The Growth and Sustainable Development Strategy (GSDS), 2016-2019 builds on previous documents including especially Horizon 2030: National Development Framework for Belize 2010-2030. This GSDS is the nation’s primary planning document, providing detailed guidance on priorities and on specific actions to be taken during the planning period, including actions that contribute to longer term development objectives beyond 2019.

The GSDS therefore strives to bring economic, social, and environmental policies into synergistic balance, so that policies work well together to produce optimal outcomes. It supports the country in coping with resource constraints, and helps to increase its resilience in the face of a volatile global economy and a changing global climate. It outlines four critical success factors, subsidiary goals that also provide an organizing framework for the underlying objectives and actions.

Both the GSDS and the Horizon 2030 have monitoring and evaluation systems in charge of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in conjunction with the Statistical Institute of Belize. The GSDS will continually prepare a plan of indicators for all levels of objectives present in the plan. The Horizon 2030 will use a results management system.

Vision: "A country of peace and tranquillity, where citizens live in harmony with the natural environment and enjoy a high quality of life”

Conceptos más frecuentes en el plan
Conceptos más frecuentes en el plan
Conceptos ODS en el plan
Conceptos ODS en el plan

Critical Success Factor 1: Optimal National Income and Investment

Intensify efforts to improve productivity and competitiveness, this requires improving the capacity of workers, using better technology, enhancing organizational (operational) allocation, increasing efficiency, and increasing the scale and scope of operations where needed.

Action 1

Enhance coordination of investment promotion

Action 2

Clarify areas in which to concentrate investment promotion efforts

Action 3

Mount specific effort to attract investments

Action 4

Review the incentives regime for attracting investments

Encourage the emergence of new activity, or strengthen the competitiveness of emerging activity

Enhance the competitiveness of established (traditional) major industries including sugar, bananas, and citrus

Support the development of priority sectors including agriculture and agro-processing, tourism and energy

Incentivize the integration of green technologies and sustainable economy innovations into all aspects of economic development

Encourage activity with greater potential to simultaneously enhance output growth and contribute to the more equitable distribution of income (promote growth with equity)

Generally incentivize business development through the tax regime and other means.

Action 1

Enhance efforts to encourage cooperation among firms

Action 2

Continue to enhance the provision of Business Development Support

Action 3

Continue efforts to improve productivity and viability of the sugar, banana and citrus industries (and other traditional sectors)

Action 4

Engage the private sector in discussing opportunities for expanding traditional agricultural production

Action 5

Use pilots, demonstrations and research as foundation tools

Action 6

Increase efforts to identify enterprises with potential to become more competitive

Action 7

Improve the ease of doing business

Action 8

Pursue financing to expand the traditional development loan program

Action 9

Develop a secure transaction registry

Action 10

Develop other development financing instruments – venture capital and export financing

Action 11

Identify and develop activities that can provide significant employment and earning opportunities to the poor and the vulnerable population

Action 12

Pursue inclusive strategies in the development of the tourism industry

Action 13

Intensify efforts to raise earnings from employment in order to reduce the prevalence of the working poor

Action 14

Build institutional capacity to encourage technological adaptation and innovation.

Action 15

Develop an intelligence framework to support technological adaptation and innovation, including “green technology”

Action 16

Develop a framework and function for rational assessment of specific applications of technology

Action 17

Conduct a study on the appropriate green technology options that can be used in Belize in the short and long term

Action 18

Actively promote the use of identified appropriate green technologies

Action 19

Design programs to facilitate and incentivize green technology investment

Action 20

Design disincentives for use of environmentally unfriendly technologies

Action 22

Finalize and approve the National Export Strategy (NES) and coordinate its implementation, together with the National Sustainable Tourism Master Plan, within wider national planning efforts

Action 23

Provide adequate resources to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation to allow B39it to effectively pursue its mandate

Action 26

Increase the level of diversification of the tourism product and engage in proper destination level planning and development

Action 29

Review options for raising financing for tourism development in the context of the wider development financing needs of Belize

Action 32

Strengthen linkages between tourism and other sectors including agriculture, and pursue rural development through tourism

Action 35

Significantly increase drainage and irrigation infrastructure, both on-farm and off-farm, and develop the necessary information tools

Action 37

Enhance the analysis of the availability and ownership of lands suitable for agriculture, classified by the use for which specific areas are most suitable, given land and soil characteristics

