The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved a new project aimed at advancing Belize's blue economy. The $32.23 million initiative is designed to enhance the management of coastal and marine resources, improve water supply, and reduce land-based pollution in urban areas.
Belize faces environmental and economic challenges, ranking third among small island developing states in disaster risk. Its barrier reef, crucial to the national economy through tourism and fisheries, has declined due to overfishing and habitat loss. The country's coastal regions are under pressure from uncontrolled urban development, with significant infrastructure gaps affecting water and sanitation services.
The Belize Blue Cities and Beyond Project will address these issues by implementing strategic policy and infrastructure interventions. It aims to create geospatial planning systems that integrate ecological urban planning with nature-based solutions. This includes developing water quality control strategies, a national sanitation master plan, and sustainable fisheries policies.
A key component involves upgrading Belize City's wastewater treatment plant to meet national standards. Additionally, the project will expand water supply in South San Pedro and implement a waste management pilot to promote circular economy investments.
An innovative carbon market development initiative will establish mechanisms for carbon transactions, helping Belize develop high-quality carbon credits for international markets.
The project also focuses on building local stakeholder capacity, including training for climate-resilient planning and gender sensitization.
“This is an important initiative which could have a transformative effect,” said Lilia Burunciuc, World Bank Director for the Caribbean. “By protecting its valuable natural resources while advancing the blue economy, Belize is setting a model for resilience and economic growth—one that is especially relevant for the Caribbean and other small states facing similar challenges.”
Funding comes from various sources: $23.5 million from the World Bank’s International Development Association, grants from the Global Environment Facility ($3.76 million), PROBLUE multi-donor Trust Fund ($4 million), and Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery ($0.96 million).