UNDP Announces Call for InnoResponse Challenge Applications to Promote Innovative Response to COVID-19 Impact in Tajikistan

April 28, 2020


The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced a call for concept notes from creative young individuals, youth groups, CSOs and the private sector for #InnoResponse Challenge / Innovations for Mitigation Challenge.

The UNDP views innovation in its broadest sense including: i) a new approach, product, idea or service that has not been tested anywhere; ii) an approach, product, idea or service that is new to Tajikistan; or iii) an approach, product, idea or service that has not been earlier applied in Tajikistan but presents the best possible opportunity to provide lasting solutions.

Benefits

Four (4) winners will receive a grant of maximum $5,000 each for their projects. Supported business ideas will benefit from extended consulting support of international expert(s) to strengthen viability and replicability of the idea, product or service in the long-run.

Objectives

The Challenge aims to provide technical and financial support (max. $5,000 each) to ideas that will promote and/or test innovative solutions, products and services to strengthen resilience potential of affected people, households and private sector in Tajikistan and to address and mitigate negative consequences  of the global economic recession triggered by COVID-2019 pandemic. Proposed ideas should be innovative; have a good management structure; have economic rationale; create employment and other income generation opportunities especially for women, youth and labor migrants; and should lead to/contribute to bringing a lasting solution to a post-COVID recovery challenge in a specific area/community or region of the country.

Spheres for Innovation Project application

UNDP proposes to look for innovative solutions and ideas having both economic and social impact. The list of economic and social areas stipulated in the table below provide indicative guidance, but do not limit the scope of innovative project application. The idea, service or product proposed by an applicant should meet one or more of the below criteria. 

Economic Pillar

Social Pillar

E-commerce and Online Marketplace

Social assistance and care services

Logistics & Transportation & Delivery aggregators

Cleaning and disinfection

Big Data Visualization

Online adult education

Reintegration of migrants

Education platforms

Job matching and employment platforms

Movement Tracking

Support to SMEs and PE

Psychological support

Local Economic Initiatives

Volunteer Initiatives

Other

Other

Duration of the Project

The Project should be implemented within 6 (six) months from it launch. After completion, the Project should guarantee at least one year of sustainability.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following criteria for application:

1. Individuals, private entrepreneurs, SMEs, civil society organizations, academia and research institutions, business support organizations, microfinance institutions registered /accredited in Tajikistan.

2. The applicant (including third parties) are expected to provide matching funds (in kind or in cash) of at least 20% of the total cost of the proposed idea.

3. An organization may partner with other organizations, including NGOs and community organizations.

The Innovation Challenge is launched within the framework of UNDP Project “Youth for Business and Innovations” supported by the UNDP - Russia Trust Fund for Development.

For registration of your idea go through below link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeDN5FclgCvsteXsl4ZIm2Xd61x-yGQ0Qv6dkNkPh1PePqOaw/viewform

 Let’s change the world for the better, together!


Download Announcement in Russian