Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, EU and UNDP announce the start of Ozun Yarat 2021 contest to promote upcycling in Azerbaijan

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 evaluated 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.