“The Global Disruptive Tech Challenge 2021: Restoring Landscapes in the Aral Sea Region” aims to
identify and support disruptive technologies and innovative approaches to landscape restoration in
Central Asian degraded lands (additional information about the Aral Sea can be found in the Annex).
The challenge will select the four innovators with the best proposals to receive a cash prize and a
mentorship program to further develop their ideas.
The challenge is organized with the support of the Central Asia Water and Energy Program (CAWEP)
a multi-donor Trust-Fund financed by the European Union, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The
challenge is part of and will inform the World Bank Resilient Landscape Program in Central Asia
RESILAND CA +. The implementation partners of the challenge are the World Bank, the Kazakh-
German University (DKU), the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) and Plug and Play (P&P)
The challenge consists of four focus themes:
1. Sustainable Forestry
2. Agriculture and Land Management
3. Socio- Economic Development
4. Information and Knowledge
Saskia Reus-Makkink supported the program as judge assessing the disruptive tech business models. More information here