About FIRE

A key set of values is applied to every aspect of FIRE – from program design, implementation, and evaluation, to relationships with partners and co-workers. At the core is the ultimate value of Respect: for partners, those marginalized by society,  the global community,  underserved issues, stakeholders and local leadership.

RESPONSIBLE – Reliably meeting deadlines on-time, honoring commitments and expectations
EFFICIENT – Achieving maximum productivity without wasted effort or expense
SUSTAINABILITY – Ensuring our programs have a replicable design and local ownership for long-term impact
PARTNERSHIPS – Strategically building partnerships with national stakeholders and trustworthy organizations
EMPOWERING – Helping to build capacity and leadership in local communities
COMMUNICATION – Open, honest, timely, and culturally sensitive communication
TRANSPARENCY – Openly, clearly, and accurately sharing all information related to our operations and finances

After the collapse of its Soviet-supported economy in 1990, Mongolia was economically devastated. In 1992, Flagstaff-based photojournalist, David Edwards, began photographing there. Edwards began hand-carrying duffel bags of donated winter clothing from Flagstaff, and personally placing this aid directly into the hands of those who needed it most, focusing primarily on orphanages and street children. In 1997 a group of Flagstaff residents founded the Mongolian Orphans Association shipping two 40-foot sea containers of aid and delivering it hand-to-hand throughout Mongolia in 1999 and 2000. The organization’s name was changed to FIRE – Flagstaff International Relief Effort. In 2003, Meredith Potts was hired as Executive Director. In 2005, medical mission trips were added in conjunction with the basic aid distribution trips, providing much-needed training and medical supplies.

Between 1999 and 2009, FIRE reached 15 of Mongolia’s 21 provinces with ten 40-foot sea containers of supplies and aid. 46 American volunteers went door-to-door, guided by local social workers, seeking out the neediest families. 76 tons of aid was personally delivered to 65,000 individuals. 23 volunteer medical professionals provided $720,000 of medical supplies to 348 clinics and 1,200 hours of training to 2,100 Mongolian health care workers. 80 computers and 6,000 English books were also delivered to one dozen schools.

In 2009, FIRE shifted its focus to sustainable, long-term public health programs. FIRE began partnerships with the National Institutes of Health and Rotary International on hepatitis research and prevention.  Since 2009, FIRE has provided 8,526 people in 7 provinces with comprehensive liver and cancer screenings; distributed 78,500 pieces of community awareness materials; vaccinated 3,022 people; trained 3,571 health care workers; distributed 155,000 sharps containers and $1,000,000 in medical supplies; distributed 2,000 health safety training videos; examined and educated 523 kindergartners about proper oral health.

FIRE expanded into Nepal following the 2015 earthquake by supporting the residents of the Langtang Valley with elder care, basic aid support, medical support, and heritage programs.

In 2016, FIRE was recognized by the World Health Organization and the European Association for the Study of the Liver as one of five “Innovative Hepatitis Screening Projects” in the world. In 2017 FIRE’s screening work was featured in The Economist Intelligence Unit as an example of best practices for HCV screening initiatives and FIRE’s Executive Director was also named one of 18 Hepatitis C Change Makers and one of 6 Hepatitis C Change Maker Honorees by The Economist Intelligence Unit. Change Makers were recognized as innovators doing exemplary work to inspire and guide their peers on the path to HCV elimination.

FIRE continues to design and implement programs that are culturally sensitive, focused on rural, underserved populations, that can be replicated in other countries and communities across the world.

FIRE (Flagstaff International Relief Effort) Projects, is a non-profit, non-government organization (NGO), headquartered in Flagstaff, Arizona with a registered NGO branch office in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. FIRE began its work in 1999, in the devastated economy of post-Soviet Mongolia on the foundation of “placing aid directly in the hands of the people.

FIRE Projects (Flagstaff International Relief Effort) is a 501c.3 nonprofit organization based in Flagstaff, Arizona, with a branch office in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Since 1999, FIRE has been dedicated to serving remote and underserved communities throughout rural Mongolia. Since 2009, FIRE’s focus has been on liver health, and our award-winning programs have continuously evolved to address the challenges of a rapidly changing world. FIRE’s sustainable, community-driven programs provide comprehensive, innovative solutions designed to maximize impact.

Rural Mongolia is characterized by its sparse population, limited resources, and logistical challenges, often overlooked by other organizations. FIRE has provided critical testing, treatment, health, and educational support to these isolated communities, thereby expanding access to treatment and saving time, resources, and lives.

FIRE remains adaptable and innovative through constant assessment and updating our programs accordingly based on our lessons learned. 

These life-changing programs have been strategically and responsibly implemented through a Memorandum of Understating (MOU) with the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Mongolia, signed in November 2009. FIRE is a recognized leader in hepatitis and health safety in Mongolia with strong working partnerships that have included the Mongolian MoH, World Health Organization (WHO), US National Institutes of Health (NIH), Asian Liver Center at Stanford University, World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA), Rotary International, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Canadian Society for International Health (CSIH), National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD), National Cancer Center (NCC), the Mongolian Association of Gastroenterologists, and countless state agencies across Mongolia.

