Latest
Press Release
14 April 2022
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Joint Programme Launched to Support Social Protection and Local Economic Development in Belize
Learn more
Story
23 March 2022
Calling on young change-makers: the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth is looking for the next generation of Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)!
Learn more
Story
23 March 2022
Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship
Learn more
Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Belize
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Belize:
Story
23 March 2022
UNAOC Launches Call for Applications for Young Peacebuilders in Latin America and the Caribbean, 2022 edition
Taking place in Latin America and the Caribbean. The call is open to participants between 18 to 25 years old, from the region, with a strong interest in growing their ability to act as agents of peace in their community, region, and beyond, and to prevent violent extremism through intercultural and interfaith dialogue.
Twenty young women and young men will be selected to participate in intercultural dialogue and peacebuilding experience. They will interact online, through a series of facilitated modules, and in person, during a one-week workshop. After completing the peace education training, participants will act as a force multiplier of the lessons learned through the programme and actively take part in follow-up activities at the community level. At the end of the project, participants are invited for a symposium to share their experience, achievements, and recommendations with a broader audience of practitioners, UN, policymakers, media, and civil society, bringing visibility to their initiatives towards the promotion of diversity and dialogue.
Implemented with the generous support of the Agencia Extremeña de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (AEXCID), and in collaboration with the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY), the programme supports the growth of networks of young peacebuilders who are equipped with the tools to address negative stereotypes, prejudice, and polarization in order to build more inclusive and peaceful societies, tackling the drivers of violent extremism. The long-term aim is their integration in governmental peace processes and policies. It is part of UNAOC’s educational programming for young people, which seeks to enhance the ability of young people and their organizations to foster mutual respect, understanding, and long-term positive relationships between peoples of different cultures and religions.
More details on the programme and eligibility criteria are available here. To apply, click here.
1 of 5

Story
21 March 2022
UN SDG Action Awards Call for Applications and Nominations
It is more important than ever to shine a spotlight on hope and togetherness — and on people making a difference everywhere — especially during this challenging moment we are currently facing. Old models have not delivered and we need new ones to fulfill the SDG promise of what most people want: more inclusive, peaceful and sustainable societies, no later than 2030.
That’s why the UN SDG Action Awards are calling for applications and nominations — for people and initiatives who are flipping the script and rethinking how we live and what progress and development look like.
The UN SDG Action Campaign remains hopeful that we can face current challenges in solidarity and flip division into togetherness, and apathy to action. It is time to react, reset, restart.
- We are looking for initiatives that inspire, mobilize and connect people to drive action towards a more sustainable future on a healthy planet.
- We are looking for individuals who are Changemakers that inspire and empower others through their actions. If you know any of these outstanding individuals, nominate them!
Applications will be reviewed against clear criteria, with winners being selected by a panel of prominent judges. Read all about the categories on our website: sdgactionawards.org.
Applications are open until 1 May 2022. Finalists and winners will be celebrated at a special event held in Bonn, Germany, during the UN General Assembly and the Global Week to #Act4SDGs in September and showcased on UN SDG Action Campaign channels throughout the year.
How to apply
Spread the word — click to tweet
1 of 5

Story
04 February 2022
The kitchen, as the foundation of a new life
For many refugees and displaced people in the Americas and the Caribbean, food represents a way to hold onto their origins and share with their host communities. In From Our Table to Yours: Fusion Cuisine
For Natasha*, cooking has always been a favorite hobby. But one day, that pastime turned into her livelihood after she was forced to flee her native El Salvador to Belize, following threats from gang members.
Natasha, 39, learned to cook as a child, alongside her mother. She continued the enjoyable tradition with her own daughter, until three years ago when the two of them were forced to flee. "The gang members harassed me and my daughter… They wanted [her] to join," Natasha explains, adding that the gang resorted to creative techniques to terrorize mother and daughter. "They even walked on our roof to scare us."
