Advocacy and Outreach Assistant

WHO MNG organization mission TBD

Mongolia faces severe air pollution challenges, especially in Ulaanbaatar’s ger districts where households rely on coal and biomass for heating during long, harsh winters. Indoor air pollution is a major public health risk, contributing to high rates of respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality, as well as a risk factor for TB. More than 7,000 deaths annually in Mongolia are attributed to combined indoor and outdoor air pollution, including around 4,350 deaths from household air pollution alone .A joint study by researchers from Mongolia and Canada estimated that ambient air pollution is responsible for approximately 29% of cardiopulmonary deaths and 40% of lung cancer deaths in Ulaanbaatar. The age-standardized mortality rate from nationally representative survey for TB (2014–2015) showed a significantly higher prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed TB among households using solid fuels for heating. WHO estimates thousands of deaths annually in Mongolia are linked to exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5).

Key Drivers:
• Traditional stoves burning raw coal and biomass.
• Poor insulation and ventilation in ger homes.
• Limited access to cleaner fuels and technologies.
• Seasonal reliance on coal due to extreme cold

WHO’s environmental health project in Mongolia focuses on reducing indoor air pollution, especially from coal and biomass burning in homes, which is a major contributor to respiratory disease and premature deaths. The initiative supports cleaner heating and cooking technologies, improved monitoring, and stronger policy frameworks to protect public health.

Under the direct supervision of WHO Technical Officer on Environment Health, the UN Community Volunteer will under the following:


Community Outreach & Education
• Organize community meetings and workshops to explain the health risks (non-communicable diseases, TB and others) of indoor air pollution.
• Deliver door to door awareness campaigns in ger districts, ensuring messages reach vulnerable households.
• Facilitate school and youth sessions to educate children and young people on clean air practices.

Communication & Advocacy
• Develop and distribute information materials (posters, leaflets, radio spots, social media content) in local language.
• Act as community ambassadors, sharing success stories of households that adopted cleaner heating/cooking technologies.
• Support public campaigns highlighting the benefits of improved insulation and clean fuels.

Demonstration & Practical Support
• Provide hands on guidance to families on safe stove use, ventilation practices, and insulation techniques.
• Help connect households with local service providers offering clean energy solutions.

Data & Monitoring
• Collect community feedback on awareness activities and adoption of cleaner technologies.
• Support surveys to track knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to indoor pollution.
• Document barriers and success stories to inform WHO and government partners.

Community Empowerment
• Mobilize local leaders, women’s groups, and youth networks to champion clean air initiatives.
• Encourage peer to peer learning, where households share experiences of reducing indoor pollution.
• Strengthen community ownership of health and environmental solutions.
• Execute any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.