LocationsSustainable Development on the Local Level. UN Agencies in Belarus visit the Mogilev Region
April 18, 2025
The official visit took place on 10 April, organized by the National SDGs Coordinator in partnership with the regional administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event focused on enhancing implementation of Belarus' National Sustainable Development Strategy.
The UN delegation included the heads and representatives from the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nation’s Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
In recent years, Belarus has made significant progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. However, about 20% of the SDGs still require full implementation. Accelerating this progress will need stronger collaboration across all sectors, with regional initiatives playing a particularly important role.
The Mogilev region has been at the forefront of integrating sustainable development practices locally. It became the first region in Belarus to adopt its own Sustainable Development Strategy in December 2020, with support from UNDP. This strategy was developed through a collaborative process involving government, business, civil society, and NGOs.
The main item on the visit’s agenda was the Vth Mogilev Regional Forum on Sustainable Development. Participants exchanged ideas and perspectives on the region's development priorities through 2040. Key themes discussed included resource efficiency, green transition, inclusive economic growth, and the promotion of a circular economy.
The UN delegation also visited several sites of social, economic, historical, and cultural importance in the region.
Sergey Khomenko, Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Republic and the National SDGs coordinator, noted that the UN’s sustainable development agenda closely aligns with Belarus’ national development trajectory. He highlighted the constructive partnership between the UN system and the Mogilev region.
Over the past 8 years, UNDP has implemented 76 projects in the Mogilev region, 9 projects are still ongoing. The initiatives blend environmental stewardship, technological innovation, and social inclusion, covering a wide range of sectors, from energy-efficient housing and solar energy to healthcare investments.
For instance, in the Chigirinka ecotourism cluster and the Slavgorod nature reserve, new ecotourism services are aiding nature conservating while stimulating the local economy. In villages, gardening nurseries encourage entrepreneurship in rural communities.
In the Mogilev region, five cities - Gorki, Kostyukovichi, Mogilev, Shklov, and Bobruisk - have joined UNICEF’s global initiative to create Child-Friendly Cities. Across the country, UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Health works to expand early intervention services. In the Mogilev Region, six centres are already operational – three in Mogilev and one each in Bobruisk, Krichev, and Gorki. These centers collectively support 22,706 children under the age of three.
In addition, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been working on addressing human trafficking. A key example of this collaboration is the Multidisciplinary Working Group, which unites the efforts of the government, international organizations, and civil society to achieve lasting results.
UNHCR is providing legal and material assistance to asylum seekers and refugees, including those at the temporary accommodation center in Slavgorod.
UNFPA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and regional partners, is driving initiatives centered on active aging. Last year, the Mogilev region participated in the Silver Volunteers School. To enhance the localization of the SDGs, UNFPA launched an innovative regional data platform for sustainable development, designed to track and monitor progress effectively.
Although the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) does not have a country office in Belarus, it continues to support the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. This includes the development of a digital platform, Technopark 4.0, and an experimental demonstration center focused on Industry 4.0.
Mogilev has become the second Belarusian region - after Brest - to host a joint visit from UN agency representatives and the National SDGs Coordinator.
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