A Week of Work and Wonder

My third week at the office felt both exciting and eye-opening.

Mongolia faces complex energy challenges. Its heavy reliance on coal for heating during the long and harsh winters leads to dangerously high levels of air pollution, which severely impacts public health especially among vulnerable communities living in traditional Ger districts. There is an urgency to shift from coal to more sustainable energy sources. In my role, I support the development of Mongolia’s Just Energy Transition (JET) Framework. My work focuses on building financing strategies to support the transition and expanding clean energy access for vulnerable communities.

That week, I joined my team in nine stakeholder consultation meetings with government officials, development partners, and other sectors tied to Mongolia’s energy transition. The week highlights was the JET Workshop on June 12, 2025, co-led by UNDP and the Ministry of Energy. The event gathered representatives from government ministries, regulators, development banks, private companies, and civil society. Together, we discussed just transition principles and their relevance for Mongolia with the objective of laying the groundwork for an inclusive and responsive JET Framework draft.

Just Energy Transition (JET) Workshop at UNDP Mongolia

Listening to the presentation and exchanges gave me a deeper understanding of the barriers holding back progress: why plans often stall, why some government actors resist, and why renewable energy procurement and sustainable heating solutions move so slowly. At the same time, I realized how many of these challenges mirror the struggles faced in my own country, Indonesia. There is a shared story among developing nations navigating the balance between economic needs and climate action.

One amusing detail: every government building required an ID for entry. Since my passport was still held for my visa extension, I used my New York City ID instead. Surprisingly, it worked every time.

Pictured from left to right below: About to start a meeting with Ministry of Family, Labour, and Social Protection; The CHP Plant photo hanged at the Ministry of Energy; Meeting with the lead consultant of the JET Framework; The JET workshop on going.

Outside of work, I have  been exploring Ulaanbaatar through its food. Walking through downtown, I loved discovering local dishes with friends during lunch breaks. Goulash and Tsuivan (a Mongolian noodle stir-fried with meat and vegetables) quickly became favorites, alongside Buuz, the classic steamed dumplings. With nearly 60 million livestock in a country of only 3.5 million people, it’s no wonder that their meat is exceptional. My go-to lunch spot near the UN House became Mandakh: quick, affordable, and consistently delicious. Somehow, I always ended up ordering Goulash and the classic Mongolian Milk Tea (a savory milk tea!!!), usually with the help of my friend Shure who kindly translated the all-Mongolian menu for me.

My Mongolian lunch that I enjoyed very much

By the weekend, I found myself craving both rest and small adventures. Ulaanbaatar is not really a very large area, so walking became my favorite way to explore. One Saturday, I decided to make the long trek to the Zaisan Memorial, a monument on a hill in the city’s southern edge that honors Mongolian and Soviet soldiers who died in World War II. From my apartment, it was a 14-kilometer roundtrip walk with 600 steps up the hillside. It was a blazing sunny day, so I stopped midway for a matcha latte at a small café before pushing onward. By the time I reached the top, the exhaustion melted away in the breeze. The panoramic view was breathtaking: Ulaanbaatar’s skyline stretched across the valley framed by rivers and rolling hills. After sitting in front of the laptop for days at the office, the walk and hike felt like both a release and a reward.

I am grateful for the work, simple pleasures, and small adventures that help me feel at home in a city that still feels so new.