Aligned with Mongolia’s National Development Strategy and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Swiss Cooperation Strategy (SCS) aims to contribute to poverty reduction through creating income and employment (MDG #1), sustainable natural resource management (MDG #7) and strengthening good governance (Mongolian MDG #9).

The main focus areas were geared towards better management of pastures in rural areas, a land tenure system appropriate for a free market economy, measures to rehabilitate pastures, combating desertification, disaster mitigation, income generation and good governance. Generating additional income and creating more employment opportunities for the rural population were later added to SDC’s programme as it is seen as an appropriate approach in reducing widespread and persistent poverty.

The Swiss Programme then expanded into natural resource management aimed at supporting the livelihoods of vulnerable people through the sustainable use of natural resources, while also focusing on environmental issues.

Targeting Herders and Ex-Herders
The main beneficiaries will continue to be vulnerable herders, small-scale miners, and young people by promoting preventive measures against further impoverishment and improving their livelihoods. More than half of the population still relies on agriculture (including livestock) for some part of their income. Poverty fell in Ulaanbaatar, but increased in rural areas from 33 percent to 43 percent from 1998 to 2003.

Geographical Focus on the Western Region
SDC began its humanitarian and development programmes in the western region of Mongolia as this area was hit severely by dzuds from 1999 to 2003. Based on the high incidence of poverty incidence in the west of 51 percent (2003, compared with a national average of 36 percent) and SDC's humanitarian aid experience, SDC thus focuses its work on this region.

Review on Swiss Cooperation Strategy
In 2010, SDC reviewed the SCS for Mongolia 2007-2012 in the light of significant developments that have taken place in the context in the region, and in Mongolia, and the overall orientation of Swiss development cooperation and the way it operates.

Mongolia has reached the status of a Lower Middle Income country in 2010 with an increasing minerals-based economy, needs to move its economy towards higher value addition, and this will depend on the development of adequate human resources and the diversification of the economy.

Dealing with environmental problems such as climate change, desertification and water shortage are tasks that need to be urgently addressed.

SDC program will focus three domains of intervention:
        - Income and Employment
        - Environment and natural resources
        - Governance and Decentralisation

SDC will elaborate a Swiss Cooperation Strategy for Mongolia in 2012 for the period 2013-2016.