Photo: by Michail Kalinin / 10th anniversary (Minsk, January 2016)
Our projects scope
This year we were working in 25 Belarusian cities -
Vitebsk, Mogilev, Vileika, Klichev, Vetka, Orsha, Sharkawshchyna, Glubokoje, Brest, Bereza, Ivje, Kobrin, Molodechno, Chausy, Slutsk, Braslav, Novogrudok, Rogachev, Senno, Liosno, Oshmayny, Polotsk, Gomel, Korma, Novopolotsk, and Pukhovichi region.

Also we collaborated with colleagues from Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Poland and Netherlands.


Applying professional approach and successful experience in the field of sustainable development,
we create the conditions for initiative people and organizations to jointly contribute for the welfare
of Belarus.
OUR MISSION
Our activity during the year lay in the following spheres
of sustainable development:
energy efficiency and adaptation to climate changes
urban mobility
inclusive tourism
involvement of citizens in decision-making about city development issues
"green economy" development
cultural industry development and strengthening cultural exchange
In 2016 we kept working on 3 projects alongside with our partners, and became the first official Supporter for Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy initiative in Belarus
1
PubLiCity: Energy Efficient Modernization
of Public Lighting in the City of Polotsk (2015-2018)
by ewill be optimized thanks to new 56 automatic light control boxeThe project aim is to modernize Polotsk's municipal and decorative lighting systems by raising its its energy efficiency, which will help reduce energy consumption, CO2 emissions in the atmosphere and raise the citizens' awareness about alternative, "green" energy.
    • By 2019 on central and entrance streets of Polotsk 1280 new energy efficient lamps, LED and working on solar and wind energy, will have appeared. Their work will be optimized thanks to new 56 automatic light control boxes in 63% of the city's streets.
    • The projects is also to improve the decorative lighting in Polotsk, and therefore, make it a more comfortable and attractive city for tourists. The number of LED decorative lamps
      will increase by 2 - 2,5 times, and their energy consumption will thus reduce by 5%.
    • These changes will enable the city to reduce energy consumption by more than 1600 WMh (appr. 15%) and CO2 emissions by more than 750 tons in comparison to the correspondent levels of the year 2010.
      Achievements in 2016:
      On April 4-10th, 2016 in Polotsk four student teams with members from around Belarus were working on architectural Arch.Pro.Svet forum, creating designer light concepts for the city. Most elaborated and feasible ideas have become the basis for design projects on the city lightning and will be realized within PubLiCity project activities and included in Lighting Development Strategy in Polotsk up to the year 2030. Learn more >>>
      Video: Arch.Pro.Svet forum (Polotsk, April 2016)
      On June 13-17, 2016 Polotsk celebrated the Energy Days (simultaneously with European Energy Days). The city centre became the festive venue for "svetosphery", or light spheres (light installations), music, dances and poetry declamations. Moreover, during Energy Days Polotsk citizens could buy energy effective household appliences with a discount, and school children participated in the quiz and contest for the best eco-oriented video promo. Learn more >>>
      Photos: Nicolai Krylov / Energy Days (Polotsk, June 2016)
      On May - June 2016 opinion poll among Polotsk citizens was held. The respondents shared their opinions on energy efficiency issues and how they save energy in daily life. Learn more >>>
      On May - June 2016 opinion poll among Polotsk citizens was held. The respondents shared their opinions on energy efficiency issues and how they save energy in daily life. Learn more >>>
      In August 2016 energy audit was held in Polotsk, and by the end of the year technical specifications for design and estimate documentation on street and decorative lightning modernization were developed. Installation of new energy effective lamps will start in summer of 2017.
      Further modernization until 2030 will be ensured by Polotsk Lighting Development Strategy. In May - June of 2017 Polotsk will again celebrate Energy Days, and in 2018 it will become the venue for the Lights Festival.
      2
      From Energy Efficiency to Urban Mobility: Introducing Participatory Approach to Development of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan for Polotsk (2015 - 2017)
      As a result of the project, local government, experts, civic associations, journalists, and entrepreneurs developed a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan which will become the strategy for improving the transport system in Polotsk. Due to the project, 85 thousands of Polotsk citizens will enjoy more comfort and safety while moving around the city.

      • Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan is supposed to become a roadmap which will enhance the authorities' and citizens' possibilities in creating an effective transport system reflecting the city needs. This strategy will in particular address such issues, as mobility between Polotsk and Novopolotsk, enhancing transport accessibility of Polotsk residential areas, and construction of bicycle lanes network. This, in its turn, is crucial for sustainable environmental conditions of both cities.
      • The project followed the Sustainable Energy Action Plan, after which Polotsk has took up the challenge to reduce СО2 emissions by 20% by the year 2020.
        Photo: by Nikolai Krylov / Bicycle lane in Polotsk (September, 2016)
        Achievements in 2016:
        In March 2016 school children and students of Polotsk state university came up with ideas on developing cycling infrastructure in the city at the Bike Lane Guru contest. And the final variant of the route was chosen in the online poll (with more than 750 voters). According to this option, the first city bike lane embraces the city centre, the Airport district, as well as the Kurgan park. Learn more >>>
        In August 2016 in Polotsk and Novopolotsk we launched a free Moovit app, used for planning public transport journeys. Now the passengers can check out the buses timetable online and plan the trips even between the two cities. Moovit goes beyond analysis of the available routes, and can also be used for their assessment (e.g. their comfort, swiftness, punctuality of the transport). During the first 3 weeks after its launch in Polotsk and Novopolotsk the app was downloaded by nearly 500 users.
        On September 16-22 Polotsk, alongside with the other European cities greeted the European Mobility Week, festival devoted to ecological means of urban transport. Polotsk citizens took part in the bicycle race, city picnic, bicycle city quest and bicycle tour, contests on Car Free Day.
        Learn more >>>
        Photo: by Nikolai Krylov / European Mobility Week in Polotsk (September, 2016)
        With the start of European Mobility Week 2016 the first bicycle lane in Polotsk was officially opened. It was constructed by means of a separated traffic lane, being a unique case in Belarus. The total span of the bicycle lane amounted to 10,7 km. Learn more >>>
        Photo: by Nikolai Krylov / Bicycle lane in Polotsk (September, 2016)
        In June 2016 Polotsk joined the international CIVITAS network, which spreads practices in ecologically-friendly and sustainable transport among cities worldwide. And in September 2016 members of Working and Public groups on mobility development in Polotsk visited CIVITAS Forum in Gdynia, to see transport solutions for the city with their own eyes and adopt the best practices from international colleagues. Learn more >>>
        International CIVITAS Forum (Gdynia, September - October 2016)
        At the end of 2016 Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan for Polotsk was completely develope . It is expected to be approved in Советом Депутатов Республики Беларусь at the beginning of 2017 and then included in the city master plan.
        Among the outputs of the project were recommendations on enhancement of national and regional legislation in transport sphere and city planning in Belarus, and recommendations on local community engagement in project realization. Both manuals will be presented at the final international conference, which will take place in Minsk on March 24th, 2016. More than 20 speakers from Belarus, Russia, Lithuania, Sweden will meet for sharing best practices and discussion of plans and possibilities in sustainable development of Belarusian regions.
        3
        Volozhin without barriers: Increasing Local Capacities for Provision of Social and Recreational Services for People with Disabilities
        Social services in Volozhin district will become more accessible to people with disabilities, while comfortable facilities for their recreation will appear in Nalibokskaya puscha.

