ASEAN, Japan and UNDP have announced the winners of the ASEAN Blue Innovation Challenge (ABIC), an initiative aimed at advancing sustainable blue economy solutions across all ten ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste. Launched in April 2024, ABIC is part of the ASEAN Blue Economy Innovation Project endorsed by the ASEAN Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and implemented by UNDP out of its office in Jakarta, with the funding support from the Government of Japan.
The initiative identifies and supports innovative solutions from the ten ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste that address pressing challenges in marine and freshwater ecosystems. It received 1,341 proposals, out of which 60 winners were selected by the Joint Selection Committee comprising H.E. Mr. Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic Community; H.E. Mr. Kiya Masahiko, Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN; and Mr. Norimasa Shimomura, Resident Representative of UNDP Indonesia.
These 60 winners represent a diverse range of innovators, and their solutions aim to improve sustainability in aquaculture, fisheries, and tourism while addressing broader environmental challenges such as climate change, plastic waste, and water resource management. Through technological innovations, community engagement, and novel financing models, these innovation projects have the potential to generate positive impacts on social and environment across the region.
Another noteworthy aspect is the emphasis on gender inclusion. Of the 60 winners, 27 (45%) are women-led initiatives, with a total of 125 female team members, surpassing the 116 male members.
More information can be found here: https://www.undp.org/indonesia/press-releases/asean-japan-and-undp-announce-winners-asean-blue-innovation-challenge
