A seminar on SDGs was held in Vitebsk

A seminar organised at the Vitebsk State Technological University was dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Pilot Initiatives Competition in our region.

Any organisation registered and operating in the Republic of Belarus can participate in the competition. Their initiatives must align with at least one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, as well as one of the four SDG acceleration platforms.

"Winners of the competition will be able to receive funding for the implementation of their projects – up to 22,000 US dollars," explained Elena Borzdyko, Deputy Chairperson of the Regional Executive Committee's Economy Committee, who is a member of the Vitebsk Regional Sustainable Development Group. "For some large enterprises, this may not be a significant sum. However, for public organisations and budget-funded institutions, I believe this is a great opportunity to finance their projects and, based on their implementation, promote the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in a specific region."

REFERENCE "VV". In our republic, the following acceleration platforms for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals have been identified:

• "Green" transition to inclusive and sustainable growth;

• Focus on future generations: adolescents and youth;

• Digital transformations and social innovations;

• Gender equality in society.

Representatives from various regions of the Vitebsk Oblast, public organisations, and higher education institutions were invited to the seminar, which was conducted by UNDP representatives in collaboration with the Regional Executive Committee's Economy Committee. Some participants joined the event online. UNDP representatives spoke about the international technical assistance project "Support for the Republic of Belarus's efforts in nationalising and localising the Sustainable Development Goals" and specific initiatives aimed at addressing the set tasks. Additionally, experts explained the requirements for preparing and submitting applications for the competition, demonstrated approaches to their development, and outlined which platforms to use and how. A quiz on SDG topics was also conducted for the attendees, allowing everyone to reinforce and expand their knowledge.

The information obtained at the seminar will be useful for preparing and refining applications. Applications will be accepted from 1 to 31 May of the current year.