At the time of ICMA's first involvement, Mongolia had undergone a democratic transition whereby elections were conducted fairly and power was relinquished.  Mongolia’s achievements were remarkable, and USAID worked with Mongolian officials and their communites to create an environment that would attract private investment, strengthen fiscal management within the public sector, combat corruption, and enhance economic activity in the rural areas. 

The Resource Cities partnership between Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and Bakersfield, California, built on USAID’s efforts to strengthen public-sector financial management. The cities focused on financial administration and revenue generation. It was important for the capital city to identify additional means of generating revenue. The partner cities identified alternative fees, including the following: an additional fee paid by foreigners when staying at hotels, tourist camps, and resorts; a fee to commission buildings and construction sites; inspection fees on building and construction sites; fees for land allocation; advertising fees; and a taxicab fee.

Most recently, ICMA delivered municipal financial management training to officials from East Asian and Southeast Asian countries, including Mongolia.