Australia Awards South and West Asia

On 25 September 2025, Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia’s Environment and Climate Action alumni network hosted a live Q&A session with Dr Oyun Sanjaasuren, Director of Partnerships and Resource Mobilization at the Green Climate Fund. The online Q&A covered five key themes: strategic planning and national alignment; accessing Green Climate Fund resources and proposal development; inclusion and equity in climate finance; non-government organisation capacity and technical projects and careers; and capacity-building opportunities.

Dr. Oyun (second from right) participating in a panel discussion on climate finance during the 2023 Regional Alumni Workshop in Mongolia.

The session was moderated by Bangladeshi alumnus Md Kabir Hossain, a civil servant and climate resilience advocate with over a decade of experience in public administration and international development finance. Kabir, who holds a master’s degree in climate change from the Australian National University, has led initiatives in disaster-resilient housing, smart agriculture and water security in coastal Bangladesh.

Moderator of the session and Bangladeshi alumnus Md Kabir Hossain (right) pictured during his participation in the 2023 Regional Alumni Workshop in Mongolia.

Dr Oyun began by outlining the strategic priorities of the Green Climate Fund, including its Country Readiness Program (2024–2027), which supports partner countries to align their national strategies with the Green Climate Fund’s funding criteria. She shared that the Fund is currently in its second year of a four-year programming cycle, with approximately $10 billion allocated. The upcoming board meeting will consider over 30 projects totalling $1.4 billion, and preparations are underway for the next replenishment phase, aimed at mobilising additional resources despite global fiscal constraints.

A highlight of the session was the presentation of a $500 million green housing project in Mongolia, co-financed by the Green Climate Fund, Asian Development Bank, the Government of Mongolia and private developers. The Fund contributed $150 million, consisting of $50 million in grants and $100 million in concessional loans, enabling the development of affordable, low-carbon housing in areas lacking basic infrastructure. This project was cited as a model for how blended finance can unlock sustainable development in middle-income countries.

Dr Oyun also addressed common misconceptions about the Green Climate Fund’s role in global climate finance. While the Fund contributes around $3 billion annually, this represents only 3% of the $100 billion pledged under the Copenhagen Accord. The remaining funds are sourced from multilateral development banks, bilateral aid, private sector investments and philanthropic contributions. She noted that the global target is to mobilise $300 billion annually by 2035, with a broader goal of $1.3 trillion in total climate finance. She emphasised that advocacy for increased climate finance must be a shared responsibility between donor and recipient countries, with alumni and national decision-makers playing a key role in shaping enabling environments and developing strong, climate-rational proposals.

Dr. Oyun (far left on screen) and Md. Kabir Hossain (to the right) leading the online Q&A session.

The session also explored how countries can improve direct access to the Green Climate Fund’s resources and increase project approval rates. Dr Oyun encouraged alumni to engage with accredited entities, strengthen proposal development skills and contribute to national capacity-building efforts. She stressed that alumni are well-positioned to bridge gaps between policy and implementation, especially in areas such as gender-responsive financing, climate-health linkages and community-based adaptation.

Reflecting on her own career, Dr Oyun shared insights gained from her five consecutive terms in Mongolia’s parliament and her leadership roles as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Environment and Green Development, and Chair of the Global Water Partnership. She acknowledged Australia’s support for education and alumni, especially women leaders, and highlighted her ongoing work with the Zurich Foundation and Australia Awards – Mongolia’s Women’s Leadership Program.

Reflecting on the online session, Bhutanese alumnus Kuenga Namgay said, “This Q&A session provided a wonderful opportunity for us to engage directly with one of the world’s foremost climate finance leaders and gain practical insights into navigating the global climate finance landscape.”

Bhutanese alumnus Kuenga Namgay pictured during the 2023 Regional Alumni Workshop in Mongolia.

The Champions for Environment and Climate Action alumni network is a dynamic, member-led initiative under Australia Awards – South Asia & Mongolia. It brings together alumni who are committed to environmental protection, climate resilience and sustainable development across the region. Through collaboration, innovation and shared leadership, this network amplifies the role of alumni as changemakers in addressing one of the most urgent challenges of our time.

The next Champions for Environment and Climate Action alumni network panel on climate finance is scheduled to be held on 6 November 2025. Register now via this link.

Cover photo: Dr Oyun Sanjaasuren, Director of Partnerships and Resource Mobilization at the Green Climate Fund.