Action 38

Enhance research and extension services capabilities, especially with regard to identifying and supporting livestock production, the cultivation of non-traditional crops, and new agro-processing activity

Action 41

Development of infrastructure and enhanced systems to facilitate more efficient agricultural production, processing, and better packaging and handling for export as well as for domestic supply

Action 42

Encourage and facilitate increased cooperation among farmers and communities with regard to production, land preparation, harvesting, transportation, storage, marketing, on-farm irrigation and drainage, sourcing inputs including labor, among others

Action 43

Assist farmers, through appropriate mechanisms, to reduce indebtedness and to sustain viability and productivity of farms

Action 44

Enhance efforts aimed at reducing risk and achieving greater agricultural resilience to weather-related disasters and climate change

Action 2

Review the framework for the regulation and development of the utilities sector

Action 4

Develop proposals and encourage dialogue between the public sector, the private sector, and labor representatives with respect to improving labor incentives and labor market flexibility

Action 5

Continue efforts to improve the efficiency and soundness of the financial system

Action 7

Study the potential to encourage greater utilization of domestic savings for domestic investment

Action 9

Monitor and build on pilot initiatives to establish micro-insurance

Action 1

Maintain the existing primary (highway) and secondary road networks in a good state of repair

Action 2

Enhance and upgrade the road network based on the recommendations of the NTMP and subject to appropriate feasibility studies

Action 3

Improve design specifications for new road construction and major road upgrades in order to reduce future maintenance costs, increase asset life, and reduce environmental impact, subject to overall economic and cost benefit analyses

Action 6

Improve collaboration with private sector stakeholders to improve management and investment in airport infrastructure

Action 9

Promote and facilitate other potential opportunities for the generation of electricity from renewable sources

Action 1

Increase spaces at the pre-primary level

Action 2

Increase enrolment at the primary level (pursue universal primary education)

Action 3

Increase enrolment at the secondary level

Action 4

Reduce drop-out and repetition rates at the primary and secondary education level

Action 5

Improve efficiency of services

Action 6

Enhance targeting mechanisms for financial assistance

Action 7

Increase enrolment at ITVETs

Action 8

Apply ICT in education service delivery

Action 9

Improve the effectiveness of teachers

Action 10

Improve the effectiveness of school leaders

Action 11

Improve school governance

Action 12

Improve linkages between programs offered and the needs of the economy

Action 13

Promote an entrepreneurial culture and inculcate desired social values

Critical Success Factor 2: Enhanced Social Cohesion and Resilience

In line with the Horizon 2030 vision and the emerging Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, Belize will seek to eradicate poverty by 2030 and to achieve more equitable income distribution.

Action 1

Study mechanisms for health care financing

Action 2

Educate and influence young people to change eating habits for improved nutrition

Action 3

Strengthen services to deal with pathologies

(The specific Actions for NC2.2 are covered in Necessary Condition 1.6)

Action 1

Commence adjustments to social security contributions to achieve an overall 2% increase over 4 years

Action 2

Gradually transfer resources from central government to the SSB to cover the costs of the non-contributory pension

Action 3

Gradually increase the retirement age from 55 to 65

Action 4

Amend regulations to remove incentives for self-employed persons to register at an age close to 50 years, in order to minimize contributions necessary to qualify for pension benefits

Action 5

Place greater emphasis on investments in liquid financial assets that yield satisfactory returns

Action 6

Develop and review options for extending social security to cover informal workers and more self-employed persons in a sustainable manner

Action 1

Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of recently launched social protection initiatives and the social assistance framework in general

Action 2

Improve coordination among stakeholders with responsibility for managing social protection programs and social policy

Action 3

Review the social protection framework

Action 2

Strengthen community-driven approaches for the implementation of livelihood programs

Action 3

Improve the coordination of livelihood programs

Action 4

Promote sustainable livelihood programs in ecologically sensitive areas

Action 1

Continue implementation of the DWCP

Action 2

Develop strategies that could simultaneously promote greater labor productivity and better worker compensation

Action 1

Strengthen the management of key organizations working towards the achievement of strong national identity

Action 2

Design strategies to change cultural attitudes that may diminish productivity or create barriers to matching available opportunities for work with those who need work

Action 1

Embed a strong equity focus within line ministry programs, including a broad definition of social inclusion.

