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

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

Since 2021, A1 and UNFPA have been collaborating to bridge the digital divide among older adults and people with disabilities. During this time, the partners have implemented a number of initiatives aimed at fostering digital inclusion and raising digital literacy levels. As part of the collaboration, informational and educational materials were developed, tested with representatives of target audiences, and distributed through social protection system institutions. Among them are the #IAmOnline guide, printed in more than 20,000 copies, with simple and accessible instructions for using internet resources and digital services; the “Smartphone is Simple” guide series, dedicated to practical use of mobile devices; and a digital literacy handbook for social workers, offering recommendations for training digital skills and the basics of cybersecurity for older adults and people with disabilities.

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

The expert roundtable on the employment of people with disabilities, organized by the UN Global Compact in Belarus and UNICEF, became a platform for exchanging experience and discussing practical solutions in the field of labor inclusion. A1 served as the host of the event and presented its own experience in creating an inclusive workplace.

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

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

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