Belarus: On a slippery slope

“Fast facts” from Belarus’s official socio-economic data

MINSK, Belarus – 1 September 2011- Virtually all of the transition and developing economies in Europe and Central Asia have emerged from the worst of the global financial crisis. In contrast to the rest of the region, however, Belarus is now experiencing a serious episode of macroeconomic instability, which could have significant implications for poverty and socio-economic vulnerability. This instability, which is driven by the country’s unsustainable external position and unfolding currency crisis, is not yet robustly evident in official data on output, incomes, and unemployment. However, it is quite visible in Belarus’s inflation and exchange rate trends. This article provides a brief overview of these trends, and considers their possible implications for living standards—especially for vulnerable households—in Belarus.

Lights, camera… gender?

KYIV, Ukraine – 1 September, 2011– Almost 100 young people from all over Ukraine between 18 and 35 took part in the "Summer Gender Camp" organized by the European Union (EU) and UNDP. Watch: videos made by summer camp participants See: photos from gender summer camp

Kyrgyzstan: Poised for a strong economic recovery in the second half of 2011

“Fast facts” from Kyrgyzstan’s official socio-economic data

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - 27 August 2011 - Kyrgyzstan’s economic recovery from the socio-economic instability that followed the political events of April-June 2010 seems to be strengthening (Chart 1). While output and sales growth during January-July (compared to the same period in 2010) was particularly strong in housing construction and industry, the recovery seems increasingly apparent in retail trade, tourism, and transport. The moderate (2.2 percent) growth reported in gross agricultural output suggests that the drought conditions affecting the Syr-Darya basin had not, through July, had a particularly strong impact on agricultural production. These trends suggest that the 6 percent GDP growth forecast for 2011 could turn out to be conservative, as the 5.5 percent increase in GDP reported during the first half of the year seems likely to be followed by a strong bounce in the second half.

Solar energy industry gets boost in Europe

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia – 22 August, 2011 – It’s been two years since UNDP’s Bratislava Regional Centre became home to the first solar energy station in downtown Bratislava.

Moldova’s jobless recovery

“Fast facts” from Moldova’s official socio-economic data

CHISINAU, Moldova - 30 July 2011 – In many respects, the Moldovan economy seems to have recovered nicely from the impact of the global financial crisis in 2009, when GDP fell 6 percent. Following a 7 percent increase in 2010, preliminary data point to 8 percent GDP growth during the first quarter of 2011. Industrial output was up some 9 percent during January-May, thanks largely to a stunning 60 percent reported increase in dollar exports (Chart 1). Sharply higher world prices for foodstuffs (Moldova’s main exports) played a large role in this export surge, as did strong growth in the volume of foodstuffs and other products sold abroad.

The benefits of energy efficiency

YEREVAN, Armenia – 27 July, 2011– In the last three years approximately $10 million in private investments have gone into energy efficient heating and hot water systems for apartments, schools and public buildings in several Armenian cities and towns. See: photo slideshow from energy efficient communities

Kyrgyzstan: First-half economic recovery driven by industry

“Fast facts” from Kyrgyzstan’s official socio-economic data

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - 24 July 2011 - The latest data indicate that Kyrgyzstan enjoyed a solid, but somewhat uneven, economic recovery during the first half of 2011. A 5.5 percent increase in real GDP was reported by the National Statistical Committee on 8 July, driven by 14 percent growth in the volume of industrial output. Rapid growth in foreign exchange reserves, due to large increases in remittances, indicates continued improvement in the external balance. On the other hand, other than remittances and an uptick in real wages in May, it is not yet clear that households are benefitting significantly from the recovery. It is clear, however, that high inflation rates—especially for food prices—continue to squeeze purchasing power, especially in vulnerable households.

The return of drought conditions to Central Asia: Update and possible impact on food security

“Fast facts” from Central Asia’s reservoirs, and official socio-economic data

Overview

22 July 2011 - This paper updates UNDP’s May 2011 analysis of emerging drought trends in the Aral Sea basin, as measured by data reported on CAWATERinfo. It also provides an initial look at the possible impact on agriculture and food security, by focusing on official food price data in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan. While not conclusive, these data suggest that drought conditions are having an impact on these countries—but primarily on food prices rather than output, and probably less than the impact of high global food prices in general.

Новое определение понятия “местное развитие”

Клэр Романик                        English/Aнглийский

A new definition of local development

Clare Romanik                              Русский/Russian

18 July 2011 - UNDP recently assessed 126 of its local development projects in 22 European and CIS1 countries, to understand what assets could be used for moving to a new stage of local development for the region. In this new stage, local development objectives should encompass collective action for judicious use of natural and other resources and developing human capital (from basic education to management skills and entrepreneurial abilities) to the goals of adequate service delivery, maintaining cultural heritage and environmental assets, and creating sustainable livelihoods