LocationsDUSHANBE, 20 May, 2020 – Four project proposals aimed at solving social and economic issues caused by COVID-19 in Tajikistan are granted with 5000 US dollars each within the first round of UNDP #InnoResponse Challenge initiative. The initiative aims to seek ideas that will promote 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 COVID-2019 pandemic on lives and livelihoods. More than 130 applications were received and reviewed by UNDP in partnership with the State Center for Formation and Development of Entrepreneurship. The jury selected four project ideas proposed by: Himoya LLC, FoodTech Company, Alif Academy, and Public Organization Iroda.
Free legal support during the pandemic (Himoya LLC): COVID-19 has exposed people and businesses to multiple challenges, including legal issues. Himoya LLC, a legal company specializing in a range of civil law issues, will provide free legal consultations to citizens and businesses affected by the pandemics. The company will establish online legal consulting service (including consultancy on labor law) and will provide support to at least 150 businesses and 200 citizens within this initiative.
Food delivery platform (FoodTech): Restaurants and hospitality businesses are among the first globally, but particularly in Tajikistan, to feel the economic impact of COVID-19. The initiators of the FoodTech delivery service are linking restaurants, food product sellers, banking systems, and clients through establishing the first food-delivery service with online payment service enabled. In addition, the project intends to create job places for more than 30 young people to work as couriers.
Online Java Script trainings (Alif Academy): One of the opportunities and contemporary needs that the pandemics has highlighted is the ability to quickly switch to online mode of learning, work, and socialization. Alif Academy proposes open access online programming courses to at least 500 people. The best students will get a change to develop professional portfolio and join the digital outsourcing network supported by Alif Group.
Online support for children with disabilities and their parents (Public Organization Iroda): Forced self-isolation related to the pandemics is a psychological strain that is particularly heavy on children having health issues. The burden becomes even heavier in families, where there are preexisting conditions for this, leading to heavier rates of depression and lack of support to families with children and adolescents with mental disabilities. Public organization Iroda, established by parents of children with autism, offers free online courses for parents across Tajikistan to train parents and children to deal with their family situation according to contemporary international experience, so that they feel less isolated, get access to online education and feel more solidarity and support in this particularly difficult time.
#InnoResponse Challenge is implemented as a part of UNDP response to COVID-19 and has been initiated within the “Youth for Business and Innovation” Project funded by the UNDP-Russia Trust Fund for Development.
Considering vast interest to the Challenge and big number of applications received, UNDP intends to scale up the InnoResponse Initiative, to expand coverage of vulnerable groups with innovative solutions and services to address consequences of COVID-19.
For additional information, please contact:
Rukhshona Nazhmidinova, UNDP Communications Analyst in Tajikistan, e-mail: rukhshona.nazhmidinova@undp.org
