MINSK, 2 August (BelTA) – Belarus will develop the national platform for statistical reporting on the progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the end of 2018, Marianna Shchetkina, Deputy Chairperson of the Council of Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, National Coordinator for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, told the media on 2 August, BelTA has learned.
Achieving the SDGs is a dedicated process. Therefore work will be structured across the specific groups such as economy, social issues, environment, etc. To evaluate the process and its results, we need the indicators and high-quality, accessible, reliable disaggregated data, Marianna Shchetkina said.
“This is a complex and very important task. By the end of 2018 we will develop the national platform to generate the database. A total of 244 indicators has been developed globally. Our government agencies together with the National Statistics Committee identified 200 indicators. The information is available on the website. The next stage is their nationalization, digitizing and integration into sectoral, regional, national programs,” Marianna Shchetkina said.
In 2015 Belarus together with 193 states endorsed the 2030 Agenda and expressed strong support for its implementation through achieving the sustainable development goals. To achieve the goals enshrined in the 2030 Agenda Belarus has already taken several important steps at the national level, including the development of the state policy towards sustainable development, and the establishment of appropriate institutional mechanisms. Plans have been made to engage the mechanism of parliamentary hearings and national consultations involving a wide range of partners, including civil society.
“The main objective is the well-being of people, peace and saving the planet. Problems cannot be overcome alone, only in solidarity and integration. Some $3 trillion will be needed a year to achieve the sustainable development goals throughout the world,” Marianna Shchetkina noted.
According to her, Belarus was able to meet, ahead of schedule, the most important Millennium Development Goals. Today the country is 52nd on the Human Development Index (68th in 2000) and is 44th on the World Bank Doing Business 2016 among 189 states. The country aims to improve its positions by 2030.
The starting conditions on the way towards SDGs were indicated in the country's first National Voluntary Review. At the UN Ministerial Segment of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development Belarus laid out its vision and approaches towards the SDGs such as good health and well-being, gender equity, innovation, infrastructure, and more.
