Minsk, 4 July 2006 - A step forward in addressing poverty reduction in Belarus was taken on 30 June in Minsk at a concluding meeting reviewing the results of the UNDP project “Assisting in Elaborating the Basic Foundation for a National Poverty Reduction Strategy in Belarus”.

The project’s Advisory Board assessed the results achieved by the project launched in 2003 and designed to produce a theoretical framework for the improvements of national social policies with respect to poverty.

Among its most significant results the project contributed to the improvement of national comprehensive poverty assessment methods in line with international best practices; (b) strengthened the capacities of national government agencies, civil society organizations and research institutions involved in poverty assessment and reduction in Belarus; and (c) facilitated an open debate on poverty issues and promotion of dialogue and partnerships with NGOs and the broader civil society.

“The strength of the project is that it approaches poverty from a broad human development perspective without viewing it simply in terms of insufficient income. The comprehensive poverty assessment undertaken by the project has provided a sound analysis of poverty in its many dimensions and causes,” UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Belarus, Cihan Sultanoglu, noted.

The project’s report “A Basic Foundation for a National Poverty Reduction Strategy in Belarus” was widely discussed and submitted to the Government of Belarus within the framework of the project. The document is considered as the basis for further development of the national social policy. The inclusion of the report into the National programme on implementation of the “Basic Directions of Social and Economic Development of Belarus for 2006-2010” could be the first step in this direction.

Representatives of state government bodies participating in the conference stated that, in their view, the project had fulfilled all its tasks. They also expressed hope for the continuation of the work within the framework of a new project. According to the project’s National Coordinator, First Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Elena Kolos, the follow-up project could focus on poverty prevention in the rural area.

Participants noted that the project resulted in significant changes as reflected in the growing awareness of Belarusian society towards poverty, the acknowledgement of the high social importance of the problem of poverty and the realization of the need to prevent poverty as a prerequisite for the social and economic development of Belarus.

Over 60 national experts were involved in the project in more than 40 studies carried out in cooperation with the MDG Trust Fund, UNICEF, and UNAIDS.

For more information, please contact the Project Manager, Natalia Efremenko, at 203-15-88, or UNDP Communications Associate, Vladislav Khilkevich, at 227-38-17.

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