Uzbekistan launches land restoration innovation challenge
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has launched an innovation competition seeking solutions to restore degraded and saline land in the Amu Darya and Muynak districts of Karakalpakstan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan said.
The total prize fund is US$40,000, with up to four winners eligible to receive as much as US$10,000 each.
The Innovation Challenge is being held under the Aral Sea Wetlands project, implemented by UNDP together with the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change with financial support from the Global Environment Facility.
The competition aims to identify solutions that can be tested directly on degraded land, assess their effectiveness and subsequently scale them up.
Organizers said land degradation remains one of the key environmental challenges in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya. Major problems include salinization, declining soil fertility, loss of vegetation, wind erosion and reduced land productivity. These factors place additional pressure on ecosystems and create risks for sustainable livelihoods among local communities.
As part of the Aral Sea Wetlands project, assessments of land degradation neutrality have previously been conducted and recommendations for sustainable land management have been prepared. The organizers now intend to test promising approaches under practical conditions.
Participants are not required to use specific technologies. Proposed solutions may combine biological, technological and digital methods, nature-based approaches, business models and mechanisms for involving local communities. Solutions must be ready for pilot implementation, safe, measurable and adapted to local conditions.
Potential areas include restoring saline land through phytoremediation, salt-tolerant plants and biological methods, agroforestry, shelterbelts, drought-resistant local species and water-saving technologies. Participants may also propose smart and low-cost irrigation systems, biodrainage and methods for retaining soil moisture.
Digital solutions are another area of the competition. These may include geographic information systems, remote sensing, sensors, decision-support systems and artificial intelligence-based tools. Integrated models combining technology, community participation, financing and mechanisms for further scaling are also eligible.
The competition is open to legally registered organizations, including startups, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, private companies, non-governmental and public organizations, farmers’ associations, universities, research institutes, innovation centers and technology developers. Applications may be submitted individually or as part of a consortium.
Proposed projects must be ready for practical testing. Pilot activities must be conducted on a confirmed site of degraded land in the Amu Darya or Muynak district.
Winners may use the prize money to purchase materials and equipment, improve prototypes, conduct field work, engage technical specialists, carry out monitoring and work with local communities, as well as cover other expenses directly related to project implementation.
Applications will be assessed based on innovation, environmental impact, readiness for implementation, scalability and project sustainability. The evaluation will also consider the effectiveness of prize fund use, inclusiveness, and environmental, social and operational risks.
Applications opened on 18 August and will remain open until 4 September 2026. Documents may be submitted in Uzbek, Karakalpak or Russian in PDF or Word format. Applications may not exceed 25 pages, excluding attachments.
Winners will be selected following a technical assessment and comprehensive review.
On 25 August at 3 p.m. Tashkent time, UNDP will hold an online conference for potential participants. Organizers will explain the competition requirements and answer participants’ questions.
Applications can be submitted through the UNDP website.
