10 February 2009: Yesterday, Gomel was hosting a seminar on best practices on participation of Brest, Gomel and Grodno regions in international technical assistance programmes (ITAPs). The objective of the seminar was to enhance competitiveness of project proposals of Belarusian regions for ITAPs.

The forum was organized by the TACIS Coordination Bureau in Belarus in partnership with the Project on enhancing effectiveness of the international technical cooperation of Belarus implemented by the Ministry of Economy under financial support by UNDP, UNICEF and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Representatives of regional and district executive committees, colleges and universities, NGOs, and other bodies interested in participating in ITAPs took part in the seminar to learn about initiatives of Brest and Gomel regional executive committees aimed at mobilizing ITA resources. They also found out about best practices on development of ITA projects and programmes by Polesky Agricultural Institute of the National Academy of Sciences and Lidsky business incubator. GEF Small Grants Programme and World Bank projects were also presented. Representatives of on–going and completed ITA projects, TACIS experts experienced in development and promotion of ITAPs project proposals gave practical advice to the seminar participants.

According to Ivan Belchik, Head of unit of cooperation with international organizations and coordination of technical assistance of the Ministry of Economy, “international organizations have a lot of technical assistance instruments, therefore it is possible and necessary to search for resources needed for programme implementation. Nevertheless, initiatives from regions experiencing concrete problems are of high importance”.

Director of Lidsky business incubator Leonid Mastiugin said, “ITA projects are a rod given to us by donors so that we could learn fishing by ourselves. Alas, not all realize it still demanding the whole fish for themselves at once”.

In a week time, on 17 February, a similar seminar will be arranged in Mogilev. Representatives of Vitebsk, Mogilev and Grodno regions will share their best practices on participation in ITAPs.

For additional information please refer to Project Manager Andrew Pinigin at +375–17 200 67 48, or UNDP Communications Associate Vladislav Khilkevich at +375–17 227 38 17.

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