Company A1 and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Belarus have signed a new cooperation agreement aimed at developing joint social initiatives, promoting the principles of sustainable development, and creating equal opportunities for various population groups. The signing ceremony, attended by A1 CEO Helmut Dusa and the head of the UNFPA office in Belarus, Olga Atroshchenko, took place as part of an expert roundtable on the employment of people with disabilities, where A1 acted as the host and an expert speaker.

The new agreement formalizes the parties' intention to continue joint work on implementing projects aimed at expanding digital opportunities, developing an inclusive environment, improving people's quality of life, supporting families, and promoting the principles of social responsibility. The document also provides for the exchange of experience and expertise, as well as the development of initiatives that contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals.

Since 2021, A1 and UNFPA have been cooperating in overcoming the digital divide among older people and people with disabilities. During this time, the partners have implemented a number of initiatives aimed at developing digital inclusion and raising the level of digital literacy. As part of the cooperation, informational and educational materials were developed, tested with the participation of target audience representatives, and distributed through social protection system institutions. These include a guide with a circulation of over 20,000 copies featuring simple and accessible instructions on using internet resources and digital services; a series of guides entitled "Smartphone – It's Simple", devoted to the practical use of mobile devices; and a digital literacy guide for social workers with recommendations on teaching digital skills and the basics of cybersecurity for older people and people with disabilities.

Moreover, thanks to numerous offline and online seminars as part of the volunteer project #iamonline, employees of territorial social service centers, specialists from profile organizations, silver volunteers, and representatives of target groups across Belarus have been able to enhance their knowledge and competencies in digital literacy and the safe use of modern technologies. The new agreement will enable the expansion of cooperation and the launch of new projects that meet current societal needs.

An expert roundtable on the employment of people with disabilities, organized by the UN Global Compact in Belarus and UNFPA, served as a platform for sharing experiences and discussing practical solutions in the field of labor inclusion. A1 acted as the host of the event and presented its own experience in creating an inclusive work environment.

Olga Shafarенко, CFO of A1, spoke about the company's approaches to inclusive employment, the social and ESG projects being implemented to support people with disabilities, and shared practices for building a culture of equal opportunities. During the discussion, participants examined successful cases of labor inclusion and discussed opportunities for further development of cross-sector cooperation in this area.

The signing of the new agreement marked another stage in the development of the partnership between A1 and UNFPA. A1 consistently integrates ESG principles and best international practices into its operations, paying special attention to issues of inclusion, accessibility, and corporate social responsibility. Going forward, the parties plan to continue implementing joint projects aimed at building a more open, sustainable, and inclusive society in Belarus.