[{"bbox": [72, 119, 1157, 279], "category": "Text", "text": "The MIP has a strong transformation potential and will deepen the integration of Belize with Central America. The MIP's priority area 1 supports a prominently green development model of Belize' southern and western border regions that protects and preserves the still intact ecosystems. Priority area 2 promotes Belize's bilateral and regional integration, focusing on important aspects of deepening bilateral relations between Belize and Guatemala. The new government reactivated in 2021 the Joint Commission with Guatemala which works, among other matters, on restarting the Partial Scope Trade Agreement."}, {"bbox": [72, 306, 1136, 332], "category": "Text", "text": "Through MIP 2021-2027, Belize and the European Union align with several EU policy objectives, most importantly:"}, {"bbox": [119, 332, 1157, 438], "category": "List-item", "text": "* The **Green Deal** pillars are common priorities for Belize, the Caribbean and the European Union. Sustainable Cities, infrastructures, environment and natural resources protection, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation are aspects that will be considered under Priority Area 1, providing continuity to the past EDF-11, which contributed already substantially to Green Deal pillars in the Health and Energy sectors."}, {"bbox": [119, 438, 1157, 570], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Priority Area 2 is closely associated to EU policies on jobs, growth and investment by contributing to the reactivation of Belize's Partial Scope Trade Agreement with Guatemala and removing barriers to trade and investment, across the board, including in the framework of the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement, as well as identifying potential projects and providing funding which could include EU guarantees to mobilise private investment."}, {"bbox": [119, 570, 1157, 650], "category": "List-item", "text": "* The **GAP III and human rights** priorities for Belize will benefit from the strong advocacy of the National Women's Commission which is the strategic policy advisory body to the government on issues affecting gender equality, equity and women's empowerment."}, {"bbox": [119, 650, 1157, 756], "category": "List-item", "text": "* The EU Council conclusions on **indigenous peoples** address discrimination and inequalities based on indigenous origin or identity. Priority Area 1 of the MIP puts emphasis on equal participation of Mayan and Garifuna communities in the proposed development initiative, revitalisation of indigenous knowledge and design of tailor-made economic opportunities."}, {"bbox": [72, 782, 1157, 1098], "category": "Text", "text": "The new MIP will demand a stronger engagement and capacities from the government of Belize for the construction of a fruitful partnership and efficient management. In past years, a lack of meaningful dialogue on cooperation matters left the country little engaged with the international cooperation agenda. The efforts of the United Nations and the EU in 2018 to establish a donor coordination mechanism were not responded because of little presence of development partners in Belize and a low institutional capacity of the NAO, overloaded with a backlog of contractual procedures from former EDF funding. The government recently proposed to restructure the institutional framework for development assistance which opens new opportunities for a strong national leadership. The proposed GoB Management Service for Externally Funded Projects MSEFP is a first result of this change of mentality and puts the government in the driver's seat for formulating the MIP actions and monitoring implementation, organising multi stakeholder platforms, raising awareness and understanding among a general public audience through strategic communications, and identifying cooperation opportunities at the regional programmes. The present action will support the widened scope of activities with technical and financial resources."}, {"bbox": [101, 1144, 340, 1175], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2. Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [82, 1187, 1144, 1294], "category": "Text", "text": "The traditional institutional arrangement between the EU and the partner country, known as the National Authorizing Office (NAO), is surpassed since the new partnership is widened in scope, complexity and implementation modalities. In Belize, the NAO implemented over the past decade a considerable number of grant contracts and programme estimates in indirect management under both EDF actions and Banana / Sugar Accompanying Measurements."}, {"bbox": [82, 1320, 1144, 1479], "category": "Text", "text": "While NAO had built-up capacities on contract management over past years, MIP 2021-2027 generates new responsibilities as well as obligations for the government and requires different personnel and professional skills. The identification and formulation of actions for both priority areas of MIP 2021-2027 require financial and technical resources which cannot be provided exclusively by the involved government bodies. This refers, on the one hand, to the specific knowledge regarding the EU templates and procedures and, on the other, to the thematic and regional focus of the selected priority areas and relevant studies and analysis to inform actions."}, {"bbox": [82, 1505, 1144, 1638], "category": "Text", "text": "The establishment of an efficient monitoring mechanism for MIP actions, coordination with many and diverse stakeholders as well as negotiation with different public bodies and international partners requires the formation of institutional capacities and the putting on track of efficient coordination mechanisms. The absence of regular donor coordination in Belize is lengthy observed by international partners and efforts must be enhanced in the near future, aiming at coordination, complementarity and synergies among donor community."}, {"bbox": [1051, 1661, 1157, 1685], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 5 of 13"}]