Overview : Belize has a total population of 370,300 (mid-year 2015 estimate) of whom approximately 42% are under 25 years of age. Although an upper-middle-income country by World Bank classification, the heavily indebted, highly vulnerable to economic and disaster shocks, and weak national capacity of Belize disguises and denies significant rates of poverty, unemployment, chronic malnutrition, drug abuse and violence as well as other specific conditions that drive the HIV epidemic. The country is negatively impacted by a severe “brain drain” problem, losing many professionals, including health care workers, to other countries. This has serious implications for the provision of adequate health care, which is provided mostly by the Government. Related to HIV/AIDS epidemic, Belize has an estimated adult prevalence of 1.2% for persons 15-49 years, and more than 3,300 people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Young people constitute an important vector to HIV transmission, due to lack of HIV prevention education and Behavioral Change Communication and negative stigma and socio-economic circumstances, causing continued risky sexual behavior patterns. Their vulnerability is further fuelled by the fact that less than half the relevant population benefits from any form of secondary education; half of whom do not finish their study, and only 5% of whom go on to tertiary education. This leaves a large, unreached and unprotected adolescent and youth cadre on the street exposed to associated risk. UNDP was nominated by the Belize’s Country Coordinating Mechanism, (CCM) and approved by the Global Fund to act as the Principal Recipient for the management of Global Fund Round 11 Resources for a HIV/AIDS Project. This project, aims to halt the spread of HIV with a special emphasis on at risk population including young people 15–24 years in Belize. This initiative is part of the national efforts related to the achievement of the MDG 6 focused on halt and start reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country, and a commitment to make a difference in Belize for its young population. It is aligned with the National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS, which applies human rights standards and principles, emphasizes efforts to support most-at-risk groups, and strengthens service providers. It proposes to address key gaps in the national response to HIV/AIDS, and focuses specifically on the most at-risk groups. |