Baku, 20 August 2021 – Today, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced the start of the 2021 ‘Ozun Yarat’ contest under the theme ‘The Future is Yours’. The aim of the contest is to encourage more people in Azerbaijan to upcycle products they would normally throw away.

Over the next month, all citizens of Azerbaijan will have the opportunity to submit videos and photos showcasing how they are helping to conserve the environment by turning waste into usable products through the Ozun Yarat platform.

The best three ideas will be eligible for prizes worth 1,500, 1,000 and 500 AZN.

All submissions will be awarded by a jury composed of experts and development professionals.

The Ozun Yarat contest is launched as part of the #EU4Climate regional initiative, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) which aims to help accelerate climate action in all six countries of the Eastern Partnership region.

The ‘Ozun Yarat’ platform, developed and funded by UNDP and the EU in partnership with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, was first launched in 2020 to help spread the popularity of DIY as an effective way of reducing waste and other damaging environmental impacts.

Last year, over 200 submissions were received, bringing together people who are passionate about sharing creative ways of upcycling objects to reduce harmful waste and conserve the environment.

Media contact:

For media inquiries, please contact Dilara Umudova, Communications Officer for UNDP in Azerbaijan at dilara.umudova@undp.org.

Gulnara Bayramova, Press and Information Officer at the Delegation of the European Union to Azerbaijan at gulnara.bayramova@eeas.europa.eu.

The European Union is made up of 27 Member States who have decided to gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, during a period of enlargement of more than 60 years, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development whilst maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms. The European Union is committed to sharing its achievements and its values with countries and peoples beyond its borders”.

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Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.