[{"bbox": [800, 87, 1164, 137], "category": "Page-header", "text": "and participation in governance and\ndevelopment¹²."}, {"bbox": [94, 192, 223, 218], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## Assumptions"}, {"bbox": [132, 220, 1164, 299], "category": "List-item", "text": "* There is a continuous commitment from the key stakeholders of Belize to the project objectives, including sharing information, harmonising procedures, making relevant policy and regulatory changes and working together."}, {"bbox": [132, 300, 1164, 354], "category": "List-item", "text": "* There is a large acceptance of community groups of the national FPIC protocol to ensure smooth roll out and planning of the FPIC process. Furthermore this is adequately fine-tuned to local land/seascape conditions."}, {"bbox": [132, 355, 1164, 435], "category": "List-item", "text": "* The Belize government will expand the role of an existing project management unit within the MED to ensure the overall coordination through the MRT of the programme whilst embedding its close interactions with the other on going funded rural development Programmes - IFAD, IDB and WB programmes."}, {"bbox": [132, 436, 1164, 516], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Sufficient numbers of relevant staff will be mobilized for the various programme activities and coordinated whilst still working in their institutions for sufficient time so that the skills and knowledge obtained will be properly applied and transferred to colleagues."}, {"bbox": [132, 517, 1164, 571], "category": "List-item", "text": "* All commercial and infrastructures type of activities as identified by the programme will be funded through loans or specific small grants from on-going rural/agricultural/natural resources funds."}, {"bbox": [132, 572, 1164, 649], "category": "List-item", "text": "* The ICJ ruling expected in 2025 will be widely accepted by all stakeholders it affects in both countries and will trigger the full transformational potential of the EU support to border management, regional integration & facilitation."}, {"bbox": [132, 652, 1164, 704], "category": "List-item", "text": "* The Government of Belize is willing to create a whole-of-government Integrated Border Management and coordination structure."}, {"bbox": [132, 707, 1164, 761], "category": "List-item", "text": "* The political-diplomatic process involving Belize and Guatemala progresses and OAS continues maintaining close relations with both governments."}, {"bbox": [132, 763, 1164, 817], "category": "List-item", "text": "* The linkage between the regional programme “Five Great Forests of Mesoamerica” and the action is coordinated effectively."}, {"bbox": [132, 818, 1164, 868], "category": "List-item", "text": "* The Government continues to seek means to pursue regional integration with its Central American neighbour countries."}, {"bbox": [94, 872, 247, 896], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## Lessons Learnt"}, {"bbox": [94, 912, 1164, 993], "category": "Text", "text": "Outcome One – is built on the lessons learnt from the various previous EU funded interventions in Southern Belize (EDF 11, Belize Rural Development Programme, and Banana Accompanying Measures) and the lessons from other IFAD and IDB programmes in the agricultural/rural sector:"}, {"bbox": [104, 1000, 1164, 1104], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Flexibility is important: donors and implementing agencies must ensure that projects can be easily adapted to changing political circumstances and situations on the ground. They must be able to revise objectives and methodologies as the community-based Local Action Groups, Local Action Programmes and Value Chain based initiatives evolve over time."}, {"bbox": [104, 1107, 1164, 1214], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Investments and support to poor and remote areas where the presence of the Government is not fully accepted or is contested (in relation to land ownership by indigenous people and cultural sensitivities) takes time and must first successfully build up trust and understanding before engaging in consistent interventions that can contribute to bridging the development gap and catch-up with the rest of the country."}, {"bbox": [104, 1216, 1164, 1348], "category": "List-item", "text": "* Indigenous People are often not properly considered in the development process as their governance mechanisms, way of understanding and reaction are different. They are usually very dedicated to implement their choices although they cannot compete under modern ways of making business. Their wishes are often neglected. The Local Development Planning is a way to improve their involvement, but it needs also to be a learning path for the IP communities to maintain and develop their indigenous ways of cooperating and coming together."}, {"bbox": [104, 1350, 1164, 1403], "category": "List-item", "text": "* A Government that is not able to deliver services to the population promotes lack of social cohesion, insecurity and radicalisation. Co-management type interventions with CSOs are essential to local led development."}, {"bbox": [104, 1404, 1164, 1511], "category": "List-item", "text": "* The gender perspective is a key and complex element when embedded in a traditional patriarchal gender system, where gender roles are often traditionally projected and accepted. Mainstreaming a human rights based approach, gender equality and non-discrimination is key. Addressing the gender divide but also transgenerational issues between young and old is essential."}, {"bbox": [100, 1616, 1157, 1667], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹² NDICI CSO/2023/442-840 Strengthening civil society participation in democracy through effective, inclusive, good governance reform and oversight."}, {"bbox": [1040, 1667, 1157, 1691], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 15 of 27"}]