00011731

Completed projects

RATIONALE: To strengthen national capacities to design and implement sound human development policies and reporting. The intention is to ensure that human development concerns are integrated into the economic and social reforms and that such reforms are as a result facilitated. It is also hoped that, as a spin-off effect, public awareness about the issues dealt with by the report will be increased and public action encouraged through widening the range of institutions and experts participating in preparation and use of the reports. To achieve this goal, some new conceptional elements are introduced into preparatory process. Namely, the Advisory Board of scientists and academics was established in order to facilitate a large-scale discussion and examination of the Report from the broad political and economic perspectives. The need to incorporate the Report into a global system of National Human Development Reports is also an important imperative. Special schedule of public relations activities is designed to support the large public awareness of the project. A special focal point within the UNDP office in Minsk, which includes an individual Project Manager, has been also established to provide more effective and constant work with the Project.

BENEFICIARIES: The project target beneficiaries are policy makers and public opinion leaders, including:

Top-level policy makers and mid-level technocrats, both at central and provincial levels. National and international civil society – NGOs, academics, trade unions, the media.

Intellectuals, students, the general public, and other development partners such as bilateral aid donors and international organizations.

IMPLEMENTATION: Scientific Research Economic Institute of the Ministry of Economy, Republic of Belarus, as a principal governmental body, as well as National Academy of Sciences, European University of Humanities, Analytical Center "Strategy", Minsk City Scientific and Research Institute, State Economic University, and others.

DESCRIPTION: The project aims to strengthen national capacities to design and implement sound human development policies and reporting. The intention is to ensure that human development concerns are integrated into the economic and social reforms. Further the report should also increase public awareness about human development in Belarus, and increase national capacity and will to deal with issues raised in the report. This will be facilitated by engaging the range of institutions and experts involved with or consulted on its preparation.

EXPECTED RESULTS: NHDR produced and launched NHDR widely disseminated using the web based internet technologies to reach a larger group of governmental and non-governmental institutions and public opinion

SPECIAL FEATURES: For the NHDR 2003, it was decided to explore the theme "Human Potential of Belarus: Economic Challenges and Social Responses" as it reflects the most pressing problems currently faced by the government and society of Belarus. In this regard, the major goal of the Report is to address the economic issues in Belarus and reflect their impact on the social policy, as well as to propose a discussion on the ways of improving general socioeconomic situation in the country.

National Human Development Reports

11/2002 - 09/2005

Minsk

MDG country reporting and poverty monitoring

Scientific and Research Economic Institute of the Ministry of Economy

Project Manager : Alexander Piskounov

Project Brief (pdf)

National Human Development Report 2004-2005

The UNDP Office in Belarus presented in August 2005 the National Human Development Report (NHDR) 2004-2005 titled “Belarus: Addressing Imbalances in the Economy and Society”. The Report discusses a broad range of issues related to Belarus’ integration into the global economy, the improvement of living standards based on sustainable growth, ways to ensure environmental safety, and priorities among institutional and economic reforms. It analyses disparities in development resulting from both poorly designed reforms and delays in structural transformations, identifies structural, economic, social, and regional disproportions and summarizes policy recommendations.

The globalization processes, particularly in the context of the EU enlargement, are becoming increasingly challenging for Belarus. The country is now between two giants – the European Union and Russia – the report said. Their influence on Belarus, a country that pursues a policy of multi-directional economic relations, is extensive, though different in content and direction. In the context of Belarus’ open economy, local enterprises should be able to compete with foreign producers both on domestic and foreign markets in order to encourage sustainable growth. Many local enterprises, however, face considerable challenges to sustaining the cost advantages of their products and services. The NHDR also recommends a number of measures to enhance the competitiveness of the Belarusian economy.

The National Human Development Report makes a detailed analysis of regional disproportions in life expectancy, public health, education levels, household incomes, and poverty. The uneven geographical distribution of industrial enterprises and the poor financial situation of many companies explain human development gaps between cities. The Report’s authors look into possible ways to revitalize small towns and “mono-towns” such as rehabilitating and technical re-equipment of industrial enterprises, encouraging employment in small business, and self-employment.

The Report pays considerable attention to an analysis of the regional specifics of environmental threats and to the situation in regions affected by Chernobyl and in districts bordering EU countries. The Report looks at gender inequality in terms of employment opportunities and participation in social life. Then it makes recommendations how to mitigate gender inequality.

The Report that has become the useful tool for policy makers is relevant for Belarus as a source of ideas on action to provide all Belarusians with equal opportunity to benefit from recent socio-economic achievements in order to improve their living standards and expand the room for their creative self-realization.

31 August 2005 | Belarus National Human Development Report examines tradeoff between the pace of reform and social costs

9 December 2003 | Belarus’ National Human Development Report 2003 «Belarus' Human Potential: Economic Challenges and Social Responses»: Analyzing the Current Situation We Think Together About the Future of the Country

31 October 2003 | New Belarus’ Human Development Report intended to facilitate deliberations and joint practical steps for reforming the country

2 June 2003 | New National Human Development Report: researchers' message to Belarusian society

21 May 2003 | Relevant guidance given to report team

11 March 2003 | The new National Human Development Report will look at social and economic aspects of the development of human potential in Belarus