Mother and daughter endured in a constant state of fear until a tragedy hit far too close to home: They learned that a friend's daughter had been kidnapped and killed by a neighborhood gang. It was then that Natasha knew they had no choice but to leave their country, and the two fled with little more than what they could carry in a backpack.
In Belize, Natasha tried to find work as a clerk in a clothing store – a job she had held for years back in El Salvador – but she had no luck. Worried about how she was going to support her daughter, Natasha decided to put the culinary skills she had learned alongside her mother to use and cook for a living.
"I've been fortunate to have found many friends here who have taught me Belizean recipes," says Natasha, who now sells local dishes with a Salvadoran twist, including the most typical Belizean specialty, Rice and Beans.
Her recipe, "chicken with rice and beans", can be found in From Our Table to Yours: Fusion Cooking, a new cookbook published by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, that is available for free download. This dish combines the most emblematic Belizean dish with the seasoned chicken and vegetables that are eaten in El Salvador.
Natasha hopes she and her daughter, now age 16, will be recognized as refugees in Belize so that they can rebuild their lives in peace. "What I love most about Belize is the peace and security that my daughter and I can enjoy here. We walk freely without fear."
Food can be a powerful tool for integration, as it was for Natasha and the 13 other displaced people who have shared their recipes in the Fusion Cuisine cookbook. But for many people who have had to flee, food is also something of constant concern. According to a recent survey by UNHCR, 48 percent of refugees in the Americas report eating only twice a day, while 6 percent of respondents eat only one meal a day.
It was precisely hunger, as well as difficulties in accessing much-needed medicine that pushed Alfredo, 68, to leave Venezuela. For this retired teacher, his monthly pension did not cover even his most basic food needs: The entire pension was enough to buy only a few kilos of rice or a half dozen eggs. Alfredo realized he had no choice but to flee, and a few years ago, he set out for Chile, where his daughter and grandchildren were waiting for him.
Although in many ways he managed to adapt well to his new life in the Chilean capital, Santiago, he found it very difficult to find a steady job. "For many months, I knocked on many doors but there was always some reason not to hire me," he recalls, "because I wasn't young, because I didn't have the right visa, because they believed I didn’t have the strength and many other reasons. I couldn't get a job, and it was very frustrating." This is a challenge faced by many older people who have been forced to start over from scratch in a new country. The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic only made the situation worse.
However, Alfredo is not one to stand idly by. In the midst of the pandemic, he heard that the local parish was looking for volunteers for the soup kitchen, to help prepare hot meals for those in need. He began to volunteer and in the soup kitchen, he not only learned to make many Chilean dishes – such as Italian squash, charquicán, and potato cake – but has also shared a host of Venezuelan recipes.
In Fusion Cuisine, Alfredo shared the recipe for “pabellón criollo,” which combines spring onion, cilantro, red pepper, and plantain.”
“This dish has so many meanings for me – it means Venezuela. When I was a child and they cooked this dish in my house, it made me happy. Today I smell it and I remember that happiness”, explains Alfredo while he cuts, whisks, and fires off jokes in the kitchen.
Each Fusion Cuisine recipe is a mixture of flavors and sensations that combine to represent both displaced people’s host countries and their countries of origin. UNHCR invites you to cook with refugees and share your recipes.
*Names have been changed for protection reasons.
VIDEO: Natasha shares how to make Belizean rice and beans in a step-by-step video. The complete recipe is available in From our table to yours: Fusion Cuisine.
1 of 5

Take Action
23 March 2022
UNESCO Clubs 2022 Worldwide Youth Multimedia Competition
Applications are open for the UNESCO Clubs Worldwide Youth Multimedia Competition 2022. USFUCA, UNESCO Center for Peace, World Genesis Foundation, and WhizJuniors invite youth around the world to take part in this year's Multimedia Competition.
