“Preventing non-communicable diseases, promoting healthy lifestyle and support to modernization of the health system in Belarus” (BELMED) FINAL PROGRAMME1 NARRATIVE REPORT REPORTING PERIOD: 20 NOVEMBER 2015 – 31 AUGUST 2020 Country, Locality(s), Priority Area(s) / Programme Title & Project Number Strategic Results2 ● Programme Title: “Preventing non- Country/Region: communicable diseases, promoting healthy The Republic of Belarus lifestyle and support to modernization of the Priority area/ strategic results: health system in Belarus” Promoting effective prevention of NCDs and ● Programme Number (if applicable): strengthening national health system to ENPI/2014/352-372 effectively address the challenges of NCDs in ● MPTF Office Project Reference Number:3 the Republic of Belarus 00093066 Participating Organization(s) Implementing Partners ● UNDP Ministry of Health ● WHO ● UNICEF ● UNFPA Programme/Project Cost (US$) Programme Duration Total approved budget as per Overall Duration: 57 months, Project document: € 4 100 000 MPTF /JP Contribution4: 11 days ● by Agency (if applicable) Agency Contribution Start Date5 20.11.2015 UNDP, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA - € 300 000 Government Contribution Original End Date6 (if applicable) 19.11.2019 1 The term “programme” is used for programmes, joint programmes and Projects. 2 Strategic Results, as formulated in the Strategic UN Planning Framework (e.g. UNDAF) or Project document; 3 The MPTF Office Project Reference Number is the same number as the one on the Notification message. It is also referred to as “Project ID” on the Project’s factsheet page the MPTF Office GATEWAY 4 The MPTF or JP Contribution, refers to the amount transferred to the Participating UN Organizations, which is available on the MPTF Office GATEWAY 5 The start date is defined by the date in the signed project document. The start date is available on the MPTF Office GATEWAY 6 As per approval of the original Project document by the relevant decision-making body/Steering Committee. Page 1 of 153 Other Contributions (donors) ● European Union – € 3 800 000 Current End date7 31.08.2020 TOTAL: € 4 100 000 Programme Assessment/Review/Mid-Term Eval. Report Submitted By Assessment/Review - if applicable please attach o Name: Yes No Date: dd.mm.yyyy o Title: Mid-Term Evaluation Report – if applicable please attach o Email address: Yes No Date: 27.04.2018 7 If there has been an extension, then the revised, approved end date should be reflected here. If there has been no extension approved, then the current end date is the same as the original end date. The end date is the same as the operational closure date which is when all activities for which a Participating Organization is responsible under an approved MPTF / JP have been completed. As per the MOU, agencies are to notify the MPTF Office when a programme completes its operational activities. Page 2 of 153 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS EU European Union IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer UNDP United Nations Development Programme WHO World Health Organization UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund UNFPA United Nations Population Fund MoH Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus MoE Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Belarus MoEd Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus MoES Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus MoI Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Belarus Belstat National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus Centre of State institution “Republican Scientific and Practical Centre of Traumatology and Traumatology and Orthopaedics” of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus Orthopaedics Alexandrov Centre “Republican Scientific Practical Centre of Oncology and Medical Radiology named after N.N. Alexandrov” RSPC MT Belarusian Republican Scientific and Practical Centre for Medical Technologies, Informatization, Administration and Management of Health “Mother and State institution “Republican Scientific and Practical Centre “Mother and Child” Child” Centre BelMAPE State Educational Establishment "Belarusian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education" NGOs Non-governmental organizations ECI Early childhood intervention PSC Project Steering Committee NPC National Project Coordinator PMU Project Management Unit PHC Primary health care NCD Non-communicable diseases YFHC Youth friendly health center MCP Model Centers for Parents HLS Healthy lifestyle Page 3 of 153 Contents LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................................................. 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 5 I. Purpose .......................................................................................................................................................... 6 II. Results ........................................................................................................................................................... 8 III. Indicator Based Performance Assessment ............................................................................................... 58 Annex I Contract awards above EUR 15,000, made in the period 20 November 2015 – 31 August 2020 within the frameworks of the EU funded Project “Preventing non-communicable diseases, promoting healthy lifestyle and support to modernization of the health system in Belarus” (BELMED) ....................................... 63 ANNEX II. Issues and Lessons Learned. ........................................................................................................... 69 ANNEX III. List of Project Assets Transferred to National Partners ................................................................ 72 Page 4 of 153 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Consolidated Report on implementation of the Joint Programme “Preventing non-communicable diseases, promoting healthy lifestyle and support to modernization of the health system in Belarus” (BELMED) covers the implementation period from 20 November 2015 to 31 August 2020. This report is developed in compliance with the reporting requirements set out in the Standard Administrative Arrangement (SAA) concluded between the Administrative Agent (UNDP MPTF Office) and the Contributor. In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding, signed between Participating UN Organizations and UNDP, the Report is consolidated based on information, data and financial statements submitted by Participating Organizations. The report provides a comprehensive overview of achievements and challenges associated with the Joint Programme, in accordance with set objectives and results. In July-August 2020 the Addendum #3 to the Contribution Agreement №. ENPI/2014/352-372 was signed by the EU and MPTF. According to this Agreement the implementation period of the JP was extended till 31 August 2020. Most of BELMED Project activities contribute to the State Programme “People's health and demographic security of the Republic of Belarus for 2016-2020”, which has been approved by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus on 14 March 2016. In particular, BELMED contributes to the implementation of its two subprograms “Prevention and control of NCD” and “Family and Childhood.” http://www.government.by/ru/solutions/2431 Surveillance for the prevalence of the risk factors of NCDs has been strengthened by implementing for the first time two representative country wide STEPS WHO surveys. Results of the STEPS surveys were used in updating of indicators of the State program “People's health and demographic security of the Republic of Belarus for 2016-2020” and in tailoring WHO “best buys” evidence based multi-sectoral recommendations to tackle the main risk factors of NCDs in Belarus in a comprehensive joint WHO and UNDP report “Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in Belarus. The case for investment”. Among all other efforts it resulted in some significant public health policy changes in Belarus including: adoption of smoke-free legislation in Belarus in 2019; governmental plans on gradual increasing excise taxation for alcohol and tobacco products, implementing limits for trans fats in the products starting from January 2018. For the first time in Belarus the National Information Strategy on healthy lifestyle was developed, approved by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and launched. The main goal of the National Information Strategy is formation of the information field of the country to assist the achievement of indicators of the State Program. Within the Local initiatives component of BELMED, the Project was fostering creation of partnerships of local authorities and communities, civil society, public and private organizations for discussing, designing, submitting and, if selected, implementing initiatives for promotion of healthy lifestyles (HLS) at the local level. Three Contests of initiatives were completed in all regions of the country. Thereby cumulative number of local initiatives which have been supported comprises 25 (88% out of them are implemented by NGOs). Total amount of all initiatives is around € 800,000. The results of completed initiatives showed the relevance and high demand for addressing healthy lifestyle issues, sustainability, as well as revealed readiness to collaborate and consolidate efforts at the local level for addressing the problems related to strengthening public health. Experiences gained in the process of the pilot of breast cancer screening