The document summarizes Belarus's strategic planning for water security and achieving water-related UN Sustainable Development Goals. It outlines Belarus's key national strategic documents defining environmental and water policies, including its Water Strategy until 2020. It also describes mechanisms for implementing and funding water programs in Belarus using financing from national budgets, international financial institutions, and other sources. Projects supported by the EU and World Bank are discussed as examples of improving drinking water systems in several regions of Belarus.

1. Strategic Planning for Water
Security and Water-related SDGs:
Experience of the Republic of
Belarus
Dzmitry MATUSEVICH,
Deputy Minister of Economy, Republic of Belarus
Sniazhana DUBIANOK,
Deputy Director for Science, CRICUWR,
Minprirody of Belarus
Annual meeting of the GREEN Action Task Force
Paris, OECD HQ, 30 September – 01 October, 2019

2.  National Strategy for Sustainable Social and Economic Development of Belarus until 2030
 Program of Social and Economic Development of Belarus for 2016-2020
 Concept of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Republic of Belarus for
the period until 2035
 National Action Plan for the development of the green economy in the Republic of Belarus
until 2020
The hierarchy of key national strategic documents,
defining the environmental and water policies in the country
 Environmental Strategy of the Republic of Belarus for the period until 2025
 Strategy on conservation and sustainable utilization of biological diversity for 2011-2020
 Water strategy of the Republic of Belarus for the period until 2020
Sectoral State Programs:
• «Environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources» for 2016–2020
• «Comfortable housing and a favorable environment» for 2016–2020
• "Energy Saving Program " for 2016–2020
• State program for the development of the transport complex of Belarus for 2016–2020
• State program for the development of agricultural business in the Republic of Belarus for
2016 - 2020

3. An example of determining sources of financing in the drinking water supply sector:
the sub-Program "Clean Water" as part of the State program "Comfortable Housing
and a Favorable Environment" for 2016-2020 (hereinafter - the State Program)
A regional set of measures for the implementation of the State program (e.g.in Mogilev oblast:
approved by the Decision of the Mogilev Regional Council of Deputies № 25-3, dated December 29, 2016 )
Note: the regional Councils of Deputies approve also regional packages of measures for the implementation of the
State Program on the territory of a particular area. At the same time, they do not determine the sources of financing,
but just set a target for the availability of water of drinking quality to consumers.
Mechanisms and tools for implementing and funding programs
in the Republic of Belarus
Sources of financing:
allocations from the republican, regional and local budgets and other measures of
state financial support (e.g. credit resources of the Development Bank of the
Republic of Belarus), IFI loans, own funds of implementing organisations)
The scheme and procedure for financing State programs (Decree of the President of the
Republic of Belarus dated July 25, 2016 № 289 “On the procedure for the formation, financing,
implementation and evaluation of the effectiveness of the implementation of State programs”)

4. 4 MASSIVE X presentation to DesignTuts team
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Prioritization and selection of
investment projects for inclusion in
mid-term government programs
Prioritization and selection of
capital investment projects
The optimal mix of funding sources for a selected
investment project are determined taking into account
their competitive advantages: allocations from the
republican and local budgets, borrowings, including from
international financial organizations (IBRD, EBRD, EIB),
or search for a private partner for a project implemented
under the public-private partnership model
Determining the source of funding for
selected investment projects
Monitoring and control of the cost-effectiveness of the
implementation of the investment project
Implementation of the investment
project
Mechanisms and tools for financing and implementing programs
in the Republic of Belarus using IFI resources

5. 5 MASSIVE X presentation to DesignTuts team
p
a
f
t
q
The project was carried out
in 6 regions/oblasts
of Belarus
Involving 74 water
supply and
sanitation facilities
The success of the project has
triggered a new EUR 156 M
project funded by the World Bank
and the European Investment Bank
(EIB) “Improving the efficiency
and quality of water utilities”
The project provided for
construction and modernization
of Fe-removal stations and
water intakes, rehabilitation of
water supply networks and
structures, and other activities
Within the framework of the
project, a comparative
analysis system for utilities
was developed, an analysis of
technical design standards
was carried out
« Development of water supply and sanitation systems
in the Republic of Belarus » project
A 150 million US dollars project
Funded by the World Bank and
Implemented in 2009 - 2019

6. Ministry of Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection of the
Republic of Belarus
Implementing a unified state policy for environmental
protection and rational use of natural resources. Coordination
of activities of other republican government bodies in this area
Ministry of Health
of the Republic of Belarus
Ministry of Energy
of the Republic of Belarus
Rationing and quality control of drinking water and fresh
water quality control in recreation areas
Organization of centralised water supply and sanitation in
settlements
Ministry of Agriculture and Food
of the Republic of Belarus
Ministry of Housing and Communal
Services of the Republic of Belarus
Construction and operation of hydropower facilities
Fisheries (fish farming and fishing) and land reclamation
Ministry of Transport and
Communications
of the Republic of Belarus
Use of water resources for navigation
Ministry of Economy
of the Republic of Belarus
Drafting National Strategy for Sustainable Socio-Economic
development. Permanent inter-agency commission on state
programs (created to consider draft state programs, etc.).
Analysis and assessment of the economic performance, including
regarding water resources use.
Coordinating role in negotiations with IFIs (World Bank, EBRD,
EIB etc.).
Registration of international technical assistance projects.
Government bodies in the field of water use and protection

7. Currently, the Republic of
Belarus is implementing the
Water Strategy for the period
until 2020.
With support from the
EUWI+ for Eastern
Partnership project, a Strategy
for water resources
management in the context of
climate change for the period
until 2030 (the Water Strategy
until 2030) was drafted.
The main goal of the
Water Strategy until 2030 is to
achieve the country‘s long-
term water security for the
present and future generations.

