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The EU-funded ILO PROSPER project has moved from planning to action in southern Belize, with field visits and community presentations across Maya villages. These engagements are helping to ground project interventions in lived realities –listening first and building solutions together.PROSPER – Participation, Ownership, and Sustainable Progress for Economic Resilience – is a four-year initiative (2024–2028) implemented by the ILO in partnership with the Government of Belize and funded by the European Union. It aims to strengthen livelihoods and decent work opportunities in 15 Indigenous communities by supporting two priority value chains: tourism and cacao agroforestry.Community voices drive the agendaIn late March 2026, the ILO PROSPER team, led by National Implementation and Monitoring Officer Kylah Ciego, visited communities including San Pedro Columbia, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Pueblo Viejo, Na Luum Ca, Blue Creek, and institutions such as ITVET and the Tu’mil’kin Learning Center.At a community meeting in Blue Creek attended by approximately 30 farmers, women, youth, business owners and village leaders, participants shared candid feedback. Cacao farmers raised concerns about crop disease, limited technical assistance, poor market access, and price fluctuations. Women entrepreneurs highlighted the need for skills training and cooperative development. Community members also called for practical, hands-on training delivered by experienced local practitioners.“The community sees real potential in both tourism and agriculture, especially cacao,” ILO project team lead noted. “But there are significant barriers – financing, organization, and technical capacity – that the project must address alongside local stakeholders.”Respecting Indigenous rightsA distinctive feature of PROSPER is its commitment to the Maya Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) protocol. This protocol, formalized following a landmark 2015 Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling that recognized Mopan and Q’eqchi Maya land rights, requires that the Government and third parties consult with Maya communities before proceeding with initiatives that may affect their land, territory and resources. It establishes that communities should be:Free to make decisions without pressure or coercionPriorly consulted before activities beginInformed through clear, accessible information about the projectAble to give or withhold consent based on their own decision-making processesThe Office of Indigenous Affairs oversees compliance with the protocol. To advance formal consultations, the project has officially requested the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development and Local Government, to engage the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Office to facilitate the FPIC process for ten communities now assessed as ready for project engagement. Culture and resilienceBeyond economic discussions, the field visits coincided with vibrant cultural activities. Team members observed Deer Dance rehearsals and Maya Day celebrations in Blue Creek, underscoring the richness of Maya traditions and local craftsmanship – cultural heritage assets that the project’s tourism component aims to support and promote sustainably.Next stepsThe PROSPER team will continue engagement with farmers, women’s groups, youth and business stakeholders. By combining community engagement, skills development and market support with strong safeguards such as FPIC, the initiative is laying the foundation for resilient local economies that are both culturally grounded and economically viable.