Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 10 April (BelTA) - The 2018-2022 Country Partnership Framework (CPF) adopted by the World Bank for Belarus envisages projects meant to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), BelTA learned from Marianna Shchetkina, Deputy Chairwoman of the Council of the Republic, National Coordinator for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

In the next five years, the World Bank will invest some $570 million in projects in Belarus to promote employment and the growth of private sector, improve the quality of utility services, develop the higher education system, and modernize social services.

“All of these fields correspond with the SDGs implemented by our country. Belarus pays great attention to practical tasks of sustainable development. Cooperation with the World Bank Group enables favorable conditions for the effective implementation of the SDGs. Moreover, this is another opportunity to explore the best international practices in this field,” Marianna Shchetkina noted.

The UN member states adopted the 2030 Agenda on 25 September 2015. It includes 17 goals meant to eliminate poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change-related problems.

Belarus has already taken a number of important steps to reach the SDGs. The government has adopted a national strategy on sustainable social and economic development till 2030. A national infrastructure for reaching the Sustainable Development Goals has been built. It comprises the Council for Sustainable Development, a parliament group for the SDGs, regional groups, and a partnership group for sustainable development. The Belarusian capital hosted the regional forum of national SDG coordinators in February 2018. The forum participants backed Belarus-authored initiatives to set up a regional network of national SDG coordinators and a global database on SDGs.