The new strategy was also revised in line with the overall goal of the Swiss Federal Council’s Dispatch to Parliament on International Cooperation 2013-2016 and its two strategic objectives: (i) Ensure equitable access to resources and services to the people; and (ii) Support the transition to democracy and a market economy.

The strategic goal of the Swiss Cooperation Strategy 2013-2016 is to contribute to equitable and sustainable social and economic development in Mongolia. In order to achieve this, the strategy is focusing on three key domains:

1. Agriculture and Food Security
2. Vocational Education and Training; and
3. State Reform, Local Governance and Civic Participation

Experience in Mongolia has shown that ecology needs to be combined with economy in a reinforced “green domain” in order to improve the livelihoods of the rural population. An entirely new domain will be dedicated to improving the quality of vocational education and short-term skills training so as to allow young people in rural areas and low-skilled adults to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the unfolding economic boom. Successful decentralisation reforms will be decisive for development outcomes in all sectors, which is why SDC’s investment in the “governance domain” will expand considerably in the coming period.

The Agriculture and Food Security Domain will aim to increase incomes and create better livelihoods for vulnerable rural populations; the Vocational Education and Training Domain will seek to improve the employability of rural men and women; and the State Reform, Local Governance and Civic Participation Domain will foster more effective, efficient and fair local governments, satisfied citizens, and a genuinely representative and effective civil society. The strategy will be underpinned by the mainstreaming of gender equality throughout all SDC interventions.

A strong alignment with national development priorities and increased use of country systems is considered essential for the next programme period. This implies that: (i) The programme must focus on topics with a high chance of uptake and financing through the government; (ii) Switzerland will insist on joint planning, appraisal, implementation and financing for all interventions; (iii) Democratic mechanisms that direct public resources to priority areas and services which benefit the poor must be strengthened; (iv) More joint projects with multilateral partners will be pursued; and (v) SDC self-implementation will be phased out.