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 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.
Facilitate greater exploitation of market access agreements
Enhance market intelligence
Achieve adequate standards and technical requirements for exports
Increased access to export financing
Improved promotion of exports
Clarify areas in which to concentrate investment promotion efforts
Review the incentives regime for attracting investments
Overcome the limitation of small size of enterprises
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
Improve availability of development financing;
Encourage technological adaptation and innovation
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.
Enhance efforts to encourage cooperation among firms
Continue to enhance the provision of Business Development Support
Continue efforts to improve productivity and viability of the sugar, banana and citrus industries (and other traditional sectors)
Engage the private sector in discussing opportunities for expanding traditional agricultural production
Use pilots, demonstrations and research as foundation tools
Increase efforts to identify enterprises with potential to become more competitive
Pursue financing to expand the traditional development loan program
Develop a secure transaction registry
Develop other development financing instruments – venture capital and export financing
Identify and develop activities that can provide significant employment and earning opportunities to the poor and the vulnerable population
Pursue inclusive strategies in the development of the tourism industry
Intensify efforts to raise earnings from employment in order to reduce the prevalence of the working poor
Build institutional capacity to encourage technological adaptation and innovation.
Develop an intelligence framework to support technological adaptation and innovation, including “green technology”
Develop a framework and function for rational assessment of specific applications of technology
Conduct a study on the appropriate green technology options that can be used in Belize in the short and long term
Actively promote the use of identified appropriate green technologies
Design programs to facilitate and incentivize green technology investment
Design disincentives for use of environmentally unfriendly technologies
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
Provide adequate resources to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation to allow B39it to effectively pursue its mandate
Allocate adequate resources for the promotion and marketing of Belize as a tourism destination
Make strong efforts to develop emerging tourism source markets
Increase the level of diversification of the tourism product and engage in proper destination level planning and development
Develop a cultural tourism program
Facilitate putting in place adequate basic infrastructure.
Review options for raising financing for tourism development in the context of the wider development financing needs of Belize
Review options for capacity and skill-building for the development of the tourism industry
Strengthen efforts to raise service standards in the tourism industry
Strengthen linkages between tourism and other sectors including agriculture, and pursue rural development through tourism
Foster inclusive growth in the development of the tourism industry
Develop a comprehensive strategy for increasing agricultural production and productivity
Significantly increase drainage and irrigation infrastructure, both on-farm and off-farm, and develop the necessary information tools
Improve the maintenance of farm access roads and develop new access roads
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
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
Strengthen the agricultural marketing function
Improve support systems and infrastructure to achieve greater exports of agricultural commodities
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
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
Assist farmers, through appropriate mechanisms, to reduce indebtedness and to sustain viability and productivity of farms
Enhance efforts aimed at reducing risk and achieving greater agricultural resilience to weather-related disasters and climate change
Establish adequate skills for the development of agriculture
Mount a program to increase attractiveness of agriculture as an employment option
Build adequate capacity to regulate prices
Review the framework for the regulation and development of the utilities sector
Study the opportunities for reducing informality
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
Continue efforts to improve the efficiency and soundness of the financial system
Improve access to, and reduce the cost of, financing
Study the potential to encourage greater utilization of domestic savings for domestic investment
Transform and modernize financial infrastructure
Monitor and build on pilot initiatives to establish micro-insurance
Maintain the existing primary (highway) and secondary road networks in a good state of repair
Enhance and upgrade the road network based on the recommendations of the NTMP and subject to appropriate feasibility studies
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
Develop a transportation policy
Improve the competitiveness of the sea ports
Improve collaboration with private sector stakeholders to improve management and investment in airport infrastructure
Secure investments in expanding electricity generation capacity
Design incentives to encourage household investment in renewable energy
Promote and facilitate other potential opportunities for the generation of electricity from renewable sources
Improve regulation of the telecommunication sector
Continue efforts towards attaining universal access to potable water
Increase enrolment at the primary level (pursue universal primary education)
Reduce drop-out and repetition rates at the primary and secondary education level
Improve linkages between programs offered and the needs of the economy
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.
Educate and influence young people to change eating habits for improved nutrition
(The specific Actions for NC2.2 are covered in Necessary Condition 1.6)
Commence adjustments to social security contributions to achieve an overall 2% increase over 4 years
Gradually transfer resources from central government to the SSB to cover the costs of the non-contributory pension
Gradually increase the retirement age from 55 to 65
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
Place greater emphasis on investments in liquid financial assets that yield satisfactory returns
Develop and review options for extending social security to cover informal workers and more self-employed persons in a sustainable manner
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of recently launched social protection initiatives and the social assistance framework in general
Improve coordination among stakeholders with responsibility for managing social protection programs and social policy
Evaluate livelihood programs
Strengthen community-driven approaches for the implementation of livelihood programs
Improve the coordination of livelihood programs
Promote sustainable livelihood programs in ecologically sensitive areas
Develop strategies that could simultaneously promote greater labor productivity and better worker compensation
Strengthen the management of key organizations working towards the achievement of strong national identity
Design strategies to change cultural attitudes that may diminish productivity or create barriers to matching available opportunities for work with those who need work
Embed a strong equity focus within line ministry programs, including a broad definition of social inclusion.
Upgrade and sustain national programs aimed at child protection and the elimination of gender-based violence
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
Continue and strengthen implementation of the National Protected Areas Policy and System Plan
Complete and implement the new land use policy incorporating consideration of ecosystem benefits and economic valuation of ecosystems
Complete the establishment of the National Integrated Water Resources Authority and strengthen its capacity to implement its mission
Complete a Water Master Plan, a National Groundwater and Surface Water Assessment, and a Water Vulnerability Profile
Complete an assessment of water supply and related infrastructure needs
Officially establish the National Climate Change Office and strengthen its capacity to implement its mission
Review the utility of developing a comprehensive disaster management plan
Continue mainstreaming climate change considerations into national development planning
Implement the National Climate Resilience Investment Plan (NCRIP)
Continue sustainable management of historical and cultural sites.
Implement the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (ICZMP), including the development of a marine spatial plan
Complete and implement the National Land Use Policy and Integrated Planning Framework
Continue implementation of the Belize City Master Plan
Pursue a polycentric or decentralized development strategy
Complete the Solid Waste Management Plan
Continue implementation of the Solid Waste Management Project (SWMP)
Close dump sites including those at Belize City, San Pedro, Caye Caulker, and San Ignacio/Santa Elena
Develop similar interventions to improve waste disposal within the southern and northern thirds of the country
Develop a legal framework for the disposal of chemical, electronic, medical, and other types of hazardous waste
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
Improve existing legislation to prevent and reduce pollution within our natural environment and communities
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.
Fully implement program budgeting, and seek budget efficiencies and synergies
Continue implementation of other Public Finance Reform initiatives
Strengthen and broaden the Economic Development Council (EDC)
Improve coordination among stakeholder agencies and keep the RESTORE Belize program under evaluation
Increase access to relevant education and training in high-crime areas
Identify sustainable gainful employment opportunities for at-risk youth
Review the potential for conscription as an alternative approach to address youth unemployment
Promote positive social values through social communication and education
Provide adequate basic equipment and training to law enforcement officials
Deploy CCTV cameras to aid with police surveillance
Continue to pursue community policing and promote neighborhood watch programs
Continue ongoing efforts to strengthen and reform the criminal justice system
Prepare a strategy to ensure adequate capacity for prosecution
Continue the provision of incentives to secure legal representation for those on remand due to lack of representation.
Study the feasibility of a witness protection program
Encourage and recognize volunteerism to monitor protected areas
Begin the formulation of a National Migration Policy