[{"bbox": [100, 86, 1160, 143], "category": "Text", "text": "decision was confirmed by referenda in both countries in 2019 and the case was lodged before the ICJ, where a ruling is expected in 2025."}, {"bbox": [100, 160, 1160, 218], "category": "Text", "text": "With the installation of the Belize-Guatemala Joint Commission, dialogue and relationship between both countries have been strengthened."}, {"bbox": [100, 234, 1160, 375], "category": "Text", "text": "Belize' constitution recognizes the role of civil society as pivotal in the country's pursuit of development, which is reflected in CSO representation in the Senate. The majority of CSOs are engaged in service delivery, some with specific mandates targeting vulnerable groups in the south. In February 2023, the EU launched the development of an EU Roadmap for engagement with Civil Society in Belize, which will further inform the development of EU interventions."}, {"bbox": [100, 393, 1160, 480], "category": "Text", "text": "There is no EU Member State in Belize which reduces opportunities to develop and implement a Team Europe approach in Belize. On the other hand, the prospective cooperation with the European Investment Bank in the context of the MIP 2021-2027 opens up new horizons."}, {"bbox": [100, 543, 357, 575], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [100, 588, 1160, 846], "category": "Text", "text": "The southern region of Belize encompassing the Toledo and Stann Creek districts, where the proposed programme will be implemented, is considered underdeveloped but with a high potential to develop sustainable agriculture, ecotourism, agroforestry and other forest-based and non-timber-based products, and to participate in trade expansion with Guatemala and other Central American Countries. The local populations are mainly Mayan and Garifuna indigenous peoples which constitute 17.4% of Belize's overall population and are among the poorest in the country. The socio-economic situation of these communities is precarious due to unemployment and lack of access to basic services like roads, education, health, water, sanitation, and electricity. The geographic dispersion of the small communities, the topography and land coverage as well as the distances are the main obstacles for the costly investments that are required to reach the population."}, {"bbox": [100, 862, 1160, 1120], "category": "Text", "text": "Access to land in the Toledo district is governed by customary land rights. Following the response to the recognition⁸ of Maya customary land tenure in the entire Toledo district by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), in January 2021 the Government created for the first time an Office of the Commissioner for Indigenous People's Affairs under the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples Affairs, that in 2022 started the application of a recently developed national Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) Protocol which now imposes a consultation procedure to all projects to be established within the Indigenous communities in the south, in order to obtain consent for the same. This requirement extends to development projects funded by donors. Overall, progress in the implementation of the protocol consultations and in obtaining consent of the indigenous populations remain slow due to the lack of capacities from all parties involved."}, {"bbox": [100, 1136, 1160, 1337], "category": "Text", "text": "Agriculture, which is the mainstay of local populations, has a low productivity due to the lack of development planning, weak administration support and advisory services and due to the absence of financial services. Local communities encounter difficulties to access the market and food value chains. Linkages to tourism, the green economy, climate-smart options, business development, access to financing and credit, access to water are relevant issues, especially for indigenous groups, women and youth. Addressing these challenges will require strengthening mandates, structures, and services of public institutions, the civil society, establishing an inclusive process for Local Development Planning."}, {"bbox": [100, 1353, 1160, 1515], "category": "Text", "text": "In relation to gender equality, access to employment and entrepreneurship opportunities including access to business mentorship and financing remain an issue in the districts targeted by the Action. 80% of the people employed in the service sector are women, but a high percentage work in the informal economy⁹. The development and provision of incentives to encourage women's entry into the green economy and the circular economy is necessary to promote and achieve equal opportunities. Due to the absence of data available it is foreseen to undertake a sector specific gender analysis for both components of the Action at the inception of the related interventions."}, {"bbox": [100, 1617, 278, 1643], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁸ 2015 CCJ Ruling"}, {"bbox": [100, 1641, 948, 1667], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁹ Statistical Yearbook 2022 edition. Department of economic and Social Affairs, Statistics Division."}, {"bbox": [1051, 1667, 1160, 1692], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 6 of 27"}]