LocationsInsurance for human development is the second article in the UNDP Belarus’ series on the work we do with the national partners to ensure that people in Belarus have capabilities to harness the potential embedded in the new uncertainties.
2022 HDR's 3Is: Insurance
21 February 2023
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
Multiple, complex crises caused human development to go in reverse for two years straight. New dimensions of uncertainty are emerging to unsettle the lives of people worldwide. To turn them into opportunities, it is important to unleash people’s creative and cooperative potential. The 2022 United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Human Development Report spotlights on investment, insurance and innovation as directions of change that can help to do this and drive the recovery forward.
Insurance is an essential tool to help guarantee protection for people in the face of uncertainty. It empowers them with the necessary capacity to cope with the context of instability, regain control over the course of their lives, and come up with innovative solutions.
In 2022, UNDP in Belarus partnered with the national and international partners to implement 16 development programmes and initiatives, help people to access better services, promote digital and social inclusion, foster green thinking, and create new employment opportunities in the regions.
In Zhlobin district of Belarus, a public-private initiative improves urban mobility of people with disabilities.
Photo: Siarhiej Leskiec/UNDP in Belarus
Joining forces with private sector to design solutions to protect vulnerable groups, UNDP provided support to 16 regional social innovation enterprises, whose business operations provide social and economic benefits to people with disabilities, children, rural women, and youth.
The COVID-19 pandemic and other global health challenges such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis put national health systems under immense pressure. To respond to this challenge and ensure the national health system’s resilience and its ability to deliver quality medical services to people in need, UNDP and the Ministry of Health worked together to deliver modern medical equipment and materials to 150 healthcare facilities (each fourth hospital and clinic) in Belarus.
UNDP also works to scale up efforts to promote social inclusion and equality for people living with HIV/AIDS.
With the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria partnership UNDP’s activities expand to prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, procurement of new drugs for treatment of drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis, as well as tools for their timely diagnosis.
The war in the region forced millions of people to flee their homes and caused Europe’s worst refugee crisis since WWII. As a part of UNDP joint response, UNDP Belarus formed a strategic partnership with the Belarusian Red Cross to strengthen national capacities to address the immediate and long-term challenges posed by the crisis.
Humanitarian technology can help governments and civil society in making the lives of refugees and migrants easier by providing them access to information about critical social and economic services.
WeHelp.by connects refugees and migrants to available support options, socio-economic benefits, services and opportunities.
Photo: UNDP in Belarus
Together with the Belarusian Red Cross, UNDP researched the needs of refugees and developed the online WeHelp.by platform. which connects refugees and migrants to available support options, socio-economic benefits, services and opportunities.
UNDP also plays an important role in the joint UN country refugees support action by leading the segment that ensures these people's better socioeconomic inclusion.
Access to financial services and knowledge on how to apply for them can help people navigate through a changing and uncertain economic landscape and to come to terms with the new realities. UNDP provided 3800 women with new business and financial literacy knowledge through workshops and trainings.
A mobile advisory center aids in the expansion of microfinance opportunities for small businesses in rural areas.
Photo: Microfinance initiative/UNDP in Belarus
A microfinance outreach program for small and medium-sized enterprises, recently launched by UNDP and the Ministry of Economy in 12 districts, aims to assist at least 200 businesses.
Helping youth in developing environmental mindset is a critical investment into green future and an effective tool for ensuring future generations' resilience to shocks and crises. The national network of green schools helps young people in raising awareness and offers innovative solutions on key environmental challenges such as resource and biodiversity conservation, energy and water saving, climate change, pollution and waste management. With UNDP’s support, the national network of “Green Schools” has grown from 40 to over 400 educational institutions across the country.
Insurance has an essential role in strengthening human resilience and helping people to deal with uncertainty in order to reduce poverty and inequality in a systemic way. Harnessing innovation, digitalization, green knowledge and inclusion to strengthen insurance mechanisms can help deal with the current context of instability more effectively.
