Poverty remains one of the main challenges of our time, requiring coordinated action from all parties. Eradicating extreme poverty is the first of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and one of the global priorities of the United Nations Development Programme.
To comprehensively assess poverty levels and apply more effective measures to reduce it, UNDP, together with the Oxford Human Development Initiative, developed the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). This tool complements the international poverty line and takes into account three dimensions of poverty: health, education, and standard of living.
The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index focuses primarily on the poorest countries and does not always take into account the specifics of the regions of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Therefore, in these regions, national indices of multidimensional poverty are being developed that take into account local conditions.
Thus, in 2023, with the support of UNDP, similar work began in Belarus. International experience was studied, key parameters were selected and, together with the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus (Belstat), proposals were prepared for the development of the National Index of Multidimensional Poverty. Eleven indicators were also selected to measure multidimensional poverty, including the availability of vocational education, unfavorable environmental factors at the place of residence, employment, savings, debt, and access to the Internet.
In 2024, based on UNDP proposals, Belstat developed methodological approaches to calculating the National Multidimensional Poverty Index and conducted experimental calculations. Сalculations showed a low level of multidimensional poverty in Belarus – in 2023, 2.4% of the country’s population lived in conditions of multidimensional poverty.
The next stage will be the development and application of an official methodology for the regular calculation of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index, which will facilitate the implementation of more effective socio-economic policies to reduce poverty and improve the well-being of the population.
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On December 11–12, 2024, the International Sustainable Development Forum “SO.ZNANIE” was held in Nizhny Novgorod (Russian Federation), aimed at developing joint solutions for the transition to a new model of sustainable economic development.
The forum’s business program included 30 sessions to discuss issues of international cooperation to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals at the global level.
The Belarusian delegation included representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, as well as business circles and the academic community.
During the session “The Mutual Influence of Digital Technologies and Sustainable Development,” Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Ivan Prikhodko shared Belarus’ experience in digitalizing the environmental sphere.
“In order to further strengthen digital sovereignty and ensure leadership in this area, Belarus is developing a Strategy for the country’s digital development for 2026-2030. One of the key elements of the strategy is the completion of the digitalization of environmental processes and, first of all, in the area of environmental risk management, – the Deputy Minister emphasized. – This is the implementation of deep and comprehensive analysis, forecasting, and monitoring of the state of natural and anthropogenic objects. Digital technologies provide unique tools to improve monitoring and analysis of environmental data.”
The forum also included a number of meetings to expand areas of cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Nizhny Novgorod Region of the Russian Federation in the field of environmental protection, including in the areas of state environmental assessment, waste management, construction and operation of treatment facilities, personnel training, and others. As a result of the meetings, a decision was made to develop a Road Map, which will include areas of mutual interest.
The International Sustainable Development Forum “SO.ZNANIE” will contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
On December 11-12, 2024, the Forum of Innovative Entrepreneurship “Startup Generation” was held at the High-Tech Park business incubator. The forum became an important stage in a series of events aimed at developing a unified ecosystem of innovative entrepreneurship and startup movement in Belarus, organized by the High-Tech Park during 2024.
The forum included a dialogue platform “Prospects for the Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship in the Republic of Belarus” and a panel discussion “The Ecosystem for the Development of Innovative Entrepreneurship: the Role of Universities”, and a startup contest among higher education institutions.
During the contest program, more than 200 young entrepreneurs from Belarus presented their projects in the field of innovative entrepreneurship. A total of 32 projects were presented, 5 of which took part in the final and received a unique opportunity to present their ideas to potential customers. The victory and a valuable prize were taken by the team of the Gomel State Technical University named after P.O. Sukhoi with the project “Clifffort” – a digital platform for the delivery of bulk building materials that connects the customer, the carrier and the supplier.
The development of innovative entrepreneurship and the start-up movement makes an important contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 8, 9 and the other SDGs by the Republic of Belarus.
On December 3, 2024, the II Interdisciplinary Seminar on the Development of Inclusive Tourism in Belarus and the World was held in Minsk.
The seminar was held in a hybrid format (offline and online) and brought together more than 90 participants.
The seminar addressed issues of training specialists in the field of tourism who have the knowledge and skills to work with persons with disabilities. Б The experience of such universities as the Belarusian State University, the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts, Baranovichi State University, Belarusian State University of Physical Education.
Also, within the framework of the seminar, specialists from the tourism sector presented the experience of tourist facilities and initiatives aimed at providing inclusive tourism services, such as the center for creative solutions “Invisible World”, museum “Castle Complex “Mir”, tourist route “Accessible History of Volkovysk”, information center of the Volozhin district, Zhlobin Museum of History and Local Lore.
In the practical block, participants delved into the features of such an inclusive communication tool as clear language, and also attended the excursion “Independence Square in Clear Language” with recommendations on inclusive communication for tourism specialists.
Based on the results of the seminar, an electronic collection of materials will be published in the electronic library of BSU, the Scientific Electronic Library (RSCI).
The development of inclusive tourism contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 10, 11, 15 and the other SDGs by the Republic of Belarus.
Detailed information about the seminar is available via the link.
In Gomel, on the basis of the children’s inclusive center “Ordinary People” of the Gomel City Center for Additional Education of Children and Youth, a social project “While Everyone is at Home” was launched.
The project focuses on children with disabilities up to 18 years of age with special psychophysical development needs. A new studio-type office was opened and equipped for them. Three teachers will work there, teaching children self-care skills. The training process is divided into four modules: personal hygiene, diet, home economics and cooking. It is planned that up to 200 boys and girls will undergo training annually.
The implementation of the social project “While Everyone is at Home” will contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, 10 and the other SDGs by the Republic of Belarus.
On December 13, 2024, in Mogilev, as part of Mogilev Invest Day 2024, the results of the XVIII business projects сontest were summed up. The goal of the business project сontest is to involve young people in processes aimed at developing the business environment and increasing the efficiency of the real sector of the economy.
Of the 41 projects submitted to the сontest, the following 6 projects were declared winners:
Business projects were presented in such nominations as:
The event, organized by the Mogilev Regional Executive Committee with the support of UNDP within the framework of the Joint Project “Support to the Efforts of the Republic of Belarus in Nationalization and Localization of SDGs” funded by the Russian Federation, was attended by 86 people, 46 of whom were women. Among the participants are representatives of the Mogilev Regional Executive Committee, district executive committees, businesses, educational institutions, and young entrepreneurs.
The business project сontest contributes to the sustainable development of the Mogilev region, as well as to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals 8, 11 and the other SDGs by the Republic of Belarus.
On December 10, 2024, the final lesson of the SDG Volunteer School took place at BSPU.
During the intensive course, members of the SDG Volunteer Team got acquainted with the activities of the SDG Youth Ambassadors, the concept of the republican contest “Youth Ambassadors of the SDG – the future of the planet is in our hands”, as well as the experience of implementing socially significant initiatives implemented at BSPU.
The intensive program also included training in social design. During group work on the development of project initiatives, students created and presented concepts for five projects: “Women in Science” (SDG 5); “InfoSDG” (SDG 17); “Harms of Self-Medication” (SDG 3); “Portfolio of Young Professionals” (SDG 4); “Psychological Well-Being” (SDG 3). Based on the results of the presentation of the presented project initiatives, further work on their implementation is planned.
The event was held by the Coordination Center “Education for Sustainable Development” of BSPU and SDGs Youth Ambassadors within the framework of the project “Sustainable University”. The project “Sustainable University’ is being implemented with the support of UNICEF within the framework of the Project “Support to the Efforts of the Republic of Belarus in Nationalization and Localization of SDGs”, funded by the Russian Federation.
The SDG Volunteer School contributes to the popularization of the ideas and values of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
On December 10, 2024, the first Republican Forum of Young Analysts was held in Minsk.
The forum became a new platform for communication between young people and experts from the public and private sectors on issues of Belarus development. The work was divided into two main parts. During the first part, five expert sessions were held: “IT-country 2.0 through the prism of the place and role of the IT profession in Belarusian society”, “Belarus as an educational hub”, “The economy of future Belarus through the eyes of young personnel”, “Fundamentals of Belarusian society in the dynamics of technological innovations”, “Social networks as an effective tool for interaction with society”. The second part of the forum included a plenary session with a presentation of team analytical research by young people. Contest works were presented by 25 young people – participants of the Summer School of Young Analyst. Each presented project will be put into practice in the future.
The forum is being held by the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies as part of one of the stages of development of the youth analytical movement “The Future of Belarus”, implemented by BISI with the support of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus.
The development of the youth analytical movement contributes to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Video overview of the forum
The Belarusian Republican Foundation for Fundamental Research is holding a republican thematic competition for grants for young scientists “Artificial Intelligence M-2025”.
The aim of the contest is to support and attract talented young people to conduct fundamental scientific research on the development of artificial intelligence and its role in the life of modern society.
The contest is held in scientific areas that include research in the field of theory, algorithms and applications of artificial intelligence. Grant applicants may be scientific and scientific-pedagogical workers, doctoral students, postgraduate students, master’s students and students of higher education institutions under the age of 35 as of January 1, 2025.
Applications for participation in the contest are accepted through the AIS “BRFFI” until December 27, 2024.
The holding of the contest “Artificial Intelligence M-2025” will contribute to the development of technologies and scientific research in the field of artificial intelligence, as well as to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 9 and the other SDGs by the Republic of Belarus.
The general provisions of the republican thematic contest for grants of the Belarusian Republican Foundation for Fundamental Research for young scientists “Artificial Intelligence M-2025” can be found at the link.
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