Preliminary planning to shape a new Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for Belize officially got underway during a series of meetings held between the ILO Caribbean Decent Work Team, tripartite constituents, and development partners.
Led by Mr. Dennis Zulu, ILO Caribbean Director, the in-country scoping mission took place between 3 and 7 July 2023 and focused on tailoring the DWCP to key national development issues. Other ILO Caribbean officials who participated in the meetings included Mr. Lars Johansen, Deputy Director; Ms. Ingerlyn Caines-Francis, Senior Programme Officer; and Ms. Pamela Bradley, National Project Officer for Belize.
“The ILO looks forward to working with constituents to develop and launch this new Decent Work Country Programme for Belize. DWCPs serve as the main vehicle for delivery of ILO support to our member States. They represent medium-term goals that guide the work of the ILO in the country in accordance with priorities and objectives agreed upon with governments, trade unions, and employers, using the tripartite approach,” said Mr. Zulu.
The new Programme is a request of the Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government. Belize’s first DWCP was launched in 2009. The ILO’s approach to and guidance on developing DWCPs have significantly evolved since then. What is now referred to as the “new generation” of DWCPs are those which are preceded by Decent Work Country Diagnostics (an assessment of the countries situation in the context of Decent Work Agenda areas) and supported by a very robust, gender-responsive results framework. These considerations were discussed with the Ministry’s team.
The ILO Caribbean delegation held initial talks with senior officials from the Ministry, including the Honourable Minister Oscar Requena; Mr. Valentino Shal, Chief Executive Officer; Mrs. Dominguez-Patt, Labour Commissioner; and Ms. Claire Lamb, Deputy Labour Commissioner.
Subsequently the ILO met with representatives of the Belize Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCCI), Mr. Marcello Blake, President; Mrs. Kim Aikman, Chief Executive Officer; and Ms. Claudette El Ters, Executive Member and National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB), Mr. Luis Luke Martinez, President; Mr. Philip Tate, General Secretary; and Ms. Ella Waight, Director of Gender Affairs.
Building resilience emerged as a recurring theme throughout discussions highlighting the needl to find solutions to unprecedented challenges such as the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of global conflict and vulnerabilities to climate change.
In addition to meeting with tripartite constituents, the ILO’s mission benefited from engagements with resident United Nations agencies such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Meetings were also held with World Food Programme (WFP) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in this regard.
The mission coincided with the closing ceremony of ILO’s Gender Entrepreneurship Together (GET Ahead) Training of Trainers Programme, conducted by the Development Alchemists consultancy led by certified ILO trainers, Lenni George and Nat Clegg. Twenty-one tripartite officials graduated and are now better equipped to provide sustainable business development support to women-owned enterprises inclusive of men and youth.
Following their visit to Belize, the ILO team will continue to work closely with the Government and social partners of Belize to ensure that the next DWCP will contribute to the quality of change envisioned as vital, by the people of Belize.