1 of 5

Take Action
23 March 2022
Joint Innovation Challenge 2022
The Challenge aims to support social enterprises (the Companies) registered in UNFPA programme countries to pivot from grant-making models to self-sustaining financial models, and from “doing innovation” to managing it.
1 of 5

Story
23 March 2022
Calling on young change-makers: the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth is looking for the next generation of Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)!
About the ‘Young Leaders for the SDGs’ Flagship Initiative:
On a biennial basis, 17 outstanding young leaders from across various sectors are recognized for their agency, courage and ingenuity in finding lasting solutions to the world’s greatest challenges.
Throughout the two-year term, these Young Leaders will engage young people for the 2030 Agenda, not only through their existing initiatives, platforms and networks but through advocacy opportunities with the United Nations and its partners.
Becoming a Young Leader is a title of recognition from the United Nations for young people who are excelling in their contributions to helping deliver on the SDGs in their communities.
Learn more about our former classes of Young Leaders for the SDGs: 2016 Class, 2018 Class, 2020 Class.
Applications for the 2022 Class are now open and will close on 31 March 2022! Young people from all over the world between the ages of 15 and 29 years are encouraged to apply.
Candidates are selected based on the following criteria:
Leadership – Ability to influence and motivate others
Innovation – Uniqueness and ingenuity
Scalability – Potential to benefit others beyond their current scope of impact
Impact – Measurable outcomes directly linked to their work
Presentation – Inspire and motivate others through storytelling
Other factors that are taken into consideration are:
Achievement – Commitment to promoting and advancing key areas of the SDGs
Influence – Commitment to inclusive and innovative leadership
Integrity – Commitment to core values of the United Nations
Young leaders actively support the following objectives:
Advocate – Advocate for the SDGs in ways most accessible and relevant to young people across different contexts
Engage – Promote innovative ways of engaging their audiences and peers in the advocacy and realization of the SDGs
Build – Contribute to a brain trust of young leaders supporting the UN and partners for key moments and initiatives related to the SDGs
Apply now: https://un.submittable.com/submit/218118/apply-to-be-a-young-leader-2022
1 of 5

Story
23 March 2022
Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship
The Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship was mandated in December 1980 by UN General Assembly Resolution 35/201. Formerly known as the DPI Training Programme for Broadcasters and Journalists from Developing Countries, the programme was renamed in 2003 in honor of Reham Al-Farra, a 29-year-old Jordanian public information officer who was killed in the 19 August 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.
The Fellowship is a unique opportunity for young (22 to 35), working journalists from developing countries and countries with economies in transition to cover the United Nations. Hosted every autumn at UN Headquarters, the programme brings a select group of journalists to New York to cover the opening of the General Assembly for their news outlets.
During the 3-week programme, fellows have an opportunity to attend special briefings, interview senior officials and exchange ideas with colleagues from around the world. In previous years, fellows have met with the UN Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, President of the General Assembly and permanent representatives to the United Nations. The programme also arranges visits to various news organizations, such as the New York Times, Democracy Now! and BuzzFeed.
Since its founding in 1981, the fellowship has been awarded to 611 journalists from 168 countries. Upon completion of the programme, fellows are expected to continue working in journalism and promote better understanding of the United Nations in their home countries. The programme does not provide basic skills training, as all fellows are working journalists.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the RAF Fellowship went virtual for the first time in its history in 2020. A special programme was organized for RAF alumni in commemoration of its 40th anniversary.
2021 VIRTUAL PROGRAMME
Due to the ongoing travel restrictions, the Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship Programme, was held fully virtually, from 20 September to 8 October 2021. Out of this year’s 800 applicants, 19 journalists between the ages of 22 and 35 working in print, TV, radio, podcast and multimedia, were awarded the fellowship. The programme focused on UN issues, such as global health, climate change, refugees, and human rights. The RAF fellows had the opportunity to virtually meet UN officials, including the Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, and Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications.
Over the course of the programme, the journalists produced 86 news pieces in 6 languages: English, French, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Nepali.