        • By 2018 up to 30 infrastructural objects providing social and recreational services in the region will be adapted for people with disabilities.
        • In 2018 a tourist information and recreation center for people with disabilities with a 20 persons hostel, conference hall tourist information and recreation center for people with disabilities and infopoint.
        • In 2017 a specially equipped environmental trail for people with disabilities will be built through Nalibokskaya pusha. Together with the tourist and recreation centre it will become part of tourist project "Accessible Volozhin"
        • Opening of the tourist centre and hostel will be accompanied with Social Integration Festival. 60 participants of inclusive summer camp for people with and without disabilities (to be held beforehand) will be working as volunteers as well a prepare the program for the event.
          Photo: Training for volunteers (Volozhin, February 2016)
          Achievements in 2016
          On February 10th, 2016 a workshop for 30 volunteers was held in Volozhin - owners of farmsteads, representatives of authorities and NGOs, and journalists got acquainted with fundamental principles of barrier-free environment. Afterwards they were inspecting the local objects for their accessibility for people with disabilities. Learn more >>>
          On July 21-26 the project partners were on an educational visit in the Netherlands. It was devoted to barrier-free tourism: its participants could see how Dutch organizations make the tourism and recreation sphere more convenient for people with disabilities. Learn more >>>
          Educational visit on barrier-free tourism (Netherlands, July 2016)
          In March - August 2016 года experts were inspecting the accessibility of about 300 infrastructural objects in 10 residential places of Volozhin district and elaborated recommendations for their improvement. Among the objects inspected were 18 farmsteads. The results of the inspection and the experts' recommendations will lay the basis for Plan of activities for improving the infrastructure and quality of social and recreational services provided for people with disabilities. Learn more >>>
          At the end of 2016 there appeared an ecological trail, specially equipped for tourists on wheelchairs and people with sight impairments. Before the official launch it will tested in the promo tour by media representatives, people with disabilities and tour operators.
          In March 2016 a questionnaire poll among people with disabilities residing in Volozhin district will be held.
          It will reveal problems in urban environment which they face daily. Also this spring a contest among owners of farmsteads will be announced. Up to 5 entrepreneurs will receive grants and will be able to adapt the farmsteads according to barrier-free principles.
          4
          Covenant of Mayors – East II in Belarus
          (CoM East II)
          Regional initiative called Covenant of Mayors - East II is being implemented in 6 countries of the Eastern Partnership – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Interakcia foundation is the official Supporter for Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy initiative, and Ivan Shchadranok is its National expert in Belarus.
          The project aim is to popularize the Covenant of Mayors initiative, uniting local, regional and national authorities in implementing sustainable energy policies and adapting to climate changes.

