Australia Awards South and West Asia

Munkhzul Zandankhuu was a young, dedicated professional in the social protection sector when she applied for an Australia Awards Scholarship in 2008. With nearly 6 years of experience as a Pension Specialist, she understood the safety nets that support Mongolian citizens. However, she sought to elevate her technical capabilities in pension governance to serve pensioners, including disadvantaged people, more effectively.

She was successful in her application and began studying a Master of Commerce (Risk and Fund Management) at the University of New South Wales in 2009 with the support of an Australia Awards Scholarship. Munkhzul looks back on this time with immense gratitude. She describes the Scholarship as not just an academic opportunity, but a personal turning point. “I am deeply thankful to the Australian Government for investing in me,” she says warmly. “My time in Australia taught me that risk and funds management isn’t just about numbers; it is about ensuring resources actually reach the people who need them most and are protected for future generations. It gave me the confidence to lead with empathy.”

Munkhzul pictured graduating from the University of New South Wales with a Master of Commerce (Risk and Fund Management).

Upon her return to Mongolia, she started working on donor-funded projects and, in 2019, Munkhzul channelled her energy into a crucial leadership role as the Project Coordinator for Ensuring Inclusiveness and Service Delivery for Persons with Disabilities, an Asian Development Bank-funded project. This project was a massive, heart-led undertaking aimed at shifting Mongolia’s approach from a strictly ‘medical model’ (treating disability as an illness) to a ‘social model’ (focusing on independence and community integration).

With Munkhzul’s cheerful and rigorous management, the project successfully built and operationalised six development centres for people with disability in the aimags (provinces) of Dundgovi, Darkhan-Uul, Hovd, Khuvsgul, Dornod and Arkhangai. She also laid the groundwork for two additional centres in Zavkhan and Ulaanbaatar. Munkhzul lights up when describing the impact these centres have had in bringing real change to daily lives. “They are not just buildings. They are vibrant community hubs that have improved the quality of life for thousands,” she says.

Describing the impact of the centres, Munkhzul says, “We created spaces where children with cerebral palsy and other conditions receive physiotherapy and speech therapy early in life. Seeing a child take their first independent steps in our centres is a joy I cannot describe.” In addition, the project focused on empowerment through employment. Vocational training equipped adults with disability with skills in sewing, baking and IT. This enabled many to secure jobs, earning not only an income but also a sense of dignity and autonomy.

The centres also supported families, especially parents and caregivers who had previously carried the burden of care alone. “We gave families a support system,” Munkhzul says. “Parents could finally see a bright future for their children.” Additionally, the project distributed high-quality prosthetics and assistive devices, giving people the physical freedom to move and interact with their world.

“We didn’t just build infrastructure. We built confidence,” Munkhzul says. “We proved that people with disabilities are vital, capable members of our society.”

The disability centres are now thriving community assets, and Munkhzul has returned to her roots in social security. She is currently working as a Local Consultant for Pension Analysis. In this role, she leverages her Australia Awards-supported master’s degree to analyse data and fix ‘loopholes’ in pension policies. She is dedicated to ensuring Mongolia’s pension schemes are sustainable and fair for future generations. “I am optimistic about what we can achieve,” Munkhzul says. “By protecting our experts and ensuring the proper implementation of large-scale projects for communities, we are building a kinder Mongolia for those who need warm hearts.”