During the work of the VI All-Belarusian People’s Assembly the main points of the draft Socio-Economic Development Program of the Republic of Belarus for 2021-2025 will be presented and discussed. The main provisions of the draft Program are available on the website of the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly.
The emphasis in the draft Program is placed on regional development: it is important to reveal the potential, competencies, and competitive advantages of each territory in order to find new areas that will become drivers of development.
According to the draft Program, the government will continue to maintain its social orientation. The main attention will be paid to the income of the population, prices, employment, availability of housing and high-tech services in medicine and education. The development of industrial potential in traditional industries and agriculture will continue on a new technological and digital basis. New high-tech industries and enterprises will also be formed.
In 2020, according to the Ministry of Forestry, 46700 hectares of forests appeared in Belarus. Most of it, 55.6% was created by foresters, the rest of the forests appeared due to natural reforestation. Areas of developed dried out plantations were also restored.
Conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems is one of the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 15 “Conservation of terrestrial ecosystems”: by 2020 to ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, including forests.
In 2021, forestry agencies are going to restore and plant about 39600 hectares of forest.
In 2020, Belarus moved up to 18th place among 166 countries in the ranking of Sustainable Development Goals. Countries are ranked according to their overall score, which measures their progress in achieving all 17 SDGs.
Belarus scored 78.76 out of a possible 100 points. This score reflects the country’s progress in general progress in Sustainable Development Agenda-2030 implementing and can be interpreted as a percentage of SDG achievement. According to international experts, Belarus has made progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goals 3 “Good Health”, 4 “Quality Education”, 5 “Gender Equality”, 8 “Decent Work and Economic Growth”, and 17 “Partnership for Sustainable Development”. Sustainable Development Goal 1 “Poverty Eradication” has been fully achieved. The other SDGs showed a slight increase. At sdgindex.org, you can read the country profile in detail, examine which statistical indicators make up the overall assessment of each goal, and see progress toward its achievement.
The Entrepreneurship Development Initiatives Contest takes place in 12 regions and is aimed at supporting cluster initiatives: initiatives based on cooperation between several participants and aimed at creating a cluster, as well as socially significant initiatives: initiatives aimed at solving social problems, developing inclusion or helping socially vulnerable groups. One can apply on the website of the competition. One of the conditions of the competition is the compliance of the project idea with one or more Sustainable Development Goals, including SDGs: 5 “Gender Equality”, 8 “Decent Work and Economic Growth”, 9 “Industrialization, Innovation and Infrastructure”, 10 “Reducing Inequality”, 17 “Partnerships for Sustainable Development”.
The first Contest was held in June-August 2020. During the competition 177 applications were received, the winners were 8 cluster initiatives and 25 socially significant initiatives, the implementation of which will begin in 2021. You can learn more about the results of the competition here. The contest of business development initiatives is held within the framework of the Project “Support of Local Economic Development in the Republic of Belarus”, funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Program in partnership with the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus.
As part of the “Knowing for Helping” project, Belarus developed a system for monitoring the implementation of the rights of children with disabilities living in residential homes.
The monitoring system makes it possible to understand how children’s rights are implemented in their daily lives. It aims to improve the implementation of children’s rights and to increase the opportunities for children with disabilities to enjoy the rights guaranteed by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.
The monitoring system is based on the right to a family, the right to protection from violence and exploitation, the right to education, the right to health, the right to privacy and respect for differences, and the principle of equality of all children.
The implementation of the system of monitoring the rights of children with disabilities living in residential institutions will contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 3, Good Health; 4, Quality Education; and 10, Reducing Inequality.
More information about the project can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus.
The National Coordinator for the Sustainable Development Goals, Anatoli Isachanka, met with the Youth Ambassadors for the Sustainable Development Goals.
The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus. The participants of the meeting exchanged their plans for the year 2021, their vision on how to promote the Sustainable Development Agenda-2030 in the Republic of Belarus, and how to organize the interaction and joint work of the Youth Ambassadors.
The Youth Ambassadors presented their projects:
The projects presented by the Youth Ambassadors deal with education in the field of sustainable development, treatment of drinking water, processing of organic waste for energy, the development of transport clusters. According to Anatoli Isachanka, each Youth Ambassador will receive his or her mentor in the relevant government agencies to work together in this direction.
Award ceremony for the winners of the competition “Youth SDG Ambassadors – the future of the planet in our hands” was held On December 2, 2020, during the plenary session of the III International Symposium “Education for Sustainable Development for All Generations as a Social Contract”. This competition allows us to find youth leaders who will fulfill the role of a representative of the student environment of our society, implement initiatives, popularize the SDGs among youth and make a significant contribution to building a sustainable society for the benefit of future generations. Here are the impressions of Nikita Rachilovsky, Youth Ambassador of the Sustainable Development Goal No. 4 “Quality Education”, student of the Faculty of History, Belarusian State Maxim Tank Pedagogical University.
