LocationsThe theme of International Women’s Day 2026 — “Rights. Equality. Action. For All Women and Girls” — reminds us that equal access to opportunities should be the norm. This includes access to STEM education, innovation, and the digital economy.
Rights. Equality. Action: How Young Developers Are Creating Digital Solutions for a Sustainable Future
March 5, 2026
The story of the “Smart Теплица” team shows how young people’s ideas can turn into real solutions for sustainable development in Kyrgyzstan. In February this year, UNDP supported a Hackathon on innovative digital solutions to address climate change. The "Smart Теплица" project was among the top three solutions.
One of the initiators of the project is Bermet Bayastanova, a 20-year-old student at Osh State University studying International Relations and Digital Diplomacy and a member of the Enactus OshSU team.
“The idea came from personal experience. I saw how much work agriculture requires and how dependent farmers are on weather and resources. That’s when I realized that technology could help,” Bermet says.
The “Smart Теплица” project is the result of teamwork. Combining managerial, technical, and analytical skills, the team developed an automated greenhouse system with climate control, automated irrigation, and an AI-powered camera to monitor plant conditions.
The key innovation of the project is the use of artificial intelligence to analyze plant health and optimize growing processes. This helps reduce risks, minimize crop losses, and use resources more efficiently.
Participation in the UNDP Hackathon allowed the team not only to present their idea but also to structure it, test their business model, and receive mentoring support.
Bermet, in the center, working with her teammates Gulkyyal and Argen.
“For us, this is not just a technology project. We want to create solutions that truly help people and make agriculture more sustainable,”Bermet notes.
"Smart Теплица" aims to strengthen the resilience of farming households, promote more efficient water use, and reduce agriculture’s dependence on external factors, including climate change.
In the context of the global theme “Rights. Equality. Action. For All Women and Girls,” the Hackathon demonstrated that equal access for girls to education, technology, and innovation environments matters for the country’s development. When young women participate in creating digital solutions alongside men, the whole society benefits. This is particularly important in rural areas, where women make up a significant part of the agricultural workforce.
Such stories become possible thanks to the support of teachers, parents, and mentors who encourage girls and young women to explore fields that have traditionally been seen as “non-typical.” This is how the foundation for a more equal, inclusive, and sustainable future is built.
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