| Overview : UNDP has supported Belize’s natural resource development pathway for three decades, based on a sustainable natural resource-based economic model anchored in the key sectors: tourism, small farming, forestry and fishing. The country’s management of its natural resource base is innovative and highly effective at environmental management and conservation of biodiversity, with many policies and programs that can be considered best practices to be transferred via south-south collaboration. UNDP will support improved disaster resilience by facilitating community-level disaster preparedness and investment in small local infrastructure projects to minimize climate risk impacts, as well as support to agriculture sector for climate resistant crops better able to withstand flooding, drought, and saline intrusion. UNDP is one of only three international/regional bodies to sit as a member of Belize’s National Climate Change Committee (BNCCC), which was established to provide expert direction for climate change mitigation and adaptation processes in Belize. Under this area of work, UNDP is implementing a funding mechanism for two years, with the funds from the Oak Foundation. This funding complements the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme’s (GEF SGP) Operational Phase 6 (OP6) grant resources at the national scale for protected landscapes/seascapes including the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System – World Heritage Site. With new co-financing from the OAK foundation, UNDP seeks to demonstrate how community-based initiatives can significantly increase the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation in the co-management of globally significant protected areas by working to improve the livelihoods of local communities. Currently, in March 2017 more than $300,000 USD remains to be spent under the Oak Foundation funding, yet most of these funds are not yet committed, due to a general lack of good quality proposals from the potential proponent organizations. Therefore, it was decided to hire a consultant to work with and mentor several eligible proponent organizations to help them produce better proposals, which would be likely to be approved by the GEF SGP National Steering Committee. Furthermore, it is expected that the consultant will provide routine mentorship to Oak/GEF SGP Grantee Partner Organizations. This mentorship includes technical and financial support provided to ensure successful implementation and reporting on the projects to the GEF SGP. |
