Mongol Diaspora Internship 2026 (IOM)
Mongolia's first diaspora internship: 24 students from 11 countries placed with 9 host organisations for 11 weeks, June–August 2026, with IOM Mongolia.
YOUTHinc implemented the IOM pilot that brought skilled Mongolian diaspora students home for a summer: a USD 1,000 stipend, four days a week at a host organisation, six Friday workshops on the 5+1 tracks, two study tours and two wellbeing sessions.
About the program
YOUTHinc was the implementing partner of the IOM Mongol Diaspora Pilot Internship Programme, Summer 2026 — the first ever pilot diaspora internship programme in Mongolia, co-delivered by IOM Mongolia (International Organization for Migration) and YOUTHinc, designed to bridge skilled Mongolian diaspora talent with Mongolia's leading employers.
24 Mongolian students at bachelor's, master's and doctoral level in 11 countries were selected from more than 200 applicants, and spent two summer months in professional placements at home — an 11-week journey of work, learning and development through 25 August 2026.
Nine host organisations, four clusters
- Cluster I — Digital Innovation & FinTech: Khan Bank · Axiom Inc · Mongolian National Federation of the Blind
- Cluster II — Public Health, Science & Biotech: Health Development Center · Onom Foundation
- Cluster III — Sustainability, ESG & Green: New Nomad Institute
- Cluster IV — Public Policy, Education & Comms: European Chamber of Commerce in Mongolia · Australian Chamber of Commerce in Mongolia · Teach for Mongolia
What each intern received
- A USD 1,000 stipend, funded by IOM
- About four days a week at the host organisation
- Six Friday workshops led by YOUTHinc facilitators — the 5+1 Track curriculum
- Two professional study tours across Ulaanbaatar workplaces — with MCS Group, UV Group, MAX Group, Khan Bank, TESO Group and IT Park
- Two Bfit Mongolia wellbeing sessions
- Individual experience sharing, the Diaspora Festival and a yoga programme
How it ran
A partnership coordination meeting on 3 June 2026 aligned all nine host organisations on the programme structure, the intern supervision framework and YOUTHinc's parallel capacity-building curriculum. On 5 June, an online pre-departure orientation gathered the 24 interns live from Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East. Workshops covered the Mongolian labour market, career planning, work-life balance, digital skills and sustainable development.
The programme closed on 18 August 2026 with thanks to IOM Mongolia, the nine host organisations and the interns — energetic, purposeful and generous in sharing what they learned.
In participants' words
Even failing taught me how much effort, patience, and timing it takes.
If we don't come back to build it, no one else will.
Knowledge becomes valuable once you use it to solve a real problem.
The real barrier isn't the disability — it's the inaccessible environment.
- See all 13 testimonials
Stories & announcements
- IOM “New Era for Diaspora Engagement in Mongolia” project coming soon
- The Mongol Diaspora Internship Pilot Summer Programme 2026 has launched
- IOM Mongolia-ийн "Mongol Diaspora Internship" хөтөлбөр: Эх орныхоо хөгжилд
- Mongol Diaspora: Шинэ зүйл сурсан найман долоо хоног
- Диаспора нь Монголынхоо хөрсөн дээр буусан нь
- Diaspora 26’
- «Монгол Диаспора» 2026 оны оюутны дадлагын хөтөлбөр амжилттай өндөрлөлөө
