Awareness Campaign to Promote Safe Toilets in Ger Areas
In December 2024, Earth Company provided a JPY 4.5 million (USD 30,000) grant to Local Solutions, the NGO led by Impact Hero 2023, Oyungerel Tsedevdamba (Oyuna). This funding marks a new milestone in Mongolia’s journey toward solving its long-standing sanitation crisis.
Despite significant progress in recent years, only 58% of Mongolians currently have access to safely managed toilets. In both rural and urban areas, an estimated 600,000 pit latrines remain in use—posing risks of soil contamination, groundwater pollution, and child safety accidents. Through her organization, Oyuna has worked tirelessly to change this reality by introducing eco-friendly dry toilets and cultivating a culture of safe, sustainable sanitation practices that truly fit Mongolia’s environment and lifestyle.
With this grant, Local Solutions has taken an ambitious step forward: publishing educational books, training toilet entrepreneurs, and equipping nomadic communities with practical tools to lead Mongolia’s toilet revolution.
At a Glance
Oyungerel (Oyuna) grew up in a small rural town in Mongolia, that was influenced by the communist past of the Soviet Union. After studying planned economics at Moscow University, she would become an activist promoting democracy in Mongolia after the Soviet Union collapsed. She has served as a member of parliament and Minister of Culture and Tourism, where she worked towards the country’s sustainable development.
Mongolia faces significant challenges in terms of water and sanitation. More than 60% of toilets in Mongolia are open-pit latrine toilets, which are highly unsanitary, a health hazard, and even life-threatening. To an extent where, the entire country considers the word ‘toilet’ a taboo.
In order to address this, Oyuna initiated the campaign “Let’s Change Our Toilets” with the aim of changing people’s attitudes and behaviors towards toilets. The mission focuses on improving overall hygiene, and the environment, through widespread adoption of safe, sanitary, and eco-friendly toilets. She mainly focused on remote areas without access to water, and Ger districts (nomadic settlements) in urban areas. Oyuna’s campaign involves introducing alternative toilet options, conducting training and awareness programs in communities, and promoting collaborations with the business sector.
Empowering Communities Through Publications
With Earth Company’s support, Local Solutions launched a nationwide education and training program to empower both toilet users and entrepreneurs. The initiative includes the publication of 3,000 copies of Conversations in a Yard, an engaging book on waste reuse and composting gardens. Two practical guides, The Toilet Changer SMEs Handbook (600 copies) and The Nomadic Toilet Manual (100 copies) are also published, offering step-by-step instructions for building and maintaining dry toilets.
Building Local Capacity Across Mongolia
Beyond publications, Local Solutions is investing in hands-on learning to strengthen Mongolia’s sanitation ecosystem. Throughout 2025, the team has conducted training sessions for 50 small toilet business owners and 500 nomadic households across Arkhangai, Uvurkhangai, and Tuv Provinces. These sessions did not only equip local entrepreneurs with the technical and business skills to build and maintain dry toilets but also create new livelihood opportunities in sanitation-related trades. For nomadic households, the training offers practical guidance on installation, waste management, and long-term maintenance suited to mobile lifestyles. By fostering local ownership and economic participation, the initiative aims to spark a ripple effect — empowering communities to drive Mongolia’s toilet revolution from the ground up.
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