8. Task 1: Ensure equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all
Task 2. Ensure access to appropriate and equitable sanitation services for all
Task 3. Improve the quality of ambient waters by reducing pollution and minimizing
discharges of hazardous substances, stopping discharges of insufficiently treated
wastewaters and increasing water re-use and recycling
Task 4. Increase water use efficiency in all sectors of the economy and ensure
sustainable water supply for the population
Task 5. Ensure the protection and restoration of aquatic ecosystems
Task 6. Implement integrated water resources management (IWRM) at all levels,
including cross-border cooperation
But at the time of preparing the draft Water Strategy until 2030, indicators for
monitoring SDG 6 were not yet “nationalised” in Belarus
The main tasks of the draft Water Strategy until 2030
coincide well with the SDG 6 goals

9. • Under the EUWI+, in 2018, the OECD assisted in drafting the Water Strategy until
2030, while in 2019, preparing a report on the strategic environmental assessment
(SEA) of the Water Strategy until 2030 has started with support from the UNECE.
• In 2018-2019, with support from OECD, work was carried out to “nationalise” SDG
6.3-6.5 indicators and develop respective methodology for monitoring progress.
Pilot-testing actions aimed at implementing the Water Strategy until 2030 at the
local level (OECD-led activities in the Kopyl district/rayon of Minsk region/oblast):
• In 2018, options for increasing water use efficiency were analysed. Based on results
of the work, measures were adopted for optimizing water use (water abstraction,
wastewater discharges) at the most water-intensive enterprises in the rayon.
• In 2018-2019, recommendations were elaborated on developing drinking water
supply systems in the Kopyl rayon, including priority investments in rural
settlements.
Contribution of the EUWI+ project to drafting the Water Strategy until 2030
and pilot-testing actions aimed at implementing it at the local level

10. Name of indicator Implementation (name of respective
program, plan, strategy)
6.3. By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing releases of
hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially
increasing water recycling and safe reuse globally
6.3.1 Proportion of wastewater
safely treated
1) the Water Strategy until 2030
2) Environmental Strategy of the Republic of Belarus for the period until 2035
3) State program "Comfortable housing and favorable environment" for 2016-2020
4) State program «Ensuring the functioning, development and improvement of the
national environmental monitoring system in the Republic of Belarus» for 2021-
20256.3.2.1 Proportion of water
bodies with good ambient water
quality
Integration and implementation of “nationalized” SDG 6 indicators
in national programs and strategies (example of SDG 6.3-6.5)
6.4. By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals
and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering
from water scarcity
6.4.1 Improvement in water-use efficiency
over time
1) the Water Strategy until 2030
2) Environmental Strategy of the Republic of Belarus for the period
until 2035
3) Sectoral and regional environmental management programs
6.4.2 The level of water stress: freshwater
withdrawal as a proportion of available
freshwater resources
6.5. By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary
cooperation as appropriate
6.5.1 Degree of integrated water resources
management implementation (0-100)
1) the Water Strategy until 2030
2) Environmental Strategy of the Republic of Belarus for the
period until 2035
6.5.2 Proportion of transboundary basins’
area with operational (trans-boundary)
agreements on water cooperation

11. Pilot-testing actions at the local level
The general scheme for the implementation of measures on developing drinking
water supply systems at local level (example of an administrative district/rayon)
The regional program of measures to develop drinking water supply systems
Decision of the Minsk Oblast Executive Committee №1061 dated 10.12.2018 on the
“Minsk Oblast Complex of measures to ensure consumers of centralized water supply
with drinking water of normative quality by 2025”
Sources of funding : 50% of the republican budget and
50% of the regional and local budget.
Activities in Kopyl rayon: construction of 26 Fe-removal stations and 4 boreholes
The sub-program “Clean Water” as part of the State program “Comfortable
housing and favorable environment” for 2016-2020
Sources of funding: republican budget and local budget.
Activities: construction of Fe-removal stations in the Minsk region/oblast
A set of measures for developing drinking water supply systems in Kopyl
rayon (produced with support from the EUWI+ project)
Sources of funding : republican, regional and local budget (submitting proposals for
inclusion in respective state, regional and local programs)
Activities: 5 groups of measures/projects in 73 rural settlements of the Kopyl rayon
for the period of 2020-2030.

12. CRICUWR
Housing and
communal services
enterprise
The
population of
the Kopyl
district
Kopyl District
Center for Hygiene
and Epidemiology
Kopyl district
executive
committee
Recommendations on developing
drinking water supply systems in
the Kopyl district (broken down
by rural councils)
Agricultural
enterprises and other
organisations -
operators of drinking
water supply systems
Consultations at the stage of developing recommendations
Preparing Recommendations on developing drinking water supply systems in the
Kopyl district of the Minsk region of the Republic of Belarus
5 groups of measures:
- construction of boreholes in 25 villages
- connection to existing boreholes
(requiring only the construction of new
water supply networks) - 21 villages
- construction of fe-removal stations - 20
villages
- the use of pressure filters for water
purification - 43 villages
- extension of existing water supply
networks - 50 villages.
The Recommendations cover:
73 out of 208 settlements, and
16.6 thousand people, i.e.
85% of the total population in
the Kopyl district

13. A training manual “Economic instruments for managing water resources
and bodies, and water systems in the Republic of Belarus” was prepared
under the EUWI+ project with financial support of the European Union and
methodological support of the OECD / GREEN Action Task Force.
Based on the training manual, the development of respective training courses
for students of several leading universities of the country is currently underway.
The main goal of the training manual is to build up local expert capacity in the
field of economic analysis and application of economic instruments for
sustainable water resources management and the development of water
infrastructure so as, ultimately, to increase the country's water security.
Development of local expertise in the application of economic instruments for
managing water resources and systems

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