Purpose of the Event
The innovation challenge, hosted by UNDP with support from the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change and the Global Environment Facility, seeks solutions to restore degraded and saline lands in the Amudarya and Muynak districts. It is part of the Aral Sea Wetlands project and offers a total prize fund of US$40,000, with up to four winners receiving up to US$10,000 each.
How to Participate
The competition is open from 18 August to 4 September 2026. Participants may be legally registered organisations, start-ups, SMEs, private companies, public bodies, farmers’ associations, universities, research institutes, innovation centres or technology developers. Applications must be submitted in PDF or Word format, no longer than 25 pages, and may be written in Uzbek, Karakalpak or Russian.
Restoration Approaches
Proposals can combine biological, technological and digital methods. Potential areas include phytoremediation, salt-tolerant plants, agroforestry, shelterbelts, drought-resistant local species, water-saving technologies, smart and low-cost irrigation systems, biodrainage and soil-moisture retention techniques. Digital solutions such as GIS, remote sensing, sensors, decision-support systems and AI tools are also eligible.
Submission and Evaluation
Applications are submitted via the UNDP website. An online conference will be held on 25 August at 15:00 Tashkent time to explain the competition requirements and answer questions. Projects will be evaluated on innovation, environmental impact, implementation readiness, scalability and sustainability. Winners are selected after a technical assessment and comprehensive review.
Final Goal
Prize money can be used to purchase materials, improve prototypes, conduct field work, engage specialists, monitor progress and work with local communities. The challenge aims to test promising approaches in practice and scale them up.
How to Submit
Applications can be submitted through the UNDP website.
