Welcome to the United Nations
Context
The #planBelize Medium-term Development Strategy (MTDS) 2022-2026 sets out our ambition to transform Belize into a more democratic, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient society in which all Belizeans must benefit. Belize is committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and continues to invest in the achievement of all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our second Voluntary National Review (VNR) was developed using a whole-of-society approach that respects the contribution of each citizen to national development and reflects our unwavering commitment to the international development agenda.
We acknowledge that our progress towards the SDGs has been challenged by exogenous shocks, limited development financing, debt, climate change, infrastructural constraints and unforeseen events. At the time of the 2017 VNR, for example, there was inadequate cross-sectoral and interministerial planning, collaboration, and coordination to support the targeted implementation of the SDGs. Between 2020 and 2022, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Lisa also necessitated a redirecting of national resources to initiate recovery efforts.
Belize has ensured, however, that strategic mechanisms guide our development ambitions. Our long- and medium-term national development plans, the Horizon 2030: National Development Framework for Belize 2010-2030; and the #planBelize Medium-term Development Strategy (MTDS) 2022-2026, have been designed to support country-wide development across sectors. During the 2023 National Leadership and National SDGs Partnership Dialogues, the Government of Belize further committed to resilience-building, reduced inequalities and poverty reduction, in line with the transformative promise of Agenda 2030 to leave no one behind (LNOB).
Highlights
In 2017, our presentation to the High-Level Political Forum was primarily informed by qualitative data. Conversely, the 2024 Belize VNR has resulted from extensive stakeholder consultations and was informed by qualitative and quantitative data. Our Main Messages will highlight some of our notable achievements across the five pillars of Agenda 2030 and introduce major challenges to our progress.
|
5Ps of Agenda 2030 |
Indicator |
Previous |
Most Recent |
|
People SDG1 SDG2 SDG3 SDG4 SDG5 |
§ Multidimensional poverty |
36.5% 2021 |
26.4% 2023 |
|
§ Proportion of students who complete their primary education within the prescribed time |
93.4% 2017 |
100.6% 2022 |
|
|
Prosperity SDG7 SDG8 SDG9 SDG10 SDG11 |
§ Renewable energy share in the total final energy supply |
30.4% 2017 |
36% 2022 |
|
§ Unemployment rate |
9.3% 2018 |
5% 2023 |
|
|
Planet SDG6 SDG12 SDG13 SDG14 SDG15 |
§ Forest cover under sustainable management - Constant proportion within legally established protected areas |
56.81% 2017 |
56.81% 2020 |
|
§ Degree of integrated water resources management |
20% 2018 |
32% 2023 |
|
|
Peace SDG16 |
§ No. of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population by sex Reported cases: Female |
117 2019 |
77 2023 |
|
Reported cases: Male |
17 2019 |
10 2023 |
|
|
Partnership SDG17 |
§ Foreign direct investment (FDI)/Official development assistance/South-South cooperation FDI/ gross domestic product (GDP) |
1.1% 2017 |
4.9% 2022 |
|
§ Public sector debt to GDP ratio |
78.1% 2017 |
71.4% 2022 |
Challenges
Belize must contend with the inherent vulnerabilities of being a small-island developing State. Challenges in accessing development and climate financing mar our contributions to the SDGs. In the absence of quality data and a standardised, operational, performance monitoring function, there has been insufficient monitoring and reporting on contributions by State and non-State organisations to the SDGs. While we have integrated the 2030 Agenda, including the SDGs, into our national frameworks, the combination of resource constraints and infrastructural challenges limits our capacity to effectively coordinate and monitor its implementation.
Next Steps
Belize remains committed to sustainable development and will actively invest in partnerships and innovation to accelerate our contributions to the SDGs. Our investments will prioritise the LNOB principle, to facilitate inclusive growth and improved living standards for vulnerable and marginalised segments of our population. We will place our peoples at the heart of our efforts to build resilient, inclusive communities and support national prosperity through: food security; the scaling-up of renewable energy; infrastructural development; greening approaches and technologies; poverty reduction; and good governance. To support this trajectory, we will continue to facilitate cross-sectoral digitalisation to strengthen our institutional infrastructure. We will use our carbon trading framework to access international funding for our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and our contributions to the SDGs. We also commit to public-private partnerships and the institutionalisation of the Sustainable Development Unit, for the enhanced monitoring of our progress.
