State programs
In 2016, in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of March 23, 2016 № 106 “On state programs and provision of state financial support”, a transition was made to a new system of formation and financing of state programs.
Its goal is to increase the effectiveness of implementation of state programs and consolidation of financial resources to achieve strategic goals and priorities of the country’s socio-economic development in the medium term, the use of the result based approach in the budget process.
Basic principles of the new system:
· state support is provided in the framework of implementation of state programs in the form of 1) reimbursement from the budget for a part of the cost of acquiring technological equipment and spare parts and 2) the provision of loans by JSC “Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus”;
· investment projects are selected on a competitive basis (Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of April 29, 2016 № 347);
· equal access to resources is ensured regardless of the form of ownership.
The list of state programs for 2016 – 2020 was approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of February 23, 2016 № 148 in agreement with the Head of State.
For reference:
The list of state programs was formed in accordance with priorities of socio-economic development of the Republic of Belarus for 2016 – 2020, provided by the Program of Activities of the Government of the Republic of Belarus for 2016 – 2020 (Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of April 5, 2016 № 274) and further enshrined in the Program of Socio-Economic Development of the Republic of Belarus for 2016 – 2020 (Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of December 15, 2016 № 466).
State programs are aimed at innovative, scientific and technological development, informatization of society and development of transport potential, provision of energy and environmental safety, construction and efficient use of natural resources, and development of social sphere (health, education, culture).
The order of formation, financing, execution and evaluation of the effectiveness of implementation of state programs was approved by the Decree of the Head of State of July 25, 2016 № 289. According to the decree, their financing is established as a part of the budget process and are linked to the results of the implementation of state programs.When programs’ activities are financed from local budgets, participation of representatives of local Councils of Deputies is ensured. The selection of activity executors is carried out by customers of programs (budget holders) on a competitive basis. The requirements to the structure of the state program and the content of reports on the results of implementation of the state program are determined by the Decree of the Ministry of Economy of August 19, 2016 № 51.
The methodology for assessing the effectiveness of each state program is determined considering the specifics of its implementation.
In connection with the introduction of new methodological approaches, customer-coordinators began to implement most of state programs in the second half of 2016.
Briefly about state programs (PDF document)
The work on formation and implementation of state programs, increasing their effectiveness is coordinated by the standing inter-ministerial commission on state programs, created by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of October 4, 2016 № 800. This collegial body includes representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance, JSC “Development Bank of the Republic of Belarus” and other government bodies.