                  In April 2016, FIRE was one of five organizations to be recognized by WHO and EASL (European Association for the Study of the Liver) for innovative hepatitis screening projects. In 2017 FIRE’s screening work was featured in The Economist Intelligence Unit as an example of best practices for implementing effective screening initiatives to test people living with HCV. The same year, FIRE’s Executive Director was also named one of 18 Hepatitis C Change Makers and one of 6 Hepatitis C Change Maker Honorees by The Economist Intelligence Unit. Change Makers were recognized as innovators doing exemplary work to inspire and guide their peers on the path to HCV elimination.

Since 2017, FIRE has spearheaded the Hepatitis Free Mongolia program, with Phases 1 and 2 funded by Gilead Sciences and Rotary International. Phase 1, launched alongside Mongolia’s National Healthy Liver Program, established a screening model that increased testing and treatment access across Dornod province by visiting all 13 clinics and hospitals. This initiative introduced previously unavailable testing to the area, including specialty tests necessary for initiating treatment. Achievements included screening 5,017 people, training 36 healthcare workers and 168 Hepatitis Coordinators, vaccinating 1,966 individuals against HBV, and providing 2,588 ultrasounds, 1,419 FibroScan examinations, and 2,002 physical examinations by specialists from Ulaanbaatar. The project was completed under budget, and the excess funds were used to develop the Hepatitis Coordinator model.

Phase 2 focused on eliminating hepatitis C, aiming for 90% screening and 80% treatment rates. This phase included creating a patient database and further refining the Hepatitis Coordinator model. As Phase 2 nears completion, 82.5% of the target population has been screened or confirmed as unavailable. FIRE has screened 7,605 people for hepatitis B and C, with all HCV-positive individuals either starting or completing treatment. The project has provided 3,535 ultrasounds, 1,333 FibroScan examinations, and 2,516 physical examinations from Ulaanbaatar specialists. We anticipate reaching 90% of the population by the end of 2024. In April 2024, FIRE presented the results of Phase 2 at the World Hepatitis Summit in Lisbon in April 2024.

Following the collapse of Mongolia’s Soviet-supported economy in 1990, the country experienced severe economic hardship. In 1992, Flagstaff-based photojournalist David Edwards began documenting the crisis and personally delivering basic aid. In 1997, Edwards and a group of Flagstaff residents founded FIRE. From 1999 to 2009, FIRE distributed aid across 15 of Mongolia’s 21 provinces, delivering ten 40-foot sea containers of supplies. American volunteers, guided by local social workers, reached the neediest families, delivering 76 tons of aid to 65,000 individuals. Additionally, 23 volunteer medical professionals provided $720,000 worth of medical supplies to 348 clinics and delivered 1,200 hours of training to 2,100 Mongolian healthcare workers. FIRE also donated 80 computers and 6,000 English books to twelve schools.

In 2009, FIRE shifted its focus to sustainable public health programs. The organization signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Mongolian Ministry of Health and partnered with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Rotary International on hepatitis research and prevention. This work emphasized medical waste management and health safety for primary clinics. FIRE also helped manage the Asian Development Bank-funded “Fifth Health Sector Development Project (FiHSDP)” in collaboration with the Canadian Society for International Health (CSIH) and the Mongolian Ministry of Health, focusing on national blood safety and infection prevention and control.

From 2009 to 2015, FIRE trained 3,571 healthcare workers, distributed 155,000 sharps containers and $1,000,000 in medical supplies, and provided 2,000 health safety training videos. We also educated 523 kindergartners on oral health.

Relationships

Our working relationships with diverse people and organizations — from members of government to rural clinics — help leverage resources and support from every stakeholder level, ensuring the most empowering, sustainable, and cost-effective programs possible.

FIRE’s dedicated staff and advisors bring decades of collective experience with health and non-profit, non-government programs to our programs. At each stage of every program, FIRE communicates with stakeholders to ensure there is no contradiction between programs. FIRE’s team maintains close communication and adaptability for an ever-changing world and environment. Our exceptional understanding of both the urban and rural environments creates optimal fiscal efficiency and time management.

FIRE’s respect for local cultures, traditions, and leadership, create empowering and sustainable programs. At each step, FIRE works with local community members from the poorest members of the community to the provincial governor. The community determines their needs and issues. All of FIRE’s staff in Nepal and Mongolia are from the respective countries. In Mongolia, FIRE pointedly supports the infrastructure and administration of the public sector by focusing on state-run facilities and employees. By teaching, we empower individuals and communities with the knowledge to continue the work after FIRE’s project is completed.

Innovation

In 2016, FIRE’s “Hepatitis Free Mongolia” liver screening project was one of five international projects recognized as an “Innovative Hepatitis Screening Project” worldwide by the World Health Organization (WHO) and European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). FIRE’s innovative programs come from a comprehensive approach to designing multi-layered, strategic programs that address complex issues focused on remote and under-served populations. We are able to remain flexible and adaptable to the quickly changing local needs and logistics.

Integrity

FIRE was created on the foundation of integrity and direct intervention, as an alternative to the graft and loopholes commonly found in the complex environment of the developing world. From its beginning, FIRE adopted the mottos, “no middlemen” and “placing aid directly into the hands of the people.” FIRE’s values provide an ethical map for everything we do. They are the measuring stick against which all aspects of the organization are judged.