From invisibility of persons with disabilities to their empowerment through strengthening Mongolian Network of Independent Living Centres

Implementing partners:

Coordinator: Tugeemel Hugjil NGO / Universal Progress Independent Living Centre (Mongolia)
Project partner: Pro NGO! e.V. (Germany)

Project duration: 36 Months (1 March 2026 – 28 February 2029)

Geographical scope: capital Ulaanbaatar and 7 provinces of Mongolia

Executive summary

In Mongolia, where over 111,000 persons with disabilities (PWDs) face systemic barriers to independent living, this 36-month initiative aims to transform PWD-led Independent Living Centres (ILCs) into driving forces for rights-based inclusion and policy reform. Despite legal frameworks such as Mongolia’s 2016 Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, real-world implementation remains minimal – only 0.1% of working-age PWDs currently receive independent living services, leaving thousands dependent on unpaid family care.

By empowering ILCs, building CSO advocacy networks, piloting and scaling state-contracted independent living services, and driving public awareness, the project turns legislative promises into actionable daily reality for PWDs and their families. The project operationalises Article 32 (Right to Independent Living) of Mongolia's Law on the Rights of PWDs, Objective 4 of the National Programme on Promoting Human Rights and Development of PWDs, Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), and recommendations from the UN CRPD Committee (2023).

Overall objective: To strengthen PWD-led civil society organisations as independent actors promoting the rights of persons with disabilities and contributing to an inclusive, participatory, and empowered civil society.

Specific objective: To empower Independent Living Centres as actors of change and policy influencers in inclusive and rights-based development for persons with disabilities.

Implementation pillars & activity clusters (AC)

AC 1: Empowering ILCs through capacity building, financial support, networking, and policy advocacy

Conduct baseline/endline assessments and deliver an 11-topic training and mentorship program to 36 key ILC staff members covering human rights, personal assistance services, legal frameworks, policy advocacy, and digital skills. Publish two compendiums on Independent Living Rights and Independent Living Services.
Deliver technical training on EU project management (PRAG, OPSYS, ROM, FSTP) and administer eight sub-grants (€92,000 total) to strengthen governance, management, and operational systems in 8 target ILCs.
Establish and formalise the National Association of Independent Living Centres (NAILC) uniting 9 ILCs and 10 DPOs/DFOs, adopt a 5-year network development strategy, and link Mongolian ILCs with Asian counterparts via the Kokorozashi International Network of Independent Living Centres.
Facilitate CSO-government working groups with the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Protection (MFLSP) and General Authority for Development of Persons with Disabilities (GADPWD) to adopt the Independent Living Service Regulations and Independent Living Service Methodology, while conducting provincial/district budget advocacy.

AC 2: Piloting, scaling, and promoting rights-based Independent Living Services

Piloting service model: deliver tailored personal assistance, peer counselling, and mobility support to 72 PWDs supported by 54 personal assistants across 9 ILCs.
Government contracting & scaling: facilitate 9 government-delegated service contracts between local/national authorities and ILCs, scaling services to reach 180 PWDs supported by 180 personal assistants and providing structured e-mentorship to 150 family caregivers.
Public engagement and media campaigns: Execute multimedia public awareness campaigns, including 6 broadcast video productions, 12 media events, and 45 media features, and engaging 30 media influencers to sensitise over 80,000 citizens and reduce social stigma.

Key targets:

9 Independent Living Centres are operational for PWDs, including 4 new ILCs to be established by th project
36 staff of Independent Living Centres trained under intensive capacity building programme for Independent Living Services Delivery
National Association of Independent Living Centres uniting 19 CSOs (9 PWD-led ILCs and 10 DPOs/DFOs with observer status) is effective in advocacy for PWDs’ rights
180 trained personal assistants and 150 caregivers mentored
252 PWDs receiving direct independent living services across pilot and scale-up phases
2 national instruments (ILS Regulations and ILS Methodology) and 1 PWDs Advocacy Roadmap adopted
9 signed service-delegation contracts with government entities with dedicated budget allocations
8 sub-grants (€11,500 each) awarded for ILC institutional development
~100 former full-time unpaid caregivers enabled to enter paid employment
80,000 people sensitized via targeted national/local media campaigns

Sustainability perspectives:

The project secures long-term financing by embedding independent living service budgets directly into state social service lines and provincial/district municipal budgets through formal government delegation contracts.
The project strengthens internal governance and operational resilience across 9 ILCs, establishing standard operational protocols and a structured National Association of ILCs guided by a 2027-2032 network strategy.
The project establishes binding administrative frameworks (ILS Regulations and Methodology) that translate Article 32 of the Law on the Rights of PWDs into permanent public service standards.
The project serves as a regional reference model expected to inspire the establishment of at least 4 additional non-beneficiary ILCs (expanding the national network to 13 centers) and facilitates cross-country knowledge transfers across 7 Asian countries through the International Kokorozashi Network of Independent Living Centres.