With the proposed change to Project scope, the Project’s objectives will be: (i) to increase availability of the eligible vaccines for the priority population, as defined by the GOM in its NDVP, and (ii) to re-establish essential health care services disrupted by COVID-19.
The Project was approved by AIIB’s Board of Directors on June 10, 2021 to support the procurement and delivery of Covid-19 vaccines under the COVID-19 Crisis Recovery Facility of AIIB. It is co-financed with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through ADB’s Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility (APVAX).
The Project has provided the Government of Mongolia (GOM) with immediate financing support to purchase safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19 through APVAX. The Project has assisted the GOM in direct procurement of APVAX-eligible vaccines from manufacturers as well as international logistics to Mongolia. Through providing timely access to eligible COVID-19 vaccines, the Project helped contribute to containment of the pandemic and supporting economic and social recovery in the country. Additionally, it has supported the implementation of the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan (NDVP) in Mongolia, contributing to the GOM's efforts to immunize at least 30% of the population.
At the GOM’s request, the Project scope is proposed to be expanded to support the GOM in additional activities including the re-establishment of essential health care services disrupted during the COVID-19 and the enhancement of health security preparedness. This will enable Mongolia to transition more effectively towards a robust post-COVID-19 recovery. Furthermore, it will facilitate increased access to primary health care and improve the operational efficiency of primary health care services across Mongolia. These additional activities will be financed out of undisbursed loans of AIIB and ADB.
The loan will continue to be co-financed with ADB as lead co-financier, and the Project’s environmental and social (ES) risks and impacts have been assessed in accordance with ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement (SPS). To ensure a harmonized approach to addressing the ES risks and impacts of the Project, and as permitted under AIIB’s Environmental and Social Policy (ESP), ADB’s SPS will apply to the Project in lieu of AIIB’s ESP. AIIB has reviewed ADB’s SPS and is satisfied that: (i) it is consistent with AIIB’s Articles of Agreement and materially consistent with the provisions of AIIB’s ESP, including the Environmental and Social Exclusion List (ESEL) and the relevant Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs); and (ii) the monitoring procedures that are in place are appropriate for the Project.
As the proposed change to the Project scope will not entail any civil works or activities which may cause adverse impacts on the environment, and do not involve any land acquisition or involuntary resettlement impacts, the Project’s E&S categorization remains unchanged as Category C for Environment, Involuntary Resettlement, and Indigenous Peoples.
The Project was originally categorized as “some gender elements” by ADB as it was expected to significantly benefit women and children by providing access to COVID-19 vaccinations. The gender targets have already been met.
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
Xiang Li
Investment Solutions Specialist
Asian Development Bank
Najibullah Habib
Senior Health Specialist
Ministry of Finance
Batkhuu Idesh
Director General, Development
Financing Department
Ministry of Health
Yanjmaa Binderiya
Director of Division of International Cooperation
Home What We Do Project List Mongolia: Support for COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery in Mongolia under the Asia Pacific Vaccine Access Facility