          The project aims:
          • support the Covenant Signatories in realization activities after Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs) by engaging investors, NGOs, business representatives, citizens, representatives of local and regional authorities
          • provide sustainability for Covenant of Mayors initiative in Eastern Partnership region by including stakeholders (national and territorial coordinators, Covenant supporters); engage authorities in defining directions activities for strategic development and adapting energy and climate goals to the regional context by 2030
          • raise awareness about the new Covenant of Mayors edition, provide assistance to the most effective Signatories in elaboration and realization of Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs).
            Ivan Shchadranok at the high-level conference
            «Enabling sustainable development in Eastern Partnership countries»
            (Yerevan, November 2016)
            Achievements in 2016:
            In April 2016 Interakcia foundation became the first official Supporter for Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in Belarus – European initiative aimed at reducing СО2 emissions. Learn more >>>
            On October 26-27, 2016 Yerevan welcomed the international conference devoted to Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy. There Mayors of Klichev, Orsha, Mogilev, Vetka, Sharkovshchina and Vileyka signed Covenant of Mayors. Among Belarusian participants there were also surrent signatories, such as Braslav, Chausy, Glubokoye, Kobrin, Liozno, Novogrudok, Polotsk, Puchovichy, as well as representatives of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Energy Efficiency Department of the State Committee for Standardization, EU ITA Centre in Belarus, Interakcia Foundation, IPO Ecopartnership.
            Learn more >>>
            Photos: Denis Zelenkov / High-level conference
            «Enabling sustainable development in Eastern Partnership countries»
            (Yerevan, November 2016)
            On December 15-16th, 2016 workshop for cities-signatories of the Covenant of Mayors and Energy took place in Polotsk. 30 representatives of regional and district directories of Energy Efficiency Department of the State Committee for Standardization of the Republic of Belarus took part in the event. They acquired practical skills enabling them to elaborate SECAPs for their cities.
            Learn more >>>
            Workshop for cities-signatories of the Covenant of Mayors and Energy (Polotsk, December 2016)
            Moreover, throughout 2016 we held several educational and inclusive events engaging local communities and authorities, and our experience in Polotsk was acknowledged at PR cases competition.
            On May 28, 2016, on Polotsk City Day we took part in the opening of Green Economy City. There we presented two projects - From Energy Efficiency to Urban Mobility and PubLiCIty. Together with the citizens we discussed the route of the first city bicycle lane, played "mobility" and "energy efficiency" quizzes, learnt how to economize on housing services and utilities with the help of online calculators. Moreover Polotsk citizens learnt how Belarusian local authoritie, NGOs, entrepreneurs and European Union jointly develop "green" economy. European Union Office in Belarus were the organizers of the event. Learn more >>>
            Opening of the "green economy city" (Polotsk, May 28, 2016)
            From September 16 to October 19 , we hold the ZOOM. Kids on the Move ecological campaign in Polotsk and Novopolotsk for the second time, and Minsk joined this year. School children learnt how to save the climate , and were collecting "green footprints". Their "footprints" and suggestions were sent to the UN Climate Change Conference in Morocco 2016, to remind politicians and experts that it is crucial to care about the environment for the future generations. Altogether 1097 Belarusian school children took part in the campaign of 2016, and collected 29 717 "green footprints", and their were mentioned in the international report of Climate Allience, the founders of ZOOM.Kids on the Move. Learn more >>>
            ZOOM.Kids on the Move campaign (Polotsk, Novopolotsk, Minsk, September 2016)
            Together with colleagues from Center for Environmental Solutions, Green Network partnership, APB BirdLife Belarus and Minsk Cycling Society we organized Zrobim ecological campaign. Learn more >>>

            Zrobim campaign (Minsk, 2016)
            Case of European Mobility Week in Polotsk was acknowledged at PR cases competition among NGOs and commercial organizations. Initiator of the competition was A3KBelarus (Association of Communication Consultant Companies).

            Certificate of participation in PR cases competition (Minsk, December 2016)
            Adhering to the principle of transparency, we see it absolutely crucial to demonstrate how the funds were allocated within our projects throughout the year 2016.

            Expenses within the projects where Interakcia Foundation acted or acts as the lead partner are presented in detail, covering all the budget items of the project.

            Expenses within the projects where Interakcia did or does not act as the lead partner are presented in respect of the foundation itself, thus covering exclusively the funds which were either being allocated during the project implementation period for the Foundation's needs or were in the organization's disposal.

            Interakcia Foundation is a non-commercial and non-governmental
            organization. Our activity is mainly being funded by international technical assistance programmes, as well as donations of activists.
            From Energy Efficiency to Urban Mobility: Introducing Participatory Approach to Development of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan for Polotsk

            • Interakcia Foundation - the project's lead partner
            • Budget: € 334 000; EU's contribution – € 299 500 (90% of total); Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development EU Programme
            • Implementation period: March 2014 – March 2017
            • Location: Polotsk
            Volozhin without Barriers: Increasing Local Capacities for Provision of Social and Recreational Services for People with Disabilities

            • Interakcia Foundation - the project's partner
            • Budget: € 1 111 521, EU's contribution – € 999 900 (90% of total); Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development Programme (NSA&LA)
            • Implementation period: October 2015 – October 2018
            • Location: Volozhin and Volozhin district
            PubLiCity: Energy Efficient Modernization of Public Lighting in the City of Polotsk
            • Interakcia is the project's partner
            • Budget: € 1 630 521, EU's contribution – € 1 304 417 (90% of total); Supporting the Eastern Partnership Cities in the Implementation of Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs) under the Covenant of Mayors
            • Implementation period: August 2015 – November 2018
            • Location: Polotsk
            Covenant of Mayors East (CoM East)
            • The Project is implemented by Energy Cities-led Consortium
            • Interakcia Foundation - the Covenant Supporter in Belarus
            • Duration of the project: June 2016 — May 2020



