[Ulaanbaatar city, February 16 2023] – The Water Sector Sustainability Activity, one of the key components of the Bulk Water Supply Project under the MCC-Mongolia Water Compact, supports the strengthening of critical operational capacities within Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (USUG) through Utility Operations Sub-activity and the sub-activity includes funding support for the Water Operators’ Partnership Facilitation Services, a comprehensive partnership between USUG and an experienced water utility from a developed country that operates in similar conditions or deals with similar concerns. A kick-off meeting for the Water Operators’ Partnership Facilitation Services was successfully organized on February 16 2023 at Ceremonial Hall of USUG Headquarter.
In the framework of the Utility Operations Sub-activity, USUG operations of three years was assessed through the AquaRating, an international assessment and benchmarking tool for utility operations developed by the International Water Association, in eight operational areas and the utility was officially certified in January 2021. Based on the assessment results, the scope of this partnership program was determined and developed for further improvement.
The "Vitens Evides International" company of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which has successfully implemented a series of partnership programs for the water utilities in several developing countries, was selected as the contractor for the Consulting Services for Water Operators’ Partnership Facilitation and signed the contract on February 1, 2023.
In addition to representatives of the MCA-Mongolia and the consultant "Vitens Evides International", Mr. Kumar Ranganathan, Senior Director, Water, Sanitation and Infrastructure, MCC, Mr. G. Tsogtsaikhan, Head of the Department of Public Works and Engineering Infrastructure Policy Implementation, MCUD, Ms. Ts.Nyamtseveen, Head of the Department of Engineering Facilities at the Ulaanbaatar City Mayor’s Office, Mr. Ts. Turkhuu, Head of USUG, together with other members of its management team and engineers participated in the meeting. In addition, Mr. Stephen Gaull, a Senior Director, MCC, who has been providing support from MCC side on the implementation of the Water Operators’ Partnership Facilitation Services with Compact funding, participated in this meeting online.
MCA-Mongolia Chief Executive Officer Ms. E. Enkhgerel, in her opening remarks, expressed pleasure to start another new page of cooperation with USUG, which has been continuously and closely cooperating since the development stage of the Compact Agreement. “We hope that all the parties involved in the project will make great effort and be committed to working in cooperation to strengthen the operational capacities of USUG, empower its engineers and technicians who will be responsible for the future operations of the Downstream Wellfields, Advanced Water Purification Plant and Water Recycling Plant being built with the Compact funding, and to further utilize the gained experience to maintain the long-term sustainability of USUG operations.”
During the meeting, Ms. L.Unurjargal, Director, Sustainability, MCA-Mongolia provided a general overview of the Mongolia Water Compact, Water Sector Sustainability Activity, and the Consulting Services for Water Operators’ Partnership Facilitation, and Mr. Adriaan Mels, Regional Director and Team Leader and Mr. Boudewijn Sterk, a Water Utility Expert, “Vitens Evides International” presented on introduction of “Vitens Evides International” and their work plan and methodology for the partnership facilitation in detail respectively.
At the end of the meeting, the consultant representatives answered the questions from the participants.
Within the framework of the consulting services, which will be implemented for a total period of 35 months, the Water Operators’ Partnership Facilitator will identify a mentor utility, an experienced water utility in a developed country with similar operations and common problems to USUG, and will facilitate knowledge exchange and develop toolkits and other documents necessary for the partnership.
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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 Wastewater 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. By 2026, the water system in Ulaanbaatar will have been expanded to deliver 80% more drinking water, allowing for the city’s future expansion.