Belize communities validate regional value chain study

Toledo, Belize (ILO News) — Community leaders, stakeholders and development partners gathered on 28 January 2026 for a community sensitization session to review and validate the findings of a regional value chain study supported by the EU-funded ILO PROSPER project. The session marked a key milestone in translating evidence into action, while ensuring community perspectives remain central to the design of future interventions.

Conducted over a three-month period, the value chain study initially assessed 14 economic sectors, including aquaculture, horticulture, grains, livestock, spices, tourism, cacao and dried fruits. Through a structured, consultative process combining technical analysis with workshops involving Alcaldes, community representatives, stakeholders and consultants. The study team progressively narrowed the focus to eight sectors, before identifying tourism and agroforestry as the two areas with the strongest potential for sustainable and inclusive economic development.

“We worked closely with community members and stakeholders throughout this process,” explained John Bliek, Specialist in Sustainable Enterprise Development and Job Creation at the ILO Caribbean Office. “Based on technical input and the contributions from communities, it became clear that tourism and agroforestry offer the most promising opportunities for this region.”

The study confirmed tourism’s importance to Belize’s economy, contributing an estimated US$763 million, or 36 per cent of GDP, and supporting approximately 38,000 jobs, equivalent to 18 per cent of total employment. Around 70 per cent of overnight visitors come from the United States, with tourism activity largely concentrated in coastal and island destinations such as Placencia.

Participants discussed how this concentration creates space for inland and rural communities to develop complementary tourism products, particularly community-based, cultural and nature-based experiences that can link into existing tourism flows while generating local employment.

Agroforestry and cacao: Keeping more value local

A central discussion point during the session was value addition within agricultural value chains, particularly for cacao. Drawing directly from the study findings, Bliek illustrated how selling unprocessed cacao beans limits income for producers, while significantly greater value is created further downstream.

“Often the beans, unprocessed, get sold by the producers. They generate some value, but more value is generated further downstream in the value chain, for instance when chocolate is being created,” he said.

Within the broader agroforestry sector, cacao emerged as a priority product with strong potential for local processing, enterprise development and cooperative approaches.

To reflect the diverse realities across communities, the study included detailed assessments of local infrastructure, existing tourism and cacao activities, presence of businesses and cooperatives, available assets and ongoing support programmes. These findings were translated into community scorecards, providing a practical snapshot of each community’s readiness and potential to engage in tourism and agroforestry value chains. These scorecards will guide the Ministry responsible for labour, as well as the project steering committee, in the further prioritization and sequencing of interventions under the PROSPER project.

Validating findings through practical dialogue

The sensitization session emphasized dialogue over presentation, inviting participants to validate findings and discuss how they wished to be involved going forward. Facilitators acknowledged the multiple responsibilities community members balance when considering project participation.

“We have to take into consideration that you all have day jobs, night jobs and weekend jobs as well,” ILO Project Implementation and Monitoring Officer Kylah Ciego noted, underscoring the importance of designing realistic and sustainable engagement models that work for communities.

Next steps: Linking communities and markets

Following the session, the project team will engage Chambers of Commerce and other private sector representatives to explore collaboration opportunities and market access, as well as policy-relevant implications emerging from the study. Governance considerations, including coordination between Village Councils and Alcaldes, will also be discussed to ensure inclusive and effective implementation.

By combining technical analysis, extensive consultation and community-specific assessments, the PROSPER-supported process lays a strong foundation for interventions that align economic opportunity with decent work, value retention and local ownership.

As the project moves from validation to implementation, communities in Toledo are well positioned to capture greater benefits from Belize’s tourism sector and agroforestry potential. Project organizers confirmed their commitment to continued engagement with village representatives as the next phase unfolds.