            Throughout the year we cooperated with governmental and non-governmental organisations, business representatives, media, experts, local communities and volunteers.
            Photo by Maria Kuracheva (January 2017, Green New Year)
            We would like to express our gratitude to the partners for cooperation and informational support:

            EU Delegation in Belarus
            European Union International Technical Assistance Centre (EU ITA Centre) in Belarus
            ODB Brussels
            UNDP in Belarus
            Climate Alliance
            Gdynia City Administration (Poland)
            EU Covenant of Mayors Office (СоМ East)
            Energy Cities (European Association of local authorities)
            Ministry of Territorial Administration and Development of the Republic of Armenia
            The Conference of Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP)
            "Convenant of Mayors — Demonstration Projects" Program Team
            ETS-Consult (Ecological Transport System)
            Belarusian Association of Transport Experts and Surveyors
            Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus
            Energy Efficiency Department of the State Committee for Standardization
            Polotsk Executive Committee
            Polotsk housing and communal services
            Vitebskoblavtotrans affiliate Bus Depo #2 of Polotsk
            Center for urban studies and design (Polotsk)
            Education, sports and tourism department of Polotsk Executive Committee
            Education, sports and tourism department of Novopolotsk Executive Committee
            Children and youth centre of the Polotsk region
            Day care centres of Vetrino and Polotsk
            Manezh shopping mall (Polotsk)
            Quick Coffee cafe (Polotsk)
            Drive bicycle store (Polotsk)
            LikeBike bicycle rent service (Polotsk)
            Velo NovoPolotsk community
            "Evropa Plus Polotsk" radio station
            0214.by news website (Polotsk, Novopolotsk)
            gorod214.by news website (Polotsk, Novopolotsk)
            "Polotski vestnik" newspaper
            "Summit + TV" channel (Polotsk)
            ximik.info news website (Polotsk, Novopolotsk)
            "Novopolotsk today" newspaper
            "Vitebskiye vesti" newspaper
            Vitebsk television and radio broadcasting company
            Vitebsk pantomime theatre "b&w"
            Artists and music bands - t-U.bus, Sumarok, Suitcase, OZON, FREELITE, Evgeniy Kotenkov, Dub Rovah System
            Balance center, Kurazh dance studio, Victoria Nezgodinskaya
            Representatives of the projects "Science beyond itself" and "Belarus without visa"
            Zabombi.by project
            Volozhin Executive Committee
            Volozhin territorial center for social service центру социального обслуживания
            Belarusian Society of Disabled People
            Belarusian Association of Rural and Ecotourism "Country Escape"
            Volozhin department of Belarusian association of assistance to children and young people with disabilities ("BelAPDIiMI")
            newspaper (Volozhin)
            "Vmeste" newspaper of the Belarusian Society of Disabled People
            "Regionalnaya" newspaper (Minsk region)
            "Minskaya prauda" newspaper (Minsk region)

            Communication agency Ezerin'COM
            Belarusian news agency (BelTA)
            Belarusian information company "Belapan"
            First national radio channel
            Green portal (greenbelarus.info)
            Belarus website about wild nature wildlife.by
            Social news, analytics and communication agency socnews.by
            Online magazine 34mag.net
            "Nastaunickaya" newspaper
            Green Network partnership
            IPO Ecopartnership
            Centre for Ecological Solutions
            Office for European Expertise and Communications
            Curious to know more about us?
            E-mail: tsiukhai@eu-belarus.net
            +375 17 280 13 30
            +375 280 41 35
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            Infographics credits:
            Energy efficient Bulb by Vandana agrawal from the Noun Project
            transport by Visual Glow from the Noun Project
            wheelchair access by Luis Prado from the Noun Project
            people by Wilson Joseph from the Noun Project
            City by Alina Oleynik from the Noun Project
            transfer by Bryttni Wolfe from the Noun Project
            Made on
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