Apply now: https://www.un.org/en/raf/application2022
1 of 5

Story
04 February 2022
In Belize, teacher training makes schools safer for children
This includes teachers and school personnel.
But according to Tashera Swift-Myers, a school counsellor who teaches life skills to third- and fourth-year secondary school students at Belmopan Comprehensive School, not everyone is aware of these obligations.
“We might take for granted that people know their roles and responsibilities and the vast majority don’t, especially in the area of mandatory reporting of abuse,” she says. “Some teachers were not aware of the law or that it's their legal duty to report [abuse].”
To close this knowledge gap, the Spotlight Initiative worked in partnership with Pathlight International Belize and UNICEF to digitize a training programme from the National Organization for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NOPCAN) on mandatory reporting of child abuse and human trafficking. It then rolled out training with primary and high school teachers and administrators, with the objective of building teachers’ capacity to report violence and create a supportive and safe learning environment. An online version of the curriculum has made this critical training more accessible throughout the country.
According to UNICEF, 65 per cent of children aged 1-14 in Belize report experiencing physical punishment and many report psychological abuse and aggression from parents and caregivers. Girls and young women may be especially vulnerable to abuse.
"Rather than seeing a child in a classroom as misbehaving, they may see that behaviour as an indication of what is happening at home." - Tashera Swift-Myers, School Counsellor
Supporting teachers to support students
The training aims to build teachers’ resilience, especially when dealing with challenging behaviour in vulnerable children. It also helps them to recognize the different forms of family violence, including violence against women and girls.
“Training like this might change the teacher’s perspective. Rather than seeing a child in a classroom as misbehaving, they may see that behaviour as an indication of what is happening at home. For many children, school is their safe place,” says Ms. Swift-Myers, who also took part in the programme.
Ms. Swift-Myers encounters a range of these issues in her own work.
“[Children] might have a parent in the household who may be aggressive, there might be alcohol or drug abuse, or they may disclose that they were beaten or ignored by their parents. [Other times,] they open up and share that they know a family member or neighbour who may be experiencing abuse in their homes,” she says.
Sometimes, students on campus may recognize their own relationships as unhealthy or controlling.
“It makes a difference knowing that your son or daughter is supported by a teacher who is well informed." - Tashera Swift-Myers, School Counsellor
Responsibility as a teacher and parent
As a mother, Ms. Swift-Myers says knowing that teachers are engaged in this training gives her greater confidence that her children are well cared for.
“It makes a difference knowing that your son or daughter is supported by a teacher who is well informed. If a child goes to school and reports, the teacher will be able to ask the relevant questions to figure out the situation. Knowing that they will be hopefully more empathetic and manage situations a lot better by knowing the signs, makes me feel at ease as a parent.”
In 2021, approximately 1200 teachers and local management personnel at primary and secondary school level were trained to ensure that they can identify and appropriately respond to family violence in Belize. Additionally, with the support from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science & Technology, the training now counts towards professional development credits for teachers.
1 of 5

Story
19 January 2022
PAHO/CDB Launch Doing What Matters in Times of Stress - Illustrated Guide for the Caribbean
It features relatable and simple activities, designed to help people of all ages to cope with adversity and better manage stress.
The guide was launched on Friday, January 14, by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), to answer the call to prioritise mental health service delivery. Mental health services form a key area of the region’s COVID-19 response, particularly because of the many difficulties caused by the pandemic. These include mental pressures associated with job loss, restricted face to face education, violence and illness.
“Unfortunately, many of the existing mental health services have been disrupted because of the pandemic, with people getting less access to counselling, mental health care and even education where needed – these are all sources of stress that we are facing today, and PAHO has consistently called on countries and societies to prioritise mental health in such difficult times,” Dr Renato Oliveira Souza, Unit Chief, Mental Health and Substance Use PAHO/ WHO, advised.
