Ashgabat, February 7, 2022 – Powered by UNDP Europe and Central Asia, BOOST, a regional acceleration programme for social impact innovation, is launching a new call for innovative ideas that leverage the power of technology to support women and girls to thrive and advance in the digital economy.

As digital transformation and new technologies propel us forward, a widening gender digital divide is impacting women’s socio-economic opportunities in a wide range of fields. To close the gap, BOOST: Women Innovators calls for women-led and/or women-owned startups, SMEs, social enterprises, non-profits or academic institutions in Europe and Central Asia* to submit innovations in four key thematic areas: women and digital access and use, women in the digital economy and STEM, women in data, and women in tech innovation.

Launched in collaboration with regional partners, the open call is divided into two tracks depending on the type of applicant and country or territory in which it operates. Track 1 is open for applications from women-led startups, SMEs, social enterprises, non-profits, and academic institutions operating in Europe and Central Asia* with innovations in the three key above-mentioned thematic areas. BOOST: Women Innovators - BOOST (boostimpact.org)  

Turkmenistan is among eligible countries. UNDP Turkmenistan encourages women and girls to present their innovative ideas and will provide guidance and technical support for candidates from Turkmenistan with filing an application. Please contact UNDP Turkmenistan for any future questions via registry.tm@undp.org (Subject: BOOST: Women Innovators).

Over 30+ innovators from across Europe and Central Asia will be selected to join the BOOST regional acceleration programme to access world-class trainings and mentorship to develop, reimagine and scale their social impact innovations – and compete for US$10,000 in equity-free capital. The innovations will become part of a region-wide portfolio that lays the groundwork for a better and inclusive future.

BOOST is financed and supported by partners across the region and beyond, including Koç Holding, the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic, and the Islamic Development Bank through its Tadamon platform. BOOST is also working with STEM4ALL, Startup Grind, KWORKS and ImpactAIM, amongst a growing list of partners, to amplify the call across the region and deliver an impactful program for BOOST’s new cohort. 

The application deadline for BOOST: Women’s Innovators is March 1.  Apply here:  boostimpact.org/challenges/boost-women-innovators.

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About BOOST:

BOOST is a regional acceleration program for social impact innovation, powered by UNDP Europe and Central Asia. Initially launched in 2020 in response to socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, BOOST now seeks to boost social innovators across the region to accelerate the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.