Development of Kastryčnicki Ekanamičny Forum – a platform for an open dialogue about potential directions of Belarus’ economic reforms – to promote a more efficient and engaged civil participation in decision-making related to economic policies on

About of project:

Description

Present-day economic challenges raise the relevance of the dialogue between authorities, business and the civil society on sustainable national development. The open platform of Kastryčnicki Ekanamičny Forum (KEF) is designed to make that dialogue regular and constructive. The KEF concept rests in the belief that reforms become more realistic, when discussed openly.

Goals and Objectives: Making the Belarusian economy more efficient, public economic policy more responsible, and the prospects for citizens more attractive.

Engaging the intellectual capacity of civil society while making important economic decisions on local and national levels.

Making the dialogue between authorities, business and non-governmental organizations as open and meaningful as possible.

Intermediate and Expected Outcomes: The research The Competitive Ability of the Regions of Belarus was carried out under the project, and it resulted in a number of regional activities within the KEF framework.

Project outcomes: Kastryčnicki Economic Forum helps establish a strong relationship between authorities, businesses and civil society representatives in the interests of development of the Belarusian economy.

In order to provide Kastryčnicki Ekanamičny Forum with relevant studies, project team carried out several background studies:

- Making Belarusian workforce competitive: Problems of and challenges for the system of secondary education Study;
- Poverty and social vulnerability monitoring Study;
- How to reform social protection system of Belarus: Policy implications from Belarusian population’ attitudes Study;
- Belarusian Risk Outlook Study,
- Regional Competitiveness Study,
- Understanding Belarusian society: What values enhance economic development and what values restrain it.

In 2016-2019, four KEF conferences were organized in Minsk:

1. KEF-2016: Reforms for Inclusive Growth, on November 3-4, 2016, Minsk.
2. KEF-2017: Foundations of the future, on November 2-3, 2017, Minsk.
3. KEF-2018: Belarus in the Brave New World, on November 5-6, 2018, Minsk.
4. KEF-2019: The Invisible Hand of Leviathan, on November 1-2, 2019, Minsk.
  
The forum participants had an integrated discussion of the priorities, advantages and risks of the Belarusian economy in making important decisions.

A research on the Competitiveness of Belarusian Provinces was carried out under the project. It laid foundation for KEF regional activities engaging stakeholder groups and discussion of ideas and regional issues. Fifteen regional KEF conferences have been held (three in each regional capital in 2017, 2018 and 2019).

Results of the studies as well as policy papers in the framework of the Action are broadly disseminated via kef.by website, media and KEF related events.

An extensive database with contacts of all regional stakeholders taking part in the project has been developed; substantial experience of cooperation with them has been gained.

Points of Contact: Elena Grushetskaya, Project Coordinator

+375 17 210 01 05, +375 29 677 91 64, egrushetskaya@research.by

Web link: http://kef.research.by/