Fiona Blythe, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Mongolia

Distinguished guests, honourable State Secretaries, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen –

Good afternoon and thank you for the opportunity to join you today to celebrate 30 years of Save the Children in Mongolia.

First – I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Save the Children Mongolia for your anniversary.

For three decades, Save the Children has worked to transform the lives of Mongolian children, and been symbol of compassion and dedication.

Congratulations to everyone who has contributed to this incredible milestone.  Staff, volunteers, donors and advisers – past and present.  Your work has given children in Mongolia opportunities to learn and develop in safety and with kindness.

The United Kingdom is proud to have walked alongside you throughout these years.  In 1993, Her Royal Highness Princess Anne visited Mongolia and signed a cooperation agreement between Save the Children and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Back then, the organisation was Save the Children UK and the country office was opened in February 1994 in Ulaanbaatar.  Its focus was to support Mongolian children’s development and wellbeing, with particular focus on the country’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.

The organisation operated for 15 years until 2009 when it handed the baton to Save the Children Japan.

Today, the United Kingdom is proud to continue supporting Save the Children.

In 2014, we supported the establishment of the Start Fund, a UK-based, NGO-managed, multi-donor, pooled fund for humanitarian response.

It provides rapid financing in response to underfunded small to medium scale crises, and spikes in chronic humanitarian need.

The UK is the biggest contributor to the fund which in January provided £300,000 to World Vision and Save the Children to support early action in response to the dzud.

We are proud to continue to support Save the Children as you begin your next decade of important work in Mongolia.

Thank you for all you have done for children in Mongolia in the past 30 years, and for all you continue to do to build a safer, healthier and more caring world for those that come after them.

Happy Birthday and thank you.