Action 2

Upgrade and sustain national programs aimed at child protection and the elimination of gender-based violence

Action 3

Develop a proposal for increasing the participation of women in politics

Critical Success Factor 3: Sustained or Improved Health of Natural, Environmental, Historical and Cultural Assets

Tourism and agriculture, acknowledged to be the bedrock of the Belizean economy, are completely dependent for their sustainability on care of the environment and the integrity of Belize’s ecosystems. Tourism further depends on the quality of Belize’s historical and cultural assets, including archaeological assets.

Belize has already established a wide range of forward-looking environmental policies and programs. During the medium and long term, it will continue developing a scientific, pragmatic and integrated approach to environmental management that ensures the sustainability of its irreplaceable natural resources while also finding pathways to achieving sustainable economic development

With respect to ecosystems, a healthy biodiversity provides a number of natural benefits such as the protection of water resources, nutrient storage, pollution breakdown and absorption, better adaptation to climate change, and resilience to natural disaster and unpredictable events, among others

Action 1

Continue and strengthen implementation of the National Protected Areas Policy and System Plan

Action 2

Complete and implement the new land use policy incorporating consideration of ecosystem benefits and economic valuation of ecosystems

Action 3

Complete the establishment of the National Integrated Water Resources Authority and strengthen its capacity to implement its mission

Action 4

Complete a Water Master Plan, a National Groundwater and Surface Water Assessment, and a Water Vulnerability Profile

Action 5

Complete an assessment of water supply and related infrastructure needs

Action 6

Officially establish the National Climate Change Office and strengthen its capacity to implement its mission

Action 7

Review the utility of developing a comprehensive disaster management plan

Action 8

Continue mainstreaming climate change considerations into national development planning

Action 9

Implement the National Climate Resilience Investment Plan (NCRIP)

Action 10

Continue sustainable management of historical and cultural sites.

Action 11

Implement the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (ICZMP), including the development of a marine spatial plan

Action 1

Complete and implement the National Land Use Policy and Integrated Planning Framework

Action 2

Continue implementation of the Belize City Master Plan

Action 3

Pursue a polycentric or decentralized development strategy

Action 2

Continue implementation of the Solid Waste Management Project (SWMP)

Action 3

Close dump sites including those at Belize City, San Pedro, Caye Caulker, and San Ignacio/Santa Elena

Action 4

Develop similar interventions to improve waste disposal within the southern and northern thirds of the country

Action 5

Develop a legal framework for the disposal of chemical, electronic, medical, and other types of hazardous waste

Action 6

Subject to the finalization of the National Solid Waste Management Plan, analyze the potential for cost recovery with respect to the delivery of waste management services

Action 7

Improve existing legislation to prevent and reduce pollution within our natural environment and communities

Action 8

Control and Reduction of Air Pollution to Improve Air Quality and Ensure a Healthy Environment and increase health of our citizens

Critical Success Factor 4: Enhanced Governance and Improved Citizen Security

The Government of Belize (GOB) will aim to reduce wastage, abuse of government resources, and inappropriate procurement; while generally improving public sector management including budgeting and hiring practices, and accountability mechanisms.

Action 1

Fully implement program budgeting, and seek budget efficiencies and synergies

Action 2

Continue implementation of other Public Finance Reform initiatives

Action 3

Strengthen and broaden the Economic Development Council (EDC)

Action 1

Improve coordination among stakeholder agencies and keep the RESTORE Belize program under evaluation

Action 2

Increase access to relevant education and training in high-crime areas

Action 3

Identify sustainable gainful employment opportunities for at-risk youth

Action 4

Review the potential for conscription as an alternative approach to address youth unemployment

Action 5

Promote positive social values through social communication and education

Action 1

Provide adequate basic equipment and training to law enforcement officials

Action 2

Deploy CCTV cameras to aid with police surveillance

Action 3

Continue to pursue community policing and promote neighborhood watch programs

Action 1

Continue ongoing efforts to strengthen and reform the criminal justice system

Action 2

Prepare a strategy to ensure adequate capacity for prosecution

Action 3

Continue the provision of incentives to secure legal representation for those on remand due to lack of representation.

Action 4

Study the feasibility of a witness protection program

Action 5

Increase the use of alternative sentencing

Action 1

Increase border patrols and border control

Action 2

Encourage and recognize volunteerism to monitor protected areas

Action 3

Begin the formulation of a National Migration Policy