This two-year joint programme supports a stronger, coordinated, integrated, shock-responsive, and resilient social protection system in Belize that reaches the most vulnerable, women and children through the development and implementation of the National Social Protection Strategy.
To achieve its outcomes, the programme will strengthen the capacity of national partners in their ability to design and implement social protection programs, specifically those which are integrated with other public policies. To address the core issues of service deprivation and inadequate social protection coverage, the programme will also improve the capacities of the Government of Belize’s partner ministries to expand and deepen social protection coverage. To help those households whose incomes and livelihoods were hurt by COVID-19, the programme will also strengthen the entrepreneurial environment for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises with the ultimate goal of generating greater economic activity on a local scale.
As per the draft “United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean 2022-2026”, the joint programme will contribute to two priority areas:
Priority Area 1: Shared prosperity and economic resilience
Under the overall objective of enhancing economic resilience and increasing shared prosperity, the UN will contribute to two specific outcomes:
- Outcome 1: A more productive and competitive business ecosystem designed to improve people’s standards of living and well-being;
- Outcome 2: The Caribbean has fully transitioned to a more diversified and sustainable economy that supports inclusive and resilient economic growth.
Priority Area 2: Equality, well-being, and leaving no one behind
Under the second priority area, the UN will contribute to two specific outcomes to boost equality, improve well-being, and remove the obstacles that prevent people in the Caribbean, particularly vulnerable groups, from living healthier, more empowered lives.
- Outcome 3: National governments and regional institutions use relevant data and information to guide and inform the design and adopt laws and policies to eliminate discrimination, address structural inequalities and ensure the advancement of those at risk of being left furthest behind;
- Outcome 4: People in the Caribbean equitably access and utilize universal, quality, and shock-responsive, social protection, education, health, and care services.
The Joint Programme aims to support the efforts of the Government of Belize, the UN, and its partners to achieve the following results:
- By 2024, strengthen the resilience of vulnerable and poor groups by establishing a responsive social protection strategy that addresses the minimum living standards needs of people with disabilities, indigenous households, and workers in the informal sector (predominantly women) by facilitating their access to, and benefits from, the Social Protection Floor.
- By 2024, strengthen local economic development (LED) and livelihoods in targeted municipalities, through a gender and youth-sensitive value chain development approach to employment and decent work.
Project Summary
- Duration: 2 January 2022 - 31 December 2023
- Beneficiary Country: Belize
Total Budget: US$ 990,400 - UN Agencies: UNICEF, ILO, WFP
- National Partners: Office of Prime Minister; Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment; Ministry of Human Development, Families & Indigenous People’s Affairs; Ministry of Youth, Sports & E-Governance; Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government; Belize Trade and Investment Development Service; Development Finance Corporation; Social Security Board; National Emergency Management Organization; Statistical Institute of Belize; Municipal and Village Councils
- Reference: BLZ/21/50/UND
- Additional details: Access project dashboard
Originally published by ILO
Note:
All joint programs of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
