Since 2000, JOICFP has been providing reconditioned bicycles and other items through the Mongolian Family Welfare Association (MFWA) to community-based distributors (CBDs) and volunteers. Severe weather has taken a heavy toll on livestock, the main source of income and food for many people, and the country is undergoing political transition from many years of a communist system.

After a preparation workshop in December 2005, JOICFP in collaboration with MFWA has implemented a pilot community-based "Community Empowerment, Poverty Reduction and Safe Motherhood Project" covering five communities in Khasaat District, Arkhangai Province.

Community people and leaders hold discussions
during a project preparation meeting

Objectives

The project will operate with appropriate indicators to evaluate its success and aims to:

• Increase knowledge and awareness of reproductive health and family planning (RH/FP), and increase use of RH/FP services
• Increase the knowledge and skills of CBDs on information, education and communication (IEC)
• Increase the income of some households focusing on microcredit and project sustainability such as through agriculture, a revolving fund, and sewing.

This area will be planted with oats
that can then be sold for income generation

Poverty reduction

The project site was chosen by MFWA as nearly 25% of its registered 1,028 households are classified as extremely poor, 43% of women of reproductive age suffer from anemia, and child malnutrition runs at about 8%.

An example of the very basic sanitary facilities
at a house in the project site

This is the first time for MFWA to implement an integrated poverty reduction program, and JOICFP is keen to learn how it will positively impact safe motherhood, especially as both safe motherhood and poverty reduction are integral to the MDGs.

JOICFP will provide some funding for the project through a joint domestic campaign with MFWA in Japan, and in a novel step for an NGO in Mongolia, MFWA has started fundraising in the country to assist with sustainability. To date, Mongolian NGOs have received little external funding because of their lack of capacity.

The integrated community-based approach with poverty reduction and RH is also new in Mongolia, with beneficiaries being expected to contribute time and effort toward project sustainability.