Reduce illegal mining and other natural resource crimes by building greater capacity to detect, investigate, and prosecute violations and criminal cases, through more integrated approaches, and…

The Asia Foundation received a $1.0 million Project Grant from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) under the Trans-National Crime program (CFDA 19.705), effective October 1, 2025, through October 1, 2027. The award supports capacity-building initiatives in Mongolia designed to reduce illegal mining and other natural resource crimes by enhancing law enforcement's ability to detect, investigate, and prosecute violations and criminal cases. The project employs integrated approaches to strengthen Mongolia's criminal justice system and advocates for preventative actions by local governments to address transnational environmental crimes.

As part of the award implementation, the Asia Foundation partnered with the University of South Carolina as a sub-grantee beginning May 3, 2026, to deliver simulation-based training on natural resource crimes and related financial offenses including money laundering and financial investigations. The training targets police officers, prosecutors, and staff from related organizations, building specialized investigative and prosecutorial capacity within Mongolia's law enforcement and judicial systems to more effectively address complex transnational environmental crime cases.

Reduce illegal mining and other natural resource crimes by building greater capacity to detect, investigate, and prosecute violations and criminal cases, through more integrated approaches, and advocating for preventative actions by local governments.