In the Minsk region, 23 initiatives have been implemented for the EU / UNDP project "Facilitation of local development in the Republic of Belarus" from 2016 to 2018. This was announced by Deputy Permanent Representative of UNDP in Belarus Zachary Taylor at a conference on the results of the project, BelTA has learned.
"The Minsk region has implemented 23 initiatives, based on the principle of maximum participation, so a large number of people were involved who were not used to working together: they were representatives of local authorities, members of public organizations, and local people. It takes time for them to learn how to work with each other, but this type of initiative is the most sustainable in the long term, "said Zachary Taylor.
The largest number of initiatives was aimed at the development of tourism and infrastructure in the region - 30% and 26% of the total, respectively. Projects have also been implemented in the fields of education, economics, social services, health and culture. Zachary Taylor noted, in particular, the public significance of the project to help people with alcohol dependence. "The social action group worked with this category of population and people who have never formally participated in the regional economy could join the labor market, get support, become productive members of society and began to produce their goods," he said.
The purpose of the project "Promoting local development in the Republic of Belarus" is to create conditions for joint efforts and forging partnerships between authorities and civic initiatives for the development of the regions, taking into account their unique characteristics. The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Program in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of Belarus. The total budget of implemented initiatives in the Minsk region is more than 367 thousand euros.
