Voices of Mongolian Women Herders

Abstract

This project proposal aims to fill the gap in women herders’ exclusion from national and global policy frameworks, specifically within the Decent Work agenda and country programme developed by the International Labour Organization and the Mongolian Government. By creating an inclusive and participatory framework for this project, women herders’ lived experiences will be documented and allow them to define what is “decent” and “indecent” work for them in their unique pastoralist contexts.

From 2025 to 2027, this project will be implemented in four different geographical regions of Mongolia—Khuvsgul, Khovd, Dornod, and Umnugovi. Furthermore, by incorporating with productive and reproductive labour and participatory development theory, this project aims to empower women to advocate for their livelihoods, enhance direct engagement between herders and policy-making bodies, and finally raise public awareness of nomadic livelihoods, culture, and tradition. From this project, improved policy representation, public recognition of women herders’ contribution to society, and the establishment of a grassroots women herders’ network in rural areas are expected as outcomes. The project budget of €100,000 will be fully funded by the International Institute for the Study of Nomadic Civilizations under UNESCO.

Last but not least, sustainability of the project can be achieved through capacity-building, stakeholders’ engagement and grassroots organization establishments. In the long-term, this project advocates and advances gender equity, social inclusion, and rural development in Mongolian rural areas