EU Launches $16M Projects for Southern Belize Growth, Border Security

The European Union (EU), in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has announced two major initiatives aimed at promoting economic development in southern Belize and strengthening border management systems.

A press release says that the combined value of the projects is EUR 7.5 million (BZD 16 million) with the agreements signed on Friday. It says that these initiatives are seen as a major step toward addressing Belize’s socio-economic challenges while enhancing its security framework.

The PROSPER Project (Participation, Ownership, and Sustainable Progress for Economic Resilience) is a four-year initiative focused on promoting local economic development in the Toledo District. With funding of EUR 4.2 million (BZD 8.9 million), the project aims to build economic resilience, foster entrepreneurship, and strengthen skills development, particularly for women, youth, and rural communities. The ILO will lead this effort, with the agreement signed by Joni Musabayana, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team for the Caribbean.

The second initiative is the Effective and Sustainable Management of Belize’s Western and Southern Borders project, supported by EUR 3.3 million (BZD 7 million) in funding. This project focuses on enhancing border security, trade facilitation, and natural resource protection at Belize’s southern and western borders. Key objectives include developing a National Strategy for Integrated Border Management (IBM), updating conservation plans, and equipping border enforcement and conservation agencies to better protect forests and manage cross-border activities. The IOM will spearhead this project, with the agreement signed by Diana Locke, Head of Office for IOM Belize.

Both initiatives are