I was pleased to take part in the Symposium, as well as receive an award from the National Coordinator for the SDGs achievement, which confirms my new status – the Youth Ambassador of Sustainable Development Goal No. 4 “Quality Education”. This status is a great responsibility and an opportunity to have contributed to our common aim of achieving the SDGs.
The III International Symposium “Education for Sustainable Development for All Generations as a Social Contract” is a unique forum of great interest for all areas of sustainable development. Participation in the Symposium of international and national experts, organizations and associations on sustainable development allows us to look at the urgent problems facing our society in the context of sustainable development, share experience, and find new partners.
The speakers of the plenary session summed up the work in recent years, analyzed the experience gained and the mechanisms of the impact of lifelong education on ensuring social well-being, economic sustainability and the growth of human resources in the regions of both Belarus and other regions, emphasized the importance of activities to achieve the SDGs.
Effective work in sections, discussion of reports, presentations, study of experience in various areas of SD allowed to prepare a resolution of the Symposium, which emphasized the importance of the activities in the context of the social contract formation in the process of achieving the SDGs. A unique source of information and an opportunity to contribute to a common cause is the collection of materials based on the work of ESD experts, experienced educators and youth leaders. These materials will be useful in scientific activity and practical application. During the Symposium, 6 virtual thematic platforms were organized.
The results of the Youth Company dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the UN were summed up within the framework of the thematic discussion platform “Towards the future we want: a youth position”. My project – a series of world cafes “Youth perspective on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals” – was presented there too. The project has been implemented since 2019 and took place at various structural divisions of BSPU, more than 110 students managed to take part in it.
As the Youth Ambassador of SDG No. 4 “Quality Education” and a student at the country’s leading pedagogical university, I want to popularize the SDGs among young people and make a significant contribution to building a sustainable society for the benefit of future generations. I have developed a concept of activities focused on the students of pedagogical classes, students of BSPU and other universities of the country, as well as foreign students. The concept includes a number of various thematic events aimed at engaging and raising awareness and erudition in the field of SDGs, UN activities, systems of quality education, improving supra-subject competencies, increasing interest in self-education, self-improvement and personal growth, introducing students and students into research activities, writing scientific publications and forming a scientific worldview, fostering high spiritual and moral principles, civic responsibility, love and devotion to our country.
Following the developed action plan, in 2021 I am going to hold PR actions, educational lectures, meet-ups, a series of world cafes, educational events dedicated to the SDGs, thematic quizzes, world cafes, open online discussions on the role of education, a series of educational events for foreign students, a series of trainings with experts in the field of ESD for students of BSPU and other universities in the country. A special place in my concept is occupied by the world cafes “Youth view at promoting the Sustainable Development Goals” at different faculties of BSPU, and other educational institutions of our country.
Only by joint efforts we will be able to achieve our common goals – the Sustainable Development Goals, which are on the agenda of each of us, and our future depends on how we approach the solution of urgent tasks today and correctly set priorities.
The meeting of the Sustainable Development Council was held on December 14, 2020. The meeting was attended by Anatoly Isachenko, National Coordinator for the Sustainable Development Goals, Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki, UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Belarus, as well as representatives of the National Statistics Committee, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus. The participants discussed the progress of the Republic of Belarus in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, preparing the National Sustainable Development Strategy until 2035, the Program of Social and Economic Development for 2021-2025. Approaches to promotion of the green economy concept and sustainable development in the context of climate change were considered as a separate issue.First Deputy Chairman of the National Statistical Committee Belstat, head of the intersectoral group for monitoring and evaluation of the SDGs Elena Kukharevich noted the progress of the country in poverty elimination (SDG 1), gender equality (SDG 5), transition to low-cost and clean energy (SDG 7), innovation and infrastructure development (SDG 9), development of sustainable cities and towns (SDG 11), responsible consumption (SDG 12), conservation of terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15) and development of partnerships for sustainable development. In particular, the proportion of the population living below the national poverty line was 5.9% in 2017 and has gradually declined to 5% in 2019, electricity production from solar, wind and water energy increased 13-fold in 2017 compared to 2010, the transition to new waste recycling technologies and the reduction of polymer packaging use continues. Nadezhda Batova, UNDP expert in the Republic of Belarus, head of the sector of environmental and economic problems of the State Institution “Institute of Economics of NAS of Belarus”, presented the results of the analysis of the National Action Plan on Green Economy for 2021-2020 and the priority areas for the next five years. The green growth mechanism is an effective tool for transition to sustainable development at the global and national levels and is based on the principles of eco-efficiency, resource saving, intersectorality. The priority areas of green economy development in Belarus until 2025 will be electric transport and urban mobility, energy, including renewable energy, sustainable consumption and production, sustainable tourism, innovative green and digital technologies.Anna Yodchik, Project Manager of the UNDP-GEF Project “Preparation of the Seventh National Communication on the Implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Third Biennial Report of the Republic of Belarus” in her speech focused on the importance of taking climate change issues into account in the strategic planning of the country development. Climate change in Belarus affects the economy (agriculture and forestry), water resources, ecosystems and public health. Climate change is a complex framework problem, which is addressed by the Strategy of long-term development with low greenhouse gas emissions for the period up to 2050, the National Sustainable Development Strategy until 2035 and other strategic documents.