The launch featured a panel discussion with Mr Dean Chambliss, PAHO/WHO Subregional Program Director, Dr Claudina Cayetano, Regional Advisor for Mental Health, PAHO/WHO, and Dr Martin Baptiste, Senior Operations Officer, Social Sector Division, CDB.
“Here in the Region of the Americas, depression continues to be the leading mental health disorder, and twice as frequent in women than in men. However, resources allocated by countries to tackle this burden, are often insufficient. Multisectoral collaboration and partnerships are therefore critical to tackle mental health challenges and promote mental well-being,” Mr Chambliss said.
Dr Baptiste corroborated his sentiments and noted that in 2018, CDB and PAHO agreed to deliver a joint project with the aim of building regional capacity for mental health and psychosocial support in disaster management. That project came in the wake of the unprecedented devastation of experience with the passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. “Of course, none of us could have imagined that just two years on, we would be in this unchartered territory that COVID-19 has presented. If anything, the pandemic has underscored the importance of personal resilience. It is also a key requirement for sustainable human development,” Dr Baptiste noted.
The publication is a joint effort that addresses gaps in mental health service support, by promoting access to credible, easy to learn management activities to reduce stress. The guide has five sections that focus on different techniques to cope with stress. Readers can go through the sections of the video library in a self-paced manner, or read through the book, taking time to practice the exercises and use the learning in the time in between.
“The primary preparation is to purposefully allocate time to read the book or listen to the audiobook, and to find time and space to apply the learning and practice the techniques offered – remember that the techniques and actions offered are evidence-based,” Dr Cayetano instructed.
The expert discussion, moderated by Lisa Bayley, Communications Consultant PAHO/ WHO, is available for viewing on PAHO Caribbean’s Facebook and the Twitter Account.
The guide ‘Doing what matters in times of Stress’ along with other useful mental health tools are available via PAHO Caribbean’s website.
The video exercises are available here: Doing What Matters in Times of Stress: An Illustrated Guide. Adapted Version for the Caribbean - Exercises.
Additional useful information is available here: mental health and psychosocial support.
About the Pan American Health Organisation
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) works with the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of its population. Founded in 1902, it is the world’s oldest international public health agency. It serves as the Regional Office of WHO for the Americas and is the specialized health agency of the Inter-American system.
The PAHO Subregional Program is responsible for providing subregional technical cooperation and to strengthen PAHO’s engagement with the Caribbean Subregional integration mechanisms, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and its various bodies and organs; and to build synergistic partnerships with the subregional institutions such as the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) and the University of the West Indies (UWI), among others. PAHO’s subregional technical cooperation specifically focuses on public health issues which would benefit from economies of scale and for which agreement on proposed collective responses and actions would produce a far greater impact rather than individual country responses. The Subregional Program also plays a role in coordinating among the different PAHO country offices.
About the Caribbean Development Bank
The Caribbean Development Bank is a regional financial institution established in 1970 for the purpose of contributing to the harmonious economic growth and development of its Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs). In addition to the 19 BMCs, CDB’s membership includes four regional, non-borrowing members (Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela) and five non-regional, non-borrowing members (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom). CDB’s total assets as at December 31, 2020 stood at US$3.64 billion (bn). These include US$2.12 bn of Ordinary Capital Resources and US$1.52 bn of Special Funds Resources. The Bank is rated Aa1 Stable by Moody’s, AA+ Stable by Standard & Poor’s and AA+ Negative by Fitch Ratings. Read more at caribank.org
1 of 5

Story
19 January 2022
Resolution 2030: Looking to the New Year
As 2021 comes to an end, it seems as most would take this time to look towards the future. Our accomplishments, goals, and of course our resolutions.
But what about the biggest resolution ever created? The 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Our shared vision of humanity and a social contract between the world’s leaders and the people.
