Ulaanbaatar, January 7, 2022 - MCA-Mongolia is providing cost-recovery technical assistance to the Water Services Regulatory Commission of Mongolia (WSRC) under the Water sector sustainability activity, one of the three main activities of the Mongolia Water Compact. As part of the technical assistance, MCA-Mongolia, in collaboration with the National Statistical Office of Mongolia (NSO) and Cowatersogema International Inc. of Canada, conducted a study on the willingness to pay (WTP) for improved water supply services among apartment and ger area household consumers in Ulaanbaatar. The WTP Study Report has been completed in English and Mongolian language in December 2021.

The report includes findings and analysis of a quantitative survey of 4,975 households in nine districts of Ulaanbaatar, 55 focus group discussions with consumers, and interviews with water sector experts. Moreover, it was the first study to examine Ulaanbaatar's water use, accessibility, and customer satisfaction concerning customers’ socio-economic status, ability, and willingness to pay for water services.

The MCA-Mongolia presented the WTP Study Report to the WSRC representatives on January 7, 2022, and exchanged views on the effective use of the study results in future collaborations. The results of the study will be used as a basis for future research and help the government to develop and implement water-related social policies for targeted customer support programs. “The study samplings do represent all types of household consumers in Ulaanbaatar city and therefore the findings are critical in developing water tariff adjustments. We will be using the research findings and implementing recommendations in our future activities” noted Head of the Administration Department of WSRC B.Dorjbat and Head of the Tariff and Research Department of WSRC S.Nyamdavaa.

At the end of the meeting, the CEO of MCA-Mongolia E.Sodontogos expressed the wish to expand the collaboration between the two entities specified in the Implementing Entity Agreement and continue engaging closely during the Compact implementation.