Belize Joint SDG Fund Programme convened its 1st meeting of 2023 for Result 2 Task Force Working Group

The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment and the ILO are the co-chairs of this task force working group on strengthening local economic development (LED) and livelihoods in targeted municipalities, through a gender and youth sensitive value chain development approach to employment and decent work.

News | 03 February 2023
The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Joint Programme (JP) Task Force Result 2 Working Group convened its first meeting of 2023 to implement actions and to contribute to accelerate the work of the SDGs identified in Belize by 2030. The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment and the ILO are the co-chairs of this task force working group on strengthening local economic development (LED) and livelihoods in targeted municipalities, through a gender and youth sensitive value chain development approach to employment and decent work. This Task Force Group held its first meeting of 2023 on 02 February 2023 virtually.

This group facilitated the participation of wide range representatives including key Government ministries, development partners, policy makers, and private sector, to generate and engage in more frequent dialogue among these representatives who are promoting and advocating for LED. LED means more than just economic growth. It is promoting participation and local dialogue, connecting people and their resources for better delivery of social services, employment creation, and ensuring a higher quality of life for both men and women. LED interventions are to include the use of private sector development approaches and tools such as value chain development, linkages with microfinance institutions, skills development, institutional capacity-building, and green job. This Joint SDG Fund Task Force Result 2 Working Group will be reaching out to other Government ministries, employer and worker representatives during the project period.
‘The Government of Belize is placing significant importance to the development of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and aligned to the Government’s Plan Belize Medium-Term Development Strategy 2022-2026 and implemented in partnership with stakeholders with the driving force of the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment […]. The agro-tourism sector is emphasized here for honing in on the productive sector.” said Dr. Marcelino Avila, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of the Prime Minister, Belize
The importance of these outcomes within the Joint SDG Fund call for a swift response by all to enhance and support the country to address the socio-economic impacts, while further strengthening the case for a faster and more accelerating progress towards the SDGs.
“The Joint SDG Fund is very timely as Belize is still facing formidable challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and effects of natural disasters that have slowed down Belize’s progress toward the SDGs. The Joint SDG Fund: Building a resilient Belize through universal, adaptive and sustainable social protection, is addressing some of the challenges” said Ms. Gabrielle Hulse, Economist, Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment (Economic Development), Belize
The SDG Joint Fund Task Force Result 2 Working Group members had an engaging and focused meeting. Key agreements were made as well as the approval for the immediate work to commence to carry out research to select two value chain selection with the potential to generate income and employment, and to support the recovery of MSMEs (due to the impacts of COVID-19 and the subsequent economic crisis), with particular emphasis on vulnerable groups, such as women, rural poor, youth, and indigenous populations. It was also agreed that the first validation and value chain selection will be organized for the 2nd week of March 2023.