With 17 goals and 169 targets to wipe out poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, all by 2030, it's a to-do list for the people and planet, and a blueprint for success. However, need we not forget, 2020 and 2021 would be remembered as the years of a global health crisis that brought with it immense global suffering.
Thus far in Belize, over 611 persons have sadly passed away due to COVID-19. Thousands more are experiencing the immense pressure of not just a health crisis but a human, economic and social crisis. Especially those more vulnerable such as the elderly, persons in poverty, persons without homes, persons living with family violence, and people on the move, just to name a few.
However, in the darkest times of humanity, we have always been able to persevere. How you might ask? Well, it starts with YOU - by making a practical personal commitment for change.
Have a look at just a few of the many things you can do to make an impact!
Things you can do from your couch
Save electricity by plugging appliances into a power strip and turning them off completely when not in use, including your computer.
Stop paper bank statements and pay your bills online or via mobile.
Turn off the lights. Your TV or computer screen provides a cozy glow, so turn off other lights if you don’t need them.
Report online bullies. If you notice harassment on a message board or in a chat room, flag that person.
Things you can do from home
Air dry. Let your hair and clothes dry naturally instead of running a machine. If you do wash your clothes, make sure the load is full.
Take short showers. Bathtubs require gallons more water than a 5-10 minute shower.
Eat less meat, poultry, and fish. More resources are used to provide meat than plants
Compost—composting food scraps can reduce climate impact while also recycling nutrients.
Buy minimally packaged goods. Take your own bags to the market or store.
Replace old appliances with energy-efficient models and light bulbs
Things you can do in your neighborhood
Shop local. Supporting neighborhood businesses keep people employed and helps prevent trucks from driving far distances.
Let your favorite businesses know that ocean-friendly seafood is on your shopping list. Shop only for sustainable seafood.
Bike, walk or take public transport. Save the car trips for when you’ve got a big group.
Use a refillable water bottle and coffee cup.
Take fewer napkins. You don’t need a handful of napkins to eat your takeout. Take just what you need.
Donate what you don’t use. Local charities will give your gently used clothes, books, and furniture a new life.
Take advantage of your right to elect the leaders in your local community.
Things you can do at work
Give fruits or snacks that you don’t want to someone who needs and is asking for help.
Does everyone at work have access to healthcare? Find out what your rights are to work. Fight against inequality.
Mentor young people. It’s a thoughtful, inspiring, and a powerful way to guide someone towards a better future.
Voice your support for equal pay for equal work.
Lend your voice to talk about the lack of toilets in many communities around the world!
Make sure your company uses energy-efficient heating and cooling technology.
Raise your voice against any type of discrimination in your office. Everyone is equal regardless of their gender, race, sexual orientation, social background, and physical abilities.
Organize a No Impact Week at work. Learn to live more sustainably for at least a week: un.org/sustainabledevelopment/ be-the-change.
Source: The lazy person’s guide to saving the world. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/LazyPersonGuide.pdf
There’s no limit to the practical personal commitments you could do! It’s all just one resolution away.
Let’s all commit to making a change, not just for 2022 but for all our future generations to come.
1 of 5

Press Release
19 April 2022
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Joint Programme Launched to Support Social Protection and Local Economic Development in Belize
This launch signified a major achievement for the Government of Belize as the programme factors in and prioritizes key outcomes outlined in Plan Belize and the Government’s Medium-Term Development Strategy Priority Areas of Poverty reduction and Economic growth. The programme, which will run from 2022-2023, will also accelerate the government’s commitments to the SDGs, through the enhancement of a social protection system and an enabling environment for local economic development.
In her keynote remarks, Hon. Dolores Balderamos Garcia, Minister of Human Development Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, emphasized the need to address the most vulnerable through coordinated partnerships to reduce poverty. She explained, “the SDG Joint Programme builds on the consensus that social protection is a human right; and supports poverty reduction and economic growth as articulated in our Medium-term Development Strategy.” She elaborated on the need and relevance of a Social Protection Floor that establishes a basic set of rights for all Belizeans and lauded the Joint Programme as providing inclusive socioeconomic development as a key component.
