Development and Implementation of a Health Equity Impact Assessment Methodology in the Mongolian Mining Sector

Global Health

Occupational And Environmental Health

Led by Canadian investors, the Mongolian mining sector is poised for rapid development. Mining revenues promise to significantly enhance Mongolian GDP, raising the population's expectations for an increased standard of living. Yet to date there has been relatively little attention given by government to develop methods to insure that the benefits and risks of mining are distributed equitably among the population. Policy-level initiatives to broaden impact assessments are currently under consideration; evidence-based input is urgently needed. Responding to this need, we propose to engage in a participatory process with the major stakeholders in the Mongolian mining sector to develop and implement a health equity impact assessment methodology. We expect that this project will have a substantial and positive impact on Mongolian society by insuring that mining development, which is poised to become the main driver of the economy, will be done responsibly, with full attention to minimizing the social and environmental impacts that produce health inequities, and with a goal of maximizing benefits for affected communities.