Doctoral Thesis

Working Title:
A Resource Nexus Perspective on Sustainable Public Procurement: The Case of Mongolia

Supervisors:
Prof. Dr. Artem Korzhenevych, IOER and Dresden University of Technology;
Prof. Dr. Edeltraud Guenther, UNU-FLORES

TUD Faculty:
Faculty of Business and Economics

IOER Research area:
Transformative Capacities

Abstract:
The rapid acceleration of climate change has led to the exacerbation of serious environmental, social, and economic challenges around the world. Mongolia is particularly vulnerable to the risks posed by climate change, experiencing a 2.25°C rise in temperatures over the past 80 years - which is twice the global average - along with a 1.8-fold increase in climate-related disasters over the past two decades. In response, Mongolia has committed to a 22.7% reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, under the Paris Agreement.

Sustainable public procurement (SPP) is a strategic tool that aligns government purchasing with sustainability objectives by prioritising goods, services, and works that minimise environmental harm while promoting social and economic benefits. Although Mongolia has set SPP targets in its national strategy, ‘Vision 2050’, whereby 10% SPP will be achieved by 2025, 20% by 2030, and 50% by 2050, research on its practical implementation remains limited. Overcoming this gap between policy and practice defines the core objective of this research.

This work aims to investigate avenues to the successful implementation of SPP in Mongolia to advance sustainable development and mitigate climate impact, while integrating a resource nexus perspective. Intrinsic to the study will be a global systematic review of SPP practices through the lens of the resource nexus, an assessment of the current state of SPP implementation and subsequent barriers within the country, an analysis of the economic and environmental impacts of a resource nexus approach to SPP execution, and the formulation of evidence-based policy recommendations. The findings will aim to support a green transition in Mongolia and strengthen sustainable public procurement systems to better align with national and international sustainability goals.

CV

Education:

Since 04/2025
Doctoral Candidate at the Dresden Leibniz Graduate School (DLGS); the United Nations University-Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES); and Dresden University of Technology (TUD)

09/2022 – 02/2024
Seoul National University, South Korea
Academic Degree: Master of Public Administration

08/2018 - 08/2020
Handong Global University, South Korea
Academic Degree: Bachelor of Global Management (Magna cum laude)

09/2016 - 10/2020
University of Finance and Economics, Mongolia
Academic Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration

Professional Experience:

07/2024 – 01/2025
Central Bank of Mongolia
Economist at Economic Research and Training Institute

01/2022 – 08/2022
Ministry of Economy and Development
Officer at Developing Financing Policy Department

06/2020 – 12/2021
National Development Agency
Officer at Investment Policy Department