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Representatives of governmental agencies, NGOs and business called for the improvement of the organization of the country social policy with a view to meet the world’s highest standards in the social sphere at a workshop held today in Minsk as part of a UNDP project.
The workshop entitled, “Intersectoral Cooperation for Improved Living Standards in Belarus”, addressed several questions including the extent to which different sectors in societies coordinate their efforts towards improving people’s living standards and what resources should be mobilized for this purpose.
“International experience shows that the success of a national poverty strategy largely depends on a multi-stakeholder participatory approach,” UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Belarus, Levan Bouadze, noted.
Officials of Belarusian ministries and other governmental agencies, representatives of non-governmental organizations, the church, international organizations, and business circles — in all more than 80 people — participated in the workshop.
Through working groups, participants discussed models of public dialogue, identified problems and areas of cooperation and lay down the foundation of intersectoral cooperation.
Participants acknowledged that the government plays a key role in solving social problems and organizing intersectoral cooperation in Belarus. At the same time participants noted the need to involve NGOs, business circles and the church in the implementation of social programs.
Speakers also suggested promoting and encouraging innovations in social matters in the public sector, adopting best practices and providing governmental agencies with this experience. They also noted that of no less importance is to increase cooperation with the international community in solving social problems and borrow advanced practices from countries that are leaders in social development.
Thoughts and suggestions expressed at the workshop are expected to be used in devising the ‘Guidelines of the National Poverty Reduction Strategy in Belarus for the Period until 2020’.
In the framework of a joint project of UNDP and the Government of Belarus, “Assisting in Elaborating the Basic Foundation for a National Poverty Reduction Strategy in Belarus,” experts analyze poverty-related problems in the country, study and adapt the most successful practices in neighboring countries, work out recommendations regarding the guidelines of the strategy of combating poverty, and strengthen the potential of national agencies for studying poverty problems.
For further information please contact the Project Manager, Natalia Efremenko, at telephone number 203-15-88, or UNDP Public Information Assistant Vladislav Khilkevich at 227-38-17.
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