Alfred Santos is a former Devex development reporter focusing on the development community in Asia-Pacific, including major players such as the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He previously covered Philippine and international business and economic news, sports and politics.
