Aflatoun International is pleased to share outcomes from a recent advocacy and capacity-building mission to Mongolia, led by our South East Asia & Pacific Regional Coordinator, YaLing Chao. The visit deepened collaborations with state institutions and financial sector partners, introduced Aflatoun’s active learning methods to new audiences, and mapped concrete next steps to integrate Social and Financial Education (SFE) into national systems.
YaLing Chao meeting with Director of Department of Education, Ministry of Education for potential partnership
Partnerships that enable scale
Over several days in Ulaanbaatar, YaLing met with senior leadership and specialists at the Bank of Mongolia, including the Governor, Deputy Governor and the Financial Education Centre team. Discussions focused on policy and practice for financial education in the Mongolian context and on how Aflatoun can support the enhancement of pedagogical components within existing programmes. Both the Governor and Deputy Governor expressed interest in joining Aflatoun’s regional and global convenings and in supporting a Master Trainer Training planned under the Level Upproject in Asia.
YaLing Chao meeting with Director of Department of Education, Ministry of Education for potential partnership
The mission also engaged the Department of Education within the Ministry of Education (Боловсролын ерөнхий газар) to explore formal pathways for embedding SFE into the school system. In parallel, a joint session with compliance, digital banking, branches and sales teams at XacBank, examined how financial education content could be integrated into a new teen-focused savings app currently in development. With the National Deposit Insurance Corporation of Mongolia, conversations centered on collaboration to strengthen financial literacy and resilience among young people through schools and community initiatives. Our long-standing partner, the Golden Fund for Development Association (GFDA), affirmed plans to expand Aflatoun programmes nationally, including the development of AflaTeen Entrepreneurship Clubs and continued Master Trainer development.
Joint Meeting with representatives from compliance, digital banking, branches & sales management divisions of X.A.C Bank
These engagements illustrate the power of Aflatoun’s social-franchise approach: local ownership and contextualization coupled with global expertise and a connected network ensure that Mongolia’s efforts can scale sustainably and align with international best practice.
Building educator capacity with active learning
Responding to partner requests, YaLing delivered three focused trainings designed for different audiences. In Ulaanbaatar, a two-hour session on project-based learning for teenagers convened master-trainer volunteers from the Bank of Mongolia, the Financial Regulatory Commission, the National Deposit Insurance Corporation and the General Directorate of Education, supporting the scale-up of the Level Up high school programme (see a brief social media note here). In Arkhangai Province, a three-hour training on Aflatoun SFE pedagogy for adults brought together local bank volunteers engaged in nationwide financial literacy efforts and was opened by the provincial governor. A third three-hour workshop with GFDA’s Master Trainer volunteers from XacBank focused on youth participation and entrepreneurship and prepared the launch of AflaTeen Entrepreneurship Clubs.
Across all sessions, Aflatoun’s Active Learning Methodology rooted in participation, practice and real-life application was at the center. The approach equips educators and volunteers to help young people build positive attitudes, social awareness and practical financial skills, and to apply those skills through projects and youth enterprises.
YaLing Chao at the Training for XAC Bank
Raising public awareness
To complement institutional outreach, YaLing participated in a televised interview with Eagle News Mongolia on the importance of financial education and the case for integration within school systems. The segment introduced Aflatoun International’s mission and programmes to a broader audience, reinforcing the story carried by the Bank of Mongolia and highlighting the shared commitment to building financial capability among children and youth.
What comes next
Following this visit, Aflatoun and partners are coordinating next steps to strengthen the pedagogical and project-learning components of current programmes; to expand opportunities for youth participation and exchange at regional and global levels; and to support Mongolia’s educators through Master Trainer pathways. Discussions initiated with prospective partners will continue, including collaborations that leverage digital platforms such as XacBank’s teen savings app to reach more young people with practical financial education.
These plans align with Aflatoun’s Strategic Plan 2022–2026, which prioritizes scaling inclusive, high-quality education resources, building partner capacity, and supporting national integration to reach more children and youth worldwide.
Aflatoun International thanks the Bank of Mongolia, the Ministry of Education, XacBank, GFDA, and the National Deposit Insurance Corporation, for their leadership and partnership. Together we are advancing a shared vision: a generation of Mongolian youth who are socially aware, financially capable and ready to thrive in a rapidly changing world.