ADRA Mongolia

ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) was the first international non-governmental organization (NGO) to register in post-communist Mongolia, gaining approval from the Office of the Prime Minister. Established in 1994, ADRA Mongolia quickly became an active player in development and humanitarian work, standing out among the other 17 ADRA offices across Asia.¹

Beginning and Basic Statistics

ADRA has been active in Mongolia since before the presence of any Adventists in the country. It has supported a variety of initiatives, including the straw bale housing project, the kitchen garden project, the health education project, the street children project, the family planning project, relief efforts for herders who lost their livestock due to heavy snowfall, special education programs for at-risk students, and more.² In August 1994, ADRA set up its first office, with Scott Christiansen as the founding country director of ADRA Mongolia. Christiansen also connected with Brad and Cathy Jolly, working to establish a Seventh-day Adventist church.³

As of 2025, ADRA Mongolia, in collaboration with its partners and donors, has implemented 190 projects in Mongolia since 1994.⁴ One of the first major projects was launched in 1995 to address housing issues in ger (a traditional dwelling that has been used by Mongolian nomads for over half a thousand years) communities. Traditional gers, used by many families, are inefficient for permanent living, requiring excessive fuel for heating and frequent felt replacements. ADRA proposed building homes from straw bales, which are inexpensive, energy-efficient, and durable. Initially met with skepticism, the idea gained support after two demonstration homes were funded by ADRA/Canada. The project’s success led to growing interest across the country, with former critics advocating for straw bale construction.⁵

Recent Projects

The following are some more recent ADRA Mongolia projects:⁶

• Pasture Land Use it Sustainably (PLUS) Project: It enhances the sustainability of herder communities’ livelihoods in the Ider district. The project adopts the Holistic Management (HM) approach for pastureland management, developed by the Savory Institute. The project’s donor was ADRA Switzerland, Zurich & Aargau provinces (Switzerland) from 2021 to 2023.

• Fine Wool Pilot Project: It aims to establish the skills and genetic resources necessary to expand fine wool flock numbers and quality in Mongolia. The project’s donor was Help International from July 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023.

• Partnership on Organic Agriculture (POAg) Project: It develops organic agricultural production, establishes a Participatory Guarantee System (PGS), and improves the livelihoods of farmers in the Selenge province. The project’s donor was ADRA Germany from 2018 to 2022.⁷

• Sustainable Agriculture, Food, and Economics Resilience (SAFER-2) Project: It increases food and nutrition security and improves the livelihoods of agricultural producers in the Bayan-Ulgii Province. The project’s donors were Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB), ADRA Canada, ADRA China-HongKong, and ADRA Netherlands 2020-2023.

• In Their Shoes Project: It supports the most vulnerable communities and families with limited income directly affected by the pandemic. ADRA Mongolia staff and private individuals were the project’s donors that, in close coordination with the local social welfare departments, provided 100 food packets and 50 pairs of winter boots and socks to children aged ranging to 6-to 16 who belong to single-headed households in three districts (Bayanzurkh, Bayangol, and Khan- Uulm Songinokhairkhan) in the capital of Ulaanbaatar.

In 2012, ADRA International reported on ADRA Mongolia’s EACH project, which is devoted to helping transform the way society views children with cognitive disabilities, ensuring they receive access to education and healthcare. Previously, many parents of these children were denied home care allowances apparently due to a lack of understanding. Through meetings and lobbying with the Ministry of Social Welfare and Labor, the project successfully influenced the addition of a provision in the Law on Social Welfare. The new law now allows parents of children with cognitive disabilities to receive a home care allowance, providing much-needed support. The project is co-funded by the European Commission and ADRA-UK and implemented by ADRA Mongolia.⁸

As of 2022, ADRA Mongolia has helped 12,357 beneficiary partners.⁹

Thirtieth Anniversary and Future Outlook

ADRA Mongolia celebrated its 30th Founding Anniversary Celebration on July 26 and 27, 2024, under the theme Celebrating HOPE @30! The event took place at the Emerald Hall of Blue Sky Hotel and the UB Central Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ulaanbaatar, the capital city. ADRA Mongolia, committed to its mission of serving humanity so that all may live as God intended, has been sustained by divine faithfulness and leadership throughout its 30 years of operation. Since its establishment in 1994, ADRA Mongolia has partnered with individuals, communities, organizations, and governments to improve the quality of life for the Mongolian people through various projects. Over these years, the agency has focused on key areas such as education, disaster and emergency management, economic development, health, and food security. By 2024, ADRA Mongolia had implemented 194 projects, securing approximately 34 million USD in funding.¹⁰

