UNICEF and UK Join Forces to Build Climate-Smart Early Childhood Development Centre

Ulaanbaatar, 11 August – UNICEF and the British Embassy in Ulaanbaatar today signed a landmark agreement to launch the “Growing Up Green” project, a pioneering initiative to establish a climate-smart Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre in Orkhon Province.

The project, funded by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) with co-funding from Orkhon Province, aims to transform an existing public building in Erdene bagh of Bayan-Undur soum into a coal-free, energy-efficient and child-friendly space. Once completed, the Centre will provide quality early learning, health, nutrition, and parental support services to over 500 children aged 0–5 from underserved ger communities.

“This partnership brings together climate action and early childhood development – two of the most urgent priorities for Mongolia. By replacing coal heating with renewable energy solutions, we are protecting children’s health today while building a greener future for them” said Mr Evariste Kouassi-Komlan, UNICEF Mongolia Representative in Mongolia at the signing ceremony.

“The United Kingdom remains committed to supporting Mongolia’s efforts to build a greener, fairer future. Through initiatives like this, we reaffirm our shared values and our belief in the power of community-led development. We continue to work together with our international partners to protect our environment, to uplift our children, and to build a future where every child can reach their full potential in a clean, low-carbon world’’ noted Her Excellency Ms Fiona Blyth, British Ambassador to Mongolia.

The ECD Centre will feature energy-efficient retrofitting, solar-assisted heating systems, indoor air filtration, and outdoor green spaces. In addition to providing early learning opportunities, the Centre will run parenting, childcare, nutrition, healthcare, and green lifestyle training programmes for over 1,000 parents and caregivers.

This initiative supports both Mongolia’s national ECD Framework and the Paris Agreement goals by demonstrating a scalable model for integrating renewable energy into community infrastructure. Within five years, the project aims to inspire replication nationwide, contributing to the elimination of coal use in public buildings and strengthening community resilience.

The project will commence in August 2025 and is expected to be completed by March 2026.