Belize has a current debt/GDP of approximately 123% in which the COVID-19 pandemic has had significant social, economic, and political impacts. Additionally, poverty was already high, at 41% in 2009, and is estimated at 52% prior to COVID-19, in 2018, with children being the most affected. Birgit Gerstenberg, the UN Resident Coordinator in Belize, expressed the UN system’s appreciation for the government's commitment as the Joint Programme will “enable economic opportunities, decent jobs, and livelihood opportunities that will sequentially improve the standard of living for the most vulnerable.”
Additionally, Dr. Osmond Martinez, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Economic Development (MED), spoke of the SDG Joint Programme as a complement to the government’s work to redistribute wealth and increase the social protection floor to ensure we leave no one behind. He also highlighted the programme support to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as a pivotal role in poverty reduction and increasing prosperity and equity for all Belizeans.
The launch also provided a platform for discussion to identify immediate next steps and key milestones towards implementation of the programme.
END
For more information, please contact:
Stephanie Daniels, sdaniels@unicef.org | Communications Officer, UNICEF
Aurelio Sho, pdcc.ppu@humandev.gov.bz | Programme and Communications Officer, Ministry of Human Development Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs
1 of 5
Press Release
19 January 2022
PAHO/WHO Belize donate Smoking and COVID-19 posters to the National Drug Abuse and Control Council (NDACC) and Protection of Human Rights of Older Persons booklets to the National Council on Ageing (NCA)
298 booklets promoting the protection of Human Rights of Older Persons were also donated to the National Council on Ageing. These booklets will be used to sensitize the management of residential homes and caregivers within public and private residential homes. Older persons are often vulnerable to abuse and thus it is necessary that persons with the responsibility to ensure the wellness of older persons be knowledgeable with protecting the human rights of older persons.
1 of 5
Press Release
19 January 2022
Government of Belize Signs onto the Regional 2022-2026 United Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework
In his remarks, Foreign Minister Courtenay highlighted the synergies between the framework and Belize’s national development strategies and called for a focus on participatory governance mechanisms to improve development efforts. Ms. Gerstenberg affirmed that this new strategic partnership will help to accelerate action during the next five years on common development priorities.
The 2022-2026 UN MSDCF is the strategic framework that represents the UN’s collective response to addressing the common development challenges of the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. It provides a common platform for development cooperation to Belize that is strongly rooted and linked to national priorities. The framework prioritizes outcomes in the region in four areas: economic resilience and shared prosperity; equality and wellbeing; resilience to climate change shocks and sustainable natural resource management; and peace, safety, justice, and the rule of law.
These outcomes will be pursued in Belize by 19 UN agencies, both resident and non-resident, working together with national and international development partners, including governments, civil society, and private sector.
This is the second generation of this regional framework. Belize is the first of the 18 countries in the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean to officially launch the new UN MSDCF.
1 of 5
Press Release
19 January 2022
PAHO/WHO Belize Donate Personal Protective Equipment to KHMH to Support COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Measures
600 KN95 respirator masks
1,800 face shields
15,000 surgical masks
15,040 surgical gowns
30,000 latex gloves (XS, S, M, ML, L, XL)
The PPEs will be useful in keeping the staff of KHMH safe from COVID-19 as they continue to support the country in its efforts to combat the virus.
1 of 5
Press Release
19 January 2022
PAHO/WHO Belize and the Government of Germany Donate Personal Protective Equipment to SCFB to Support COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Measures
45 boxes face masks (50 masks per box)
6 hand sanitizers (1 gal.)
The PPEs will be useful in keeping the members of The SCFB safe from COVID-19 as they are vulnerable to getting infected and suffer the consequences of the infection.
1 of 5
Latest Resources
1 / 11
Resources
28 December 2021
Resources
28 December 2021
1 / 11