Khulan Enkhbold Awarded American Association of University Women's International Fellowship

Khulan Enkhbold, a second-year MCP student in the Housing, Community, and Economic Development concentration has been awarded the American Association of University Women's International Fellowship for her research into Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's informal neighborhoods known as "Ger areas."

Gers are traditional nomadic Mongolian yurts that are self-built and portable. Beyond its cultural significance that characterizes the country’s nomadic background, more than half of the city's population resides in them. These peri-urban informal settlements lack access to modernized urban infrastructure services, including sewage systems, water supply, and adequate public services. Moreover, their fast and informal expansion has contributed to air pollution and a range of environmental and social issues.    

Yet, the informal neighborhoods of Ulaanbaatar have become legitimate forms of settlement as Mongolia’s land administration system entitles each citizen to 300–700 m2 of land in the capital city. Accordingly, what may be referred to as “urban sprawl'' also constitutes valuable property that can help vulnerable households overcome poverty. In this sense, Ger is an interesting hybrid between legitimacy and informality.

Khulan's work explores this ambiguity and the lived experiences of individuals who have contributed their land to the redevelopment efforts. Her research explores whether urban redevelopment—being a political and technical process concerned with the welfare of people—can potentially cause redevelopment-induced displacement in Ulaanbaatar's urban sprawl.

Congratulations to Khulan for receiving the American Association of University Women's International Fellowship.

More about the AAUW:

The American Association of University Women's International Fellowship dates back to 1917. The program supports women pursuing full-time graduate or postdoctoral study in the United States who are not US citizens and intend to return to their home country after graduating from an accredited US institution. AAUW has awarded over $115 million in fellowships, grants, and awards since being founded in 1881.