Belize a shining example of climate resiliency in the region

Yesterday, we told you about Belize’s selection by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to be a part of a case study based on its aggressive implementation of climate-financed projects. Belize has a very comprehensive portfolio of 15 national and regional readiness projects in various areas and sectors. The Ministry of Economic Development, which is Belize’s National Designated Authority to the (GCF), has made great strides in the rapid and effective implementation of such projects. The Director of the ministry’s Climate Finance Unit, Carlos Pol, explained how Belize was chosen for such an initiative. 

Carlos Pol, Director, Ministry of Climate Finance Unit: “I think for us Climate Finance Unit over all Ministry of Economic Development and the entire Government of Belize we are very honored and privileged to be selected as a country for a case study I mean that speaks a lot for Belize in the sense that people are seeing what we are doing, they are looking at the benefits, they are seeing how we are managing climate finance project so that for us counts a lot. The consultants were here, external consultants were here last week and they had the opportunity to meet with a wide cross sector of stakeholders and at the end of the week they were impressed on the level of readiness that they have that robust because we don’t only focus on one area but we focus on different sectors of the economy and I think that’s what they have been liking about what we do in Belize we don’t just focus on one thing but with the readiness assistance we try to assist as many sectors as we can and build that capacity because we do need that capacity. All the sectors are aligned to what we have on the Green Climate Fund Country Program. I’m not sure if you’re aware but we launched the country program in February which clearly identified the sectors that we’re working, agriculture, food security , coastal areas, fisheries, fire management so we look at a cross variety of sectors that this readiness has been able to support us. We have a few readiness that we have completed, a few that are ongoing but we are on target based on the implementation plan.”