OREANDA-NEWS. December 13, 2010. Around USD 1 million was channeled into local initiatives under the EU/UNDP Project “Minimizing the impact of the Chernobyl accident in the Republic of Belarus”. A comparable amount was drawn from local sources, from Vladislav Khilkevich, information coordinator, UNDP Office in Belarus.

The project was implemented from July 2009 to December 2010 in four districts of Gomel Oblast (Khoiniki, Zhitkovichi, Vetka, Buda-Koshelevo). One of the key results of the project was provision of support to 60 separate initiatives of citizens living in these areas to improve the quality of life, child welfare, health, agriculture and entrepreneurship.

Results of this unique project, its methodology and best practices will be discussed in Minsk on 13 December. The event will be attended by representatives of the EU and UNDP, the target districts and project specialists. The head of the European Union in Belarus and Ukraine Jose Manuel Pinto Teixeira will make an opening speech. Presentation of project “Geographically-oriented development of the Chernobyl-hit regions” will be held by the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Belarus, Farid Karakhanov. A video “The story of One Initiative” will be demonstrated.