The responsible financial advisor

The success of any project hinges on various activities, including profit and income calculations, accurate financial reporting, and maintaining financial discipline. Let me introduce T. Uranbileg, one of the most important advisors crucial to the successful execution of the project, collaborating closely with the students. T. Uranbileg oversees financial matters for the Entrepreneurship-focused socio-emotional skills for the most vulnerable youth in rural Mongolia project, which has been operational in Uyench soum, Khovd aimag since 2020.

Within the framework of the project, students from the target soums complete the “Entrepreneurship-focused Socioemotional Learning” or ESEL course and collaborate as a team to write project proposals for participation in the Pitch competition. Winning project proposals from the Pitch competition receive funding and T. Uranbileg oversees the team’s joint accounts, procurement, cash flow, financial reporting, and payments.

Uranbileg, an economist by profession, serves as the secretary of the Citizens’ Representatives Khural of Uyench soum. When the project soum council was first established, Uranbileg was selected to oversee finance due to her stable residence in the soum and her financial expertise. Initially unfamiliar with the project, she later participated in training for finance members at the Khovd aimag center. Through this training, she gained a comprehensive understanding of the project’s goals and objectives, learned to develop financial reports and statements, acquainted herself with the requirements for financial documents, and grasped the responsibilities of a finance member.

So, upon returning to her soum, Uranbileg applied the knowledge and understanding gained during the training to initiate training sessions and enhance the capabilities of the teachers and students from the winning teams. She also conducted meetings with each project implementation team, promptly offering necessary support and advice. As a result, a total of 8 projects have been successfully implemented in Uyench soum.

Uranbileg remarked, “Save the Children’s project is incredibly important and effective. When we were children, there were no projects like this. This initiative helps develop crucial skills that children require. Generating and validating new ideas, securing funding for their implementation, fosters creativity. Throughout the implementation process, I have been learning to communicate effectively with diverse groups, express my thoughts, and make informed decisions.”

Now my children can meet with the tax inspector, explain their needs, ensure all their financial documents are received and registered in the system, and return with them. This shows their development. I also want the children in my project to grow into independent and self-sufficient individuals. It brings me joy to witness the development of various personal skills in the children who have implemented the project, including financial discipline, teamwork, decision-making, self-expression, problem-solving, and adaptability.”

As the finance member, Uranbileg reviews pictures of the goods and equipment being purchased, checks and verifies the locations where these goods were acquired, and meticulously examines the documents submitted by students before authorizing any money transfers. This demonstrates Uranbileg’s high level of responsibility and diligence in overseeing financial transactions.

This precaution helps mitigate risks in case students make purchases outside of Uyench soum, such as in Ulaanbaatar city, Khovd aimag, or Bulgan soum. Uranbileg emphasized that by monitoring whether students adhere to the budget, develop and submit accurate financial documents, and conduct transactions without errors, her skills have significantly improved, and her sense of responsibility has matured.

She also highlighted that “the successful implementation of the projects in our soum was achieved through the collaboration and collective efforts of all members of the project soum council, the dedication of the trainers and facilitators, and the commitment of the students involved in the project.”