The meeting of the Sustainable Development Council was held on December 14, 2020. The meeting was attended by Anatoly Isachenko, National Coordinator for the Sustainable Development Goals, Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki, UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Belarus, as well as representatives of the National Statistics Committee, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus. The participants discussed the progress of the Republic of Belarus in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, preparing the National Sustainable Development Strategy until 2035, the Program of Social and Economic Development for 2021-2025. Approaches to promotion of the green economy concept and sustainable development in the context of climate change were considered as a separate issue. First Deputy Chairman of the National Statistical Committee Belstat, head of the intersectoral group for monitoring and evaluation of the SDGs Elena Kukharevich noted the progress of the country in poverty elimination (SDG 1), gender equality (SDG 5), transition to low-cost and clean energy (SDG 7), innovation and infrastructure development (SDG 9), development of sustainable cities and towns (SDG 11), responsible consumption (SDG 12), conservation of terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15) and development of partnerships for sustainable development. In particular, the proportion of the population living below the national poverty line was 5.9% in 2017 and has gradually declined to 5% in 2019, electricity production from solar, wind and water energy increased 13-fold in 2017 compared to 2010, the transition to new waste recycling technologies and the reduction of polymer packaging use continues. Nadezhda Batova, UNDP expert in the Republic of Belarus, head of the sector of environmental and economic problems of the State Institution “Institute of Economics of NAS of Belarus”, presented the results of the analysis of the National Action Plan on Green Economy for 2021-2020 and the priority areas for the next five years. The green growth mechanism is an effective tool for transition to sustainable development at the global and national levels and is based on the principles of eco-efficiency, resource saving, intersectorality. The priority areas of green economy development in Belarus until 2025 will be electric transport and urban mobility, energy, including renewable energy, sustainable consumption and production, sustainable tourism, innovative green and digital technologies. Anna Yodchik, Project Manager of the UNDP-GEF Project “Preparation of the Seventh National Communication on the Implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Third Biennial Report of the Republic of Belarus” in her speech focused on the importance of taking climate change issues into account in the strategic planning of the country development. Climate change in Belarus affects the economy (agriculture and forestry), water resources, ecosystems and public health. Climate change is a complex framework problem, which is addressed by the Strategy of long-term development with low greenhouse gas emissions for the period up to 2050, the National Sustainable Development Strategy until 2035 and other strategic documents.
Quality education provides an understanding of the nature and scope of sustainable development challenges and an opportunity to be critical and creative in the search for effective solutions. In the context of the Agenda-2030 for Sustainable Development, Goal 4, Quality Education, is presented as a new vision for global education. It is about transforming people’s lives through education as the main driver of development and the achievement of other Sustainable Development Goals. The role of education in the processes of achieving the SDGs was discussed during the III International Symposium “Education for Sustainable Development for all generations – social contract”, which was held on December 2-3 at the Maxim Tank Belarusian State Pedagogical University and gathered representatives of the system of continuous teacher training and all spheres of sustainable development.
The purpose of the symposium was to agree on strategic directions for the development of continuing education practices for sustainable development. Irina Velichko, Head of the Main Department of Multilateral Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed the symposium participants on behalf of the National Coordinator for the Sustainable Development Goals in the Republic of Belarus, emphasizing the key role of education in achieving the SDGs. Ioanna Kazana-Wisniowiecki, UN Resident Coordinator in Belarus, drew attention to the importance of strengthening networking between government agencies, civil society representatives, businesses and international organizations. Representatives of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, National Statistical Committee, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, experts of UNESCO and the EU Department of Research and Innovation also spoke at the symposium. In their speeches they stressed that the complex cross-sectoral nature of the Sustainable Development Goals requires a complex mechanism for their implementation and the creation of inter-agency structures for the coordination of joint actions. During the symposium, the National Coordinator for the Sustainable Development Goals, Anatoly Isachenko, and Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Belarus, Alexander Kadlubay, awarded diplomas to the winners of the “SDG Youth Ambassadors – the future of the planet is in our hands” contest. You can find the symposium resolution, materials and videos on the website of the Education for Sustainable Development Coordination Center at BGPU, which provided organizational and substantive support for the symposium.
The Symposium was held under the auspices of the National Coordinator for the Sustainable Development Goals, with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the support of the UNDP Project “Supporting the National Coordinator for the Sustainable Development Goals and Strengthening the Role of Parliament in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”, financed by UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA in the Republic of Belarus. The Symposium was included into the Action Plan of the Council for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Belarus for 2020-2021 and into the Action Plan of the Youth Campaign “The Future We Want” implemented by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus and the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Belarus with the support of the UN agencies’ representations.
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