LocationsInterviewed by Gulnur Kaypnazarova
Nurturing Fields and Dreams, A Woman Leader's Multifaceted Path
April 21, 2025
Gulnar is holding the training of OVOP in Chimbay district with local potential producers
Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan
Each day of my childhood was marked by a silent reminder that we were living at the epicenter of an environmental crisis. The toxic salt dust rising from the dried-up bottom of the Aral Sea, like an invisible enemy, penetrated our homes, settled on our fields, and clouded our dreams for the future.
I, Gulnar Akilbekova, was born in the small village of Kenes in the Chimbay district of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan. My childhood was filled with simple rural joys — I tended to our family garden and returned home in the evenings with the livestock from pasture. I remember how my heart would fill with pride knowing that I, a little girl, could contribute to my family's well-being.
At 16, I chose financial education, despite the opinion of villagers that it was enough for a girl to know how to manage a household. My progressive father believed in equal opportunities and thought that education provides a comprehensive view of problems. I was fortunate to have his support in overcoming gender barriers and achieving success. Many other girls in our region had to fight against traditions that limited their role to home and family.
After meeting a young man from our village, we started a family and now raise three children. The birth of my first child showed me how vulnerable women are financially and psychologically when completely dependent on their husbands. Combining motherhood with work was difficult. When my youngest turned one, I returned to work as an accountant. My mother helped with the children in the mornings, and in the evenings and on weekends, I made up for lost mothering time. Over these years, I learned to value every minute and plan my time efficiently.
Gulnar Akilbekova with farmers
Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan
Working as an accountant, I never imagined that I would find my path in entrepreneurship, employing unemployed residents and changing their lives. By 2017, I took a serious step – I created my own farm on 36 hectares of land. The decision wasn’t easy: banks were reluctant to give loans to women entrepreneurs, and local officials doubted my abilities. I had to prove my competence at every step.
With a deep understanding of soil problems, I began growing licorice on 20 hectares. Licorice root works as a natural vitamin for depleted soil. On 10 hectares, I planted sesame, which grew to a meter in height – exceeding expectations. The first year was particularly difficult: there wasn't enough water for irrigation, there were power outages for the pumps, and problems with hiring workers. Sometimes I would drive the tractor myself to avoid missing planting deadlines. The harvest turned out to be as strong as my determination – 5.5 tons of produce. My husband and I distributed the remaining 6 hectares among four local farmers, creating a system where each provided for their family and sold surplus at the market.
Gulnar Akilbekova during the OVOP training with Japaneese expert
Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan
Seeking to expand my business, I purchased an empty building in the center of the district, taking out a loan and investing 271 million sums to start my own business. The reconstruction took several years – I economized on everything, often working as both designer and foreman, sometimes carrying bricks together with my husband. Thanks to these efforts, I was able to attract people from vulnerable groups – unemployed residents, especially women and youth – and employ 16 staff members. In this building, my sister and I opened an accounting services office, which also provides computer services for residents of the remote district.
The lack of entrepreneurial experience reduced business efficiency. We struggled with seasonality, didn’t know how to optimize expenses, and had a poor understanding of marketing. During the pandemic, our income almost halved. However, in the economic downturn, I saw an opportunity for growth and joined training programs of the UNDP project, funded by the Government of Japan. I became one of the first 60 participants studying advanced Japanese methods for rural entrepreneurship development.
The Kaizen methodology opened my eyes to the continuous improvement of all business processes – from production to customer relations. Under the guidance of Japanese and Uzbek specialists, I studied not only the principles of "Kaizen" but also the "One Village – One Product" (OVOP) strategy. At the OVOP seminars, I was struck by a simple but brilliant idea: each community can find its unique direction, relying on local raw materials. That’s when the idea was born to create sesame cookies using sesame from my fields!
In 2021, as part of the UNDP project, I started developing the recipe for sesame cookies. I showcased my first OVOP product when the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of Uzbekistan visited Chimbay. Developing the recipe took three months of experimenting with proportions, shape, and packaging. Despite setbacks (cookie fragility, quick staleness), we continued working.
Gulnar with her employees during the work process
Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan
Soon after, I applied for a UNDP grant and won it. I received equipment from UNDP with funding from the Government of Japan, which allowed me to establish production and expand the range to ten types of cookies and pastries. Now the bakery produces 4,500 kg of products monthly with an income of 63 million sums. It is especially important that we provide jobs for local housewives who need social protection. During holidays, we additionally employ 15 women, and our permanent staff is 16 people. The bakery has become not only a place of income for workers but also a space for communication and support. We have created an informal mutual assistance club where women receive advice on raising children, finances, or just emotional support. A special pride - our sesame cookies were among the four innovative products of the Aral Sea region and were presented at the FOODEX international exhibition in Japan in March 2025.
This year, I became a mentor for the UNDP project in the Chimbay district, sharing experience in implementing OVOP and "Kaizen" methodologies. I conducted training for 16 women in the district who are already producing local products. In the "One Village – One Product" program, together with other mentors, we plan to train 300 people in four districts of Karakalpakstan.
Today, I manage a bakery that provides jobs for local residents. Our initiatives receive full support – from brand development to certification and promotion through the "OVOP Aral" platform with funding from the Government of Japan. In the next three years, I plan to: obtain an international certificate for export, open a training center for women entrepreneurs, launch production of dietary cookies, create a cooperative of local producers, and develop ecotourism in the Aral Sea region with tastings of local products.
I strongly believe in the potential of each local resident, especially women, and the OVOP initiative is perfect for them, helping to turn local resources into economic opportunities. Observing the transformations in the lives of women in our community, I want to support them through my example and show them the way through mentorship, helping each resident of the district find their path to thrive.