During the anniversary celebration, Windell M. Maranan, the country director of ADRA Mongolia, was honored with the Golden Star of Peace, awarded by D. Zagdjav, president of the Peace and Friendship Organization Mongolia. This prestigious accolade, the highest given to an expatriate in Mongolia’s NGO sector, recognized Maranan’s outstanding contributions to strengthening traditional relations and cooperation between Mongolia and other nations. Additionally, Enkhtur Jambajav, a senior driver for ADRA Mongolia, was awarded the Order of the Polar Star, Mongolia’s highest state honor, for his 26 years of loyal and dedicated service to the organization.¹¹

On November 25, 2022, the ADRA Mongolia Board held its year-end meeting at the Ramada Hotel in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The meeting included regular members from the Northern Asia Pacific Division, Mongolia Mission leadership, and lay members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mongolia. The meeting highlighted ADRA Mongolia's ongoing programs in food security, health, economic development, climate change adaptation for pasture management, animal breeding, and other small projects benefiting vulnerable communities. During the meeting, the five-year strategic plan (2022–2027) was presented, outlining ADRA Mongolia’s vision for the future. The plan focused on three key areas, referred to as “Wildly Important Goals” (WIGs): 1) Program Impact and Focus, 2) People and Systems, and 3) Communications and Marketing. A High-Level Action Plan was also developed to monitor progress over the next five years.¹²

Notes

1. Northern Asia-Pacific Division, “ADRA Mongolia Celebrates 30 Years!” Northern Asia-Pacific Division official website, accessed April 3, 2025, https://www.nsdadventist.org/adra-mongolia-celebrates-30-years/.↩

2. Pyung Duk Chun, “I’ve Seen the Potential of Mongolia,” Northern Asia-Pacific Division News & Views, July 2001, 1.↩

3. P. D. Chun, “God’s Working in Mongolia,” Northern Asia-Pacific Division News & Views, July 1997, 1.↩

4. ADRA Mongolia, “Projects,” official website, accessed April 3, 2025, https://mongolia.adra.cloud/projects/.↩

5. Scott Christiansen, “Straw Homes and Heavenly Mansions,” ARH, September 28, 1995, 20.↩

6. ADRA Mongolia, “Projects,” official website, accessed April 3, 2025, https://mongolia.adra.cloud/projects/.↩

7. In 2021, ADRA Germany reported on the project’s success. Enkhtuya, a mother of two from northern Mongolia, struggled to support her family after the Soviet Union’s collapse. She worked abroad for two years, saving enough to buy cows and start a small farm. After learning about an ADRA project, she attended organic farming training and received seeds, fertilizers, and a loan to buy greenhouses. In her first year, she harvested 42 tons of produce. Her success led to recognition as “best organic farmer of the year” by the Mongolian Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry. This achievement encouraged her to expand her farm and pursue organic certification. Enkhtuya’s work was part of a larger ADRA-supported movement in northern Mongolia, helping farmers transition to organic farming. APD, “It Started with Two Cows – The Success Story of an Organic Farmer from Mongolia,” Adventist News Network, December 15, 2021, accessed April 3, 2025, https://adventist.news/news/it-started-with-two-cows-the-success-story-of-an-organic-farmer-from-mongolia.↩

8. “Mongolia: ADRA Improves Access to Education and Health Services for Children with Disabilities,” ADRA website, April 17, 2012, accessed April 3, 2025, https://adra.org/community-health-in-mongolia.↩

9. https://mongolia.adra.cloud/↩

10. Northern Asia-Pacific Division, “ADRA Mongolia Celebrates 30 Years!” Northern Asia-Pacific Division official website, accessed April 3, 2025, https://www.nsdadventist.org/adra-mongolia-celebrates-30-years/.↩

11. Ibid.↩

12. Northern Asia-Pacific Division, “ADRA Mongolia: Year-End Meetings 2022,” Adventist News Network, January 23, 2023, accessed April 3, 2025, https://adventist.news/news/adra-mongolia-year-end-meetings-2022.↩