Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 20 February (BelTA) - Belarus suggests developing a global database of the best practices in achieving the Sustainable Development goals (SDGs), Marianna Shchetkina, Deputy Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic, National Coordinator for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, said during a meeting with UN Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed in Minsk on 20 February, BelTA has learned.

Marianna Shchetkina noted that there is no generalized information about the experiences of various states in achieving the SDGs. “Every country has its own initial conditions, its own solutions. We believe that the development of the database of the best practices will be useful to all. We could do the same job much faster,” Marianna Shchetkina noted.

Belarus plans to ask the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe to undertake this work. Belarus plans to voice this proposal at the Regional Forum Of National SDG Coordinators which will be held in Minsk on 21-22 February. Marianna Shchetkina expressed the hope that it will be supported.

The national coordinator also spoke about the steps taken in Belarus to achieve the SDGs, the challenges faced on this way. The nationalization of the global indicators in the policy document turned out to be a time-consuming process. It required the development of a national platform for SDG indicator. This platform will be ready by the end of 2018. “This work would be impossible without international contacts, cooperation. We would be grateful for additional assistance from the international partner organizations to help us complete the development of the platform,” Marianna Shchetkina said.

As it was reported, the Regional Forum of National Coordinators of Europe and Central Asia on Sustainable Development Goals in Minsk will bring together delegations from more than 40 countries. These will be high officials, representatives of international organizations. The forum participants will exchange the experiences on the Sustainable Development Goals, will discuss the progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Such dialogue will facilitate the dissemination of the best practices and innovative approaches in achieving the SDGs, will provide the platform for the establishment of a regional network of national SDG coordinators.

Marianna Shchetkina met with Amina J. Mohammed in July 2017 at the UN headquarters in New York to inform her about the work conducted in Belarus in the field of sustainable development. The national coordinator invited the UN Deputy Secretary General to visit Minsk to attend the regional forum of the national SDG coordinators.

The United Nations adopted the Agenda-2030 on 25 September 2015. It includes 17 goals aimed at eradicating poverty, fighting inequality and injustice, mitigating the climate change. Belarus has already taken several important steps to achieve the SDGs. The government has approved the national strategy of sustainable social and economic development up to 2030. The head of state has appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Council of the Republic Marianna Shchetkina as national coordinator for the SDGs. In achieving the SDGs the government cooperates with the business community, civil society and international organizations.