IOM Mongolia and Council of Mongolians Abroad Partners on Mongolian Diaspora Engagement

ULAANBAATAR, 2 April 2026 — International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Mongolia and the Council of Mongolians Abroad (CMA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation on engaging Mongolian diaspora communities and supporting their voluntary, short-term return to contribute to national development. The MoU was signed by Dr.Yoko Fujimura, Chief of Mission of IOM in Mongolia, and G.Ganzorig, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Mongolians Abroad.

The MoU builds on ongoing collaboration between the two organizations since 2023 and marks a significant step toward expanding opportunities for Mongolian diaspora communities worldwide. Through this partnership, IOM and CMA will promote Mongolian diaspora engagement initiatives, facilitate knowledge exchange, and support voluntary short-term return programs that enable Mongolian diaspora communities to contribute to the country’s sustainable development. In parallel, the project will also support the CMA through targeted capacity development and training activities aimed at strengthening its operational capacities, thereby enhancing its ability to effectively engage and serve Mongolian diaspora communities.

Dr.Yoko highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership, stating: “The Council of Mongolians Abroad is our main bridge to reach Mongolian diaspora communities and a key strategic partner for us in facilitating cooperation and dialogue.” Representatives of CMA expressed their appreciation for the strengthened collaboration, noting that the MoU elevates the partnership to a new level while continuing to safeguard the rights and interests of Mongolians abroad.

Diaspora refers to individuals and communities who live outside their country of origin but maintain strong social, cultural, and economic ties with their homeland. In this context, Mongolian diaspora communities represent a valuable source of knowledge, innovation, and global perspective that can contribute meaningfully to Mongolia’s development.

For more information, please contact: 

Delgertsetseg Ganbat, Communications Consultant

Email address: dganbat@iom.int 

Tel: 976-70143100, 976-99124896

IOM Mongolia

United Nations House, United Nations Street -12

Sukhbaatar District 14201 Ulaanbaatar Mongolia

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About IOM in Mongolia:

Mongolia joined IOM in 2008 and opened its Ulaanbaatar office in 2011. Since then, IOM has supported the government in managing migration across a wide range of issues. Its early work focused on introducing international standards for assisting victims of trafficking and supporting Mongolian nationals returning from abroad. Today, IOM’s activities include strengthening internal migration management, enhancing immigration and border systems, providing emergency and crisis support, and assisting with migrant visa processing. IOM also helps the government and rural communities address climate‑change‑induced disasters and their impacts on migration through research, community‑based disaster risk management training, public information campaigns, and direct support to climate‑affected migrants.