Combating desertification has become a key development priority at global level as it provides an important contribution to the achievement of 2 Millenium Development Goals: MDG 1 - poverty and MDG 7 - environment. It is relevant also to the to the implementation of a the National Development Strategy 2008-2021 of Mongolia. 

General 
In 1996 the Government of Mongolia has joined the United Nations Convention for Combating Desertification (UNCCD) and in 1997 it adopted the first National Action Plan for Combating Desertification (NAP CD), which was followed by the creation of the National Committee for Combating Desertification (NCCD). Even though NAP CD was updated in 2003, the implementation of the Plan was weak without having noticable effect on the trend of desertification.

In 2008 UNCCD formulated a new 10-years strategy. In 2009 MNET took the initiative to thouroughly reformulate the NAP CD and to align it with the new UNCCD strategy. The intention of the new NAP CD is to address land degradation and desertification in line with UNCCD strategy and to implement comprehensive activities in a more extensive and resolute way within the frame of improving legal environment, institutional structure, formal and informal education and awareness building. The new NAP CD gives a strong legitimacy to NCCD to coordinate the programs related to desertification.

Rational
In response to the request of the Government of Mongolia to support the efforts for combating desertification in Mongolia, SDC is implementing the "Coping with Desertification Project (CODEP)" 2006 - 2014.

The Project is aligned with the Swiss Cooperation Strategy 2007-2012 (SCS) and contributes to the Country Outcome 2: strengthened resilience of herders to vulnerabilities in the livestock sector, improved disaster preparedness and environmental stewardship.

The Project's key results are directly linked to the SCS 2.2, which says 'plans, strategies and sustainable natural resource management practices introduced to herders in target areas that stop and reverse the desertification of rangeland and guarantee a long-term use of the fragile ecosystems.' The Project is gender-mainstreamed and will carefully monitor the impact on marginalized people and governance related issues during its implementation.
 
Project objective 
The objective of the Project is to support Mongolia's capacity to improve the effectiveness of national and international efforts on coping with desertification and promote sustainable livelihoods in arid and semi-arid areas.

Main Beneficiaries and Target Groups

The Project aims at improving the capacities of different institutions which have an official mandate to combat desertification. Among them are:
at central level - NCCD under the MNET and Desertification Study Centre (DSC) of the Geo-ecological Institute (GEI), which is part of the Mongolian Academy of Sciences (MAS) and the MECS;
at local level -Khovd aimag Governor's Administration Office, Land Agency, Environmental Agency, Agriculture Extension Service and academic and educational institutions.

At local level the Project empowers local users of natural resources by supporting the formation of User Groups and their Associations and by providing them with legal use rights to natural recources and improving the access to services.

SDC defines the Western Aimags as their target area because these Aimags have the highest poverty rate and SDC has gained good experience and established strong relationships through the implementation of various Humanitarian Aid projects after the ‘dzud' disasters at the turn of the millennium. The geographical focus also allows capitalizing on synergies between the different SDC projects in the area. 

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