SDGi Spotlight Series: In Conversation with Matilda Dimovska

^{Matilda Dimovska, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan. Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan} 

My role focuses also, and I have a big responsibility, to avail the best of the organization – the full potential of UNDP’s global knowledge and capacity to the development aspiration of the country of Uzbekistan. 

Uzbekistan has a very high development ambition, but it also faces complex interrelated issues within a fast-evolving world to which Uzbekistan so keen to better connect and is so keen, as well, to better prepare for the future of the world. 

This ambition cannot be changed in a regular manner it can be reached only with a systems approach. My key responsibility is to trigger innovation and integration within our work. Such work supports sustainable solutions so that the growth that we promote not only considers the environment and the climate and triggers such action, but also that it is grounded on, and reinforced by, inclusive and effective governance systems – systems that work for everyone including the future generations.

What does “integration” and “integrated solutions” mean to you? 

In many ways, the Aral Sea is the perfect arena for testing the SDG Integration model. It is well documented that the gradual shrinking of the Aral Sea, which used to be the world’s fourth largest inland lake, is among the most severe ecological disasters with far-reaching human and environmental consequences.

^{The Aral Sea is now 10 per cent of its original size, with disastrous effects to the region’s environment and economy. Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan}

When I first visited the region, and when I stood in front of the huge belt of sand instead of water and was pushed back by a strong wind of sand, I was just shocked with the question, how is this possible? I began to realize that the state of the Aral Sea is not a result of a single problem, but that numerous, interconnected issues created this devastating reality that I saw.

The dying of the Aral Sea is an example of a complicated development challenge that cannot be solved in isolation by one ministry, sector, or a development organization – no matter how well resourced they are. Traditional sector-based approaches are not the most effective and that has been proven time and time again. 

Rather, integrated solutions and multi-disciplinary approaches and teams are required, such that it goes far beyond short-term planning cycles, to leverage the creativity and know-how of all stakeholders. 

Why was an integrated approach a game changer for your initiative?  

Our flagship initiative, that applies the SDG Integration approach to the Aral Sea region, is structured around the vision of the Government of Uzbekistan to transform Aral Sea into a zone of environmental innovation and technologies - and we committed to this redefined ambition. We committed to trigger others to also redefine the engagement so that we can achieve our aim of transforming the Aral Sea region into a zone of innovation.  

^{Muynak was a busy fishing port back when the Aral Sea still reached the piers. It was Uzbekistan’s only large fishing port, but the shrinking Aral Sea ended that industry. Photo: Arislan Kannazarov/UNDP Uzbekistan} 

The challenge here, or the chance – the opportunity that we have – here, is that we have a platform that unites not only the Government with its huge investments into the Aral Sea more recently, but also all development actors towards a vision and towards applying a systems approach to the addressing the challenges of the Aral Sea. 

I have to say, it was a not an easy process.

We started with sharing specific examples with the Government and our development partners until we reached a joint understanding that the systems approach is the one to apply.

It was important that UNDP started with commissioning Columbia University from New York to do a climate risk assessment in the region. This assessment looked into an integrated set of seemingly disparate and traditionally siloed indicators and shows how these links can create positive change.

We are now working on how data and evidence can be used for portfolio investments. This will ultimately lead to high impact initiatives that would be undertaken by a broad set of actors, to hopefully engage with transformational change in the region. We rely on the broad expertise of the entire organization, including from New York and Istanbul. But also, we very much rely on academia to add to the capacities that we have here in Uzbekistan.

How can integrated approaches help us #BuildForwardBetter and achieve the 2030 Agenda?  

On a general level, if the COVID-19 pandemic taught us something, it was that uncoordinated and segregated approaches in solving challenges do not work. On the contrary, things can get even worse. So, we cannot look into health issues, for example, disconnected from nature. We need to stop working in isolation and need to reinvent how we work together.

In this particular point, it has become slightly easier for us to argue why it is important to be looking at issues as a collective - why we need to apply a systems approach. We did not have to speak only about the implication of health, it was immediately much more understood.

Now we have a very clear understanding across the actors that a systems approach and integrated approach to attaining the SDGs in Aral Sea is the only possible way.

The other lesson that the pandemic taught us in general level is about digitalization and how important it is to be connected. The pandemic has catalyzed digitization. In Uzbekistan we were well prepared, so when most of the services became public and became digital online, people were able to easily adapt. But it is not only about that.

We are also discussing with the Government about how to make sure that all the digital tools are fully used, so that the recovery builds on inclusive infrastructure that would serve everyone and including future generations. We are discussing specific issues with Uzbekistan: Is Uzbekistan using all the potential of digitalization? Which are the labour skills, for example, that you will be important in the future? What are those hybrid skills in the digital future? What are the technologies that promote renewable energy and computer assisted designing and modelling in different sectors? These are the questions that again require a systems approach.

I can give you an example of the Aral Sea. In fact, during one of the sessions when we were looking at discussions with partners about possible high impact initiatives, a clear issue came of fishing in the Aral Sea. The fishing sector is a key source of income for the population but now because there is no more sea, at least 30 per cent of the population depend on agriculture and livestock breeding. But it is difficult to earn from agriculture in a region that is so climate deprived and has such harsh climate conditions – so one needs to be smart.

An opportunity we saw while we discussed about the future developments in the region, was digital agriculture – and the vast potential of the region and its youth. We started thinking of a how young people can be interested in smart agriculture and accordingly promote it in peer groups to better target this issue.  

^{Meet the two sisters from Uzbekistan, Nastarin and Sevinch, coding for a better world. Photo: Danielle Villasana/UNDP Europe and Central Asia} 

What was the last book, article, podcast you read or listened to that really inspired you and which you would like to recommend to members of the SDGi community? 

I started with saying that I find one of my biggest responsibilities is to rejuvenate integration in the work of UNDP, so I have read about the three core elements of innovation ecosystems by Federica Etiemble on her website The Strategyzer.

In this blog, the author acknowledges that developing the capability for innovation within a large organization can be a difficult project. In the past, many have tried but few only succeeded. Often difficulties, he says, are linked to a narrow or shallow approach, such as attaining a group of employees of the company on innovation methodology and with expectation that the organization turns into an innovation powerhouse as a result of that training. The article argues that it has become clear that building a sustainable innovation capability of an organization requires a more systematic approach. He explains that an innovation ecosystem needs three elements to drive innovation within organization: explore portfolio, innovation programmes, and exploration culture. This is the latest reading that I have found very useful to help lead others to create an innovation ecosystem for UNDP Uzbekistan. 

Anything else you would like to share with us? 

I think when we talk about the SDG Integration initiative, and integration in general, these are, for some, relatively new concepts, and they seem at first glance a theoretical concept. So, we need to acknowledge that and translate those ideas to the reality of where we operate and the actors with which we communicate those issues.

It is important not only that integrated approach resonates with the context, but also that what we propose and are ready to support resonates with the agenda of the context. The reality on the ground is extremely important and can make integrated solutions progress and accelerate faster. 

^{Meeting about the impact of COVID-19 on the achievement of the SDGs in Uzbekistan & Central Asia. Photo: Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan}

In Uzbekistan we have strong commitment from the Government and understanding of the concept that we promote but also, we have instruments through which we can support applying integration into their work. 

This conversation is part of the SDGi Spotlight Series – stay tuned for more features! Please nominate yourself or colleagues working on SDG Integration around the world to showcase to our community what integrated solutions look like in practice.  

Get in touch and follow us on Twitter, @SDGintegration, @UNDP_Ukbekistan and @MatildaDimovska

Find out about UNDP Uzbekistan’s work to harness green recovery and build forward better from COVID-19: