On February 15 – 16, 2024, the IV Mogilev Regional Forum on Sustainable Development was held in Mogilev, organized by the Mogilev Regional Executive Committee with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) within the framework of the Joint project “Supporting the efforts of the Republic of Belarus in the nationalization and localization of the Sustainable Development Goals”, implemented by agencies UN and funded by the Government of the Russian Federation.
In January 2024, on the basis of the state institution «Territorial Center for Social Services for the Population of the Leninsky District of Brest», with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund in Belarus (UNICEF), a resource center for training social service specialists began operating. This is a pilot project for the Brest region.
The resource center provides for the accumulation of best practices, their replication, and the study of the use of new approaches and techniques. At the resource center, specialists will exchange experiences, improve their knowledge on issues such as organizing social patronage for families, professional communication with families in difficult life situations, management of social projects, etc.
The operation of a resource center for training social service specialists will contribute to the achievement by the Republic of Belarus of Sustainable Development Goals 4, 10 and other SDGs.
More detailed information about the resource center can be found at the link.
From February 5 to 9, 2024, at the State Educational Institution «Republican Center for State Environmental Expertise and Advanced Training for Managers and Specialists» of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, advanced training courses «Topical Issues of Organizing, Developing and Promoting Eco-tourism» were held. The event was held within the framework of the international technical assistance project «Development of eco-tourism to promote a green transition to inclusive and sustainable growth», funded by the Russian Federation and implemented by UNDP.
The training participants were representatives of the State Public Administration responsible for managing specially protected natural areas (SPNAs) and territorial bodies of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus. The training was aimed at studying the issues of creating local clusters for the development and promotion of ecotourism products and services, effective marketing promotion of ecotourism products, providing ecotourism services to people with disabilities, etc.
The development of eco-tourism makes an important contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the Republic of Belarus.
More detailed information about the training can be found at the link.
On February 15-16, 2024, the IV Mogilev Regional Forum on Sustainable Development was held in Mogilev, organized by the Mogilev Regional Executive Committee with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as part of the Joint Project “Support to the Efforts of the Republic of Belarus in Nationalization and Localization of SDGs”, implemented by agencies UN and funded by the Government of the Russian Federation.
Forum participants discussed the development of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Belarus until 2040, the implementation of local sustainable development strategies and initiatives in the Mogilev Region, the contribution of business to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy of the Mogilev Region for the period until 2035 (SDS-2035), international and national experience in the area of “smart cities”, as well as summing up the results of the Regional Contest of Best Practices in 2023 for the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy of the Mogilev Region for the Period Until 2035.
Strahar R.B., Deputy Chairman of the Mogilev Regional Executive Committee, addressed the participants of the forum with a welcome speech. He noted that it is important to preserve the vector of our own sustainable development. Mogilev region was the first to develop a regional Sustainable Development Strategy. From 2024, the second stage of the implementation of this Strategy begins, which will last until the end of 2030 and will be aimed at greening, digitalization, changing production and spheres of life, developing the intellectual economy and the service sector, introducing social innovations, cultural transformation of society, improving the image of rural areas for life. The Deputy Chairman also underscored that the forum will provide an opportunity to discuss perspectives and problems, to form a vision of further efforts of the state and society, necessary to achieve the SDGs.
In his welcoming speech, Armen Martirosyan, Acting UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus, noted that against the backdrop of complex crises and challenges, the Sustainable Development Goals can not be achieved by individual stakeholders and achieving global Goals at the regional level is becoming more important than ever. Armen Martirosyan emphasized that during the implementation of the second stage of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy of the Mogilev Region for the period until 2035, it is important to pay special attention to the issues of digitalization and innovation in urban development.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Ambrazevich Y.G. made a welcoming speech on behalf of the National Coordinator for achieving the SDGs, Belsky V.I. He noted that the Mogilev region is a regional leader in the subject of the Sustainable Development Goals in the country and its experience in building strategic directions for sustainable development must be applied in other regions of the country. He also emphasized that the experience of holding the Mogilev Regional Forum should be taken into account in preparation for the II National Forum on Sustainable Development.
In his welcoming speech, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, head of the intersectoral group on ecology of the Council for Sustainable Development Galanov V.A. noted that sustainable development is impossible without ensuring environmentally favorable conditions for life. The Mogilev region is an industrially developed territory and the attention that paid by enterprises to environmental safety issues is quite high.
Deputy Minister of Education of the Republic of Belarus, head of the intersectoral group on education of the Council for Sustainable Development Kadlubay A.V. addressed the forum participants with a welcoming speech. He emphasized that in Belarus SDG 4 is being implemented at all levels of basic and additional education and is one of the priority areas of state policy. According to the education index, Belarus entered the first quarter of the most developed countries in the world. Belarus ranks 17th in the Social Progress Index for «access to basic knowledge».
“The initiative of the Mogilev region in promoting sustainable development is a guide for other regions” – noted the director of the State Scientific Institution «Research Economic Institute of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus», Berchenko N.G.
However, the development and implementation of the regional strategy is impossible without a clear link with the National Strategy.
To date, the Analytical Report on the Implementation of NSDS-2035 and the concept of NSDS-2040 have been prepared.
The drivers of sustainable development until 2040 in the NSDS-2040 concept are defined as: ensuring technological security, digital transformation, creating new professional competencies and conditions for self-realization, expanding the export potential of national brands, creating market institutions for a competitive environment, introducing the principles of a «green» economy.
The functions of the NSDS include not only strategic planning, but also the pooling of resources, consolidation of society, positioning on the external contour. Therefore, in the development of the NSDS-2040 document, significant attention is paid to joint discussion. In February-April 2024, it is planned to hold events in the format of round tables and foresight sessions to involve stakeholders in the development of the NSDS-2040.
For the Mogilev region, 2024 is the beginning of a new, second stage of implementation of the SDS-2035. The Mogilev region was the first region at the regional level in Belarus to develop a Sustainable Development Strategy. In 2023, the first stage of strategy implementation ended, which was aimed at generating knowledge about sustainable development, implementation of the Strategy into the current planning system as the main document of the strategic development of the region, building a system of step-by-step actions in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
“By the fall of 2024, a report on the implementation of stage 1 of the strategy will be prepared and the Mogilev region will be able to serve as an example for other regions in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of regional sustainable development strategies” – said UNDP expert, associate professor of the department of “Economics and Management” of the Interstate educational institution of higher education “Belarusian-Russian University”, Shadrakov A.V.
The report of the 1st stage of the SDS-2035 will contain information on the achievement of strategic goals, the dynamics of the values of target indicators, the fulfillment of the goals and objectives of the 1st stage, as well as recommendations for the 2nd stage of the 2035 SDS.
Among the recommendations for the implementation of stage 2 of the SDS-2035:
Regarding local sustainable development strategies and the implementation of local initiatives in the Mogilev region, it is worth noting the contribution of the Mstislavsky district. The achievements of the Mstislavsky district allowed it to join the project of the Mogilev region “Workshop of Local Sustainable Development Strategies”. As part of this project, the residents themselves identified the strengths and weaknesses of the region, priority areas for development, and formed an “image of the future”, which formed the basis of the Sustainable Development Strategy of the Mstislavsky District until 2035.
“In the Mstislavsky district, work has been underway to popularize and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for more than 10 years. About 60 public initiatives have been implemented in 2023 alone” – informed the Deputy Chairman of the Mstislavsky District Executive Committee Sudilovskaya O. N.
Initiatives are aimed at developing tourism potential, improving territories and recreational areas, creating an eco-friendly lifestyle, ensuring accessibility to education in the interests of sustainable development, ensuring partnerships, etc.
Particular attention in the Mogilev region is paid to supporting small and medium-sized businesses, as well as women’s entrepreneurship.
“Our strategy is to create centers with sustainable business models and environmentally friendly management of SME projects. We divide our activities into information, training and support for entrepreneurs. Regarding women’s entrepreneurship, several training sessions, the business forum “Women of the Future”, the women’s business school, etc. were held in the Mogilev region in 2023. In 2024, the work will continue: the second and third business forum for women, round tables with the participation of women entrepreneurs will be held, and a business camp for women will be organized” – said the director of LLC “Dekro Consulting”, Sidorenko I.I.
In addition, in the Mogilev region, work is actively underway to create dialogue platforms with the involvement of authorities, the public and leaders of the business community to discuss problems at enterprises and running their own business, as well as to formulate proposals for improving the conditions for the implementation of professional qualities, development of strategies and business training methodologies.
Much attention in Belarus is also paid to the development of “smart cities” and digitalization, and the experience of international partners is very important in this direction. When we talk about the development of “smart cities” or cities of the future of digitalization, innovation, we focus on SDG 11 “Sustainable Cities and Communities”.
“However, if we focus and look at truly «smart cities», they can become the driving force for all 17 Sustainable Development Goals” – affirms Strategic Digital Program Manager, UNDP Digital Head Office and UNDP Global Center for Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Development Handfort Kalum. “Smart cities” is also about technology and innovation, however, first of all, “smart city”» is about people and how we can make the urban environment more inclusive, sustainable and accessible to life”.
“I would like to give a new concept to a “smart city” – this is a city in which happy people live, where “smart” technologies serve everyone individually and their families, and at the same time make their lives more comfortable and safer” – suggested by partnership specialist of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Eletskikh T.V.
Areas of UNFPA initiatives are aimed specifically at improving the lives of every person and include areas such as strengthening capacity to respond to demographic changes in the population, expanding access to services in the field of maternity and reproductive health, ensuring the active participation of youth and older people in society, ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men.
Among such initiatives that are being implemented in Belarus, including in the Mogilev region:
The experience of the Russian Federation in implementing the Smart Cities concept and their involvement in global infrastructure projects is also important for Belarus.
The platform “ROSATOM Smart City” implemented in more than 150 cities and regions of Russia and unites systems, authorities, businesses and the population in such areas as security, resource and service management, feedback and problem reporting, transport management, etc.
To date, much has been done in the Republic of Belarus to develop and implement the Smart City concept:
Currently, work is underway in Belarus to create a digital platform “Smart City (Region)”. Research work has already been carried out, a concept for creating a platform and technical specifications have been developed.
In 2024, it is planned to integrate the platform with government systems and with a unified system for identifying individuals, as well as testing the platform in Minsk and the Orsha region. In 2024-2025, it is planned to put the platform into permanent operation in 17 cities of Belarus.
Also in Belarus, within the framework of the State Program “Digital Development of Belarus”, the initiative “My City” has been developed and is being successfully implemented – a mobile application that accumulates the most popular services for a specific region. With its help, citizens receive simple and convenient access to the entire city infrastructure – city administration, educational and healthcare institutions, trade, culture and leisure facilities.
Since the launch of the application “My City” for the Polotsk region in February 2021, the project has grown significantly. Forty-three cities have already joined it and 19 more cities are preparing to launch.
“Bobruisk became one of the first large cities to join the application “My City”. Today, in Bobruisk, the application contains 285 pages, more than 6 thousand downloads, more than 330 thousand requests, more than 6 thousand clicks on active links” – informed the head of the Bobruisk telecommunications center of the Mogilev branch of Beltelecom, Bobtsov A.M.
The results of the 2023 best practices competition for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Strategy of the Mogilev Region for the period until 2035 can be found at the link.
Recording of the IV Mogilev Regional Forum on Sustainable Development in video format
Speaker presentations:
On the development of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Belarus until 2040On the implementation of the 1st stage (2021–2023) of the Sustainable Development Strategy of the Mogilev Region for the period until 2035 and recommendations for the 2nd stage of the StrategyOn the implementation of local sustainable development strategies and the implementation of local initiatives in the Mogilev regionAbout international and regional trends in the field of “smart cities”, digitalization and innovationA city comfortable for everyone: UNFPA and business initiativesAbout the experience of the Russian Federation in implementing the Smart City concept On the implementation of the “Smart City” concept in the Republic of BelarusApplication “My City” in the city of Bobruisk
The Regional Forum on Sustainable Development was Held in Mogilev
In accordance with the State Program «Roads of Belarus» for 2021-2025, in 2023 more than 1.4 thousand km of republican highways and more than 2.2 thousand linear meters of bridge structures were repaired in Belarus.
Thus, after construction and reconstruction, the South-Western Bypass of Mogilev and the section of the P99 highway Baranovichi – Volkovysk – Pogranichny – Grodno, as well as 11 road structures on republican highways, were put into operation.
In 2024, it is planned to carry out repair, construction and reconstruction work on at least 1.6 thousand km of republican and 2.7 thousand km of local roads, and to reconstruct at least 7 bridge structures.
Repair and reconstruction of road surfaces makes an important contribution to the achievement by the Republic of Belarus of Sustainable Development Goal 11 and other SDGs.
More detailed information about road repairs in Belarus can be found at the link.
On February 7, 2024, the regional youth forum «The Future is in the Hands of the Young» was held at the Center for Advanced Studies «Vitebsk Regional Institute for Educational Development».
About 200 teachers, students, and representatives of the administrations of educational institutions of the Vitebsk region took part in the forum.
The forum was aimed at introducing the possibilities of specialized education and the experience of institutions in organizing professional training for students in specialized classes in Vitebsk and the Vitebsk region. The forum program included an exhibition and interactive platforms, as well as business cards for specialized classes in 9 areas.
Holding the regional youth forum «The Future is in the Hands of the Young» helps to develop among young people a competent understanding of their chosen profession and employment prospects, which contributes to the achievement by the Republic of Belarus of Sustainable Development Goals 4, 8 and other SDGs.
More detailed information about the forum can be found at the link.
Statistical data reflect economic, environmental, social processes and are indicators on the basis of which management decisions are made at all levels.
In 2023, the following results were achieved in the development of Belarusian statistics:
In 2024, the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus will continue to improve the system for collecting and distributing data and the methodology for obtaining statistical information. It is planned to introduce innovations in the system of national accounts, statistics on the standard of living of the population, foreign investments, finances of organizations, prices, the environment, and demographic statistics.
Providing reliable and up-to-date information makes an important contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
More detailed information on improving statistical data can be found at the link.
On February 7, 2024, the final board meeting of the Committee on Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Minsk City Executive Committee was held in Minsk.
During the event, the results of the work of the Committee on Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Minsk City Executive Committee for 2023 and tasks for 2024, as well as issues of employment, reducing the level of occupational injuries, developing a social service system, etc. were discussed.
In 2023, Minsk will ensure a 10% increase in the number of citizens who receive social services in territorial social service centers, and a decrease in fatal injuries and the total number of injured at work has been noted. A Plan of Additional Actions to Reduce the Level of Occupational Injuries for 2024 has been developed. The document provides for the holding of zero-injury weeks, months of safe work in construction, industry and in organizations whose property is owned by the city of Minsk.
The development of a social service system, the organization of safe working conditions, and the promotion of employment contributes to the achievement by the Republic of Belarus of Sustainable Development Goals 8, 10 and other SDGs.
More detailed information about the board can be found at the link.
In 2023, the Joint Project implemented by UN agencies in Belarus under coordination of the UN Resident Coordinator in the Republic of Belarus in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus and other government bodies and organizations under the general management of the National Coordinator for Achieving the SDGs and with financial support from the Russian Federation has started. The Joint Project provided four meetings of the Council for Sustainable Development on the topics of education for sustainable development, integration of people with disabilities into the active life of society, progress in achieving the SDGs in the Republic of Belarus and the work of the UN system in the Republic of Belarus with expert and technical assistance. In addition, the Project ensured the participation of representatives of government bodies of the Republic of Belarus in important international events, including the Summit on the Sustainable Development Goals and the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York.
Among the important results of the Joint Project within the field of the work with youth is assistance to the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus in holding the contest «Youth Ambassadors of the SDGs – the Future of the Planet is in Our Hands» and choosing the Youth Ambassadors of the SDGs and their Doublers of the fourth convocation. 150 young people from different regions of Belarus took part in the final of the contest . The active involvement of the younger generation in the issues of sustainable development ensures the continuity of the country’s efforts on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and is an important area within the Joint Project.
One of the significant topics the Project pays attention to is active longevity. This theme was at the core of the II Republican Meeting of «Silver» Age Volunteers, which was held with the support of the Project and brought together more than 200 participants. It is noteworthy that over the past five years the number of «silver» age volunteers in Belarus has doubled. The influence of demographic factors on the socio-economic development of the country as well as the measures to prevent them were the focus of a series of seminars taking place with the participation of representatives of the Russian demographic school. More than 100 representatives of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus, Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus, Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and the country’s leading universities have increased their potential in ensuring demographic sustainability.
An important aspect for achieving the SDGs is ensuring a healthy lifestyle. In this area, as part of the Project implementation in 2023, a training module on the prevention of non-communicable diseases was developed, and a series of educational videos was created to promote a healthy lifestyle. The first eight videos on healthy nutrition, physical activity, breaking bad habits and similar topics have already been published and are available for viewing at the link.
In 2024, the Joint Project will continue its work in three main directions by supporting the functioning of the national institutional mechanism for managing the process of achieving the SDGs, regional development and the improvement of the system for monitoring and assessing the progress towards achieving the SDGs. Thus, the Project will continue to provide support in holding the meetings of the Council on Sustainable Development, which is a key instrument of the national institutional mechanism for managing the process of achieving the SDGs ensuring consideration of important issues of the country’s development related to the 2030 Agenda at a high level. In addition, a number of thematic events to promote the SDGs, including popularizing the ideas of sustainable development among children and youth, are planned. For instance, with the support of the Joint Project, it is planned to hold the Second Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, the International Youth SDG Forum, the republican competitions «Children about the SDGs», «Young Friends of the SDGs», etc.
The work on dissemination of the knowledge about the SDGs will become strategic and systematic with the development of a national communication strategy to promote the SDGs in the Republic of Belarus.
In the field of regional sustainable development, the work of the Joint Project will be aimed at assisting regional executive committees in developing regional strategies for sustainable development and holding a Competition of pilot initiatives on the SDGs. The Project will support the most promising local initiatives in the field of green transition to inclusive and sustainable growth, youth policy, digital transformation and social innovation, gender equality, etc.
Another important component of the Joint Project is assisting statistical services in developing statistical data platforms on the SDGs and improving methods for calculating indices and indicators, such as the multidimensional poverty index. With the support of the Joint Project, it is also planned to create an information center for knowledge about children and increase the capacity of National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus employees on monitoring and assessing the progress towards achieving the SDGs.
The work on the prevention of non-communicable diseases will also continue. Heads of healthcare institutions will undergo training within the framework of the developed training module. Besides, a demonstration seminar will be organized, and the most relevant topics on the prevention of non-communicable diseases and promotion of a healthy lifestyle will be covered in educational videos for the population.
Additional information about the results of the Joint Project in 2023 and the plans for 2024 can be found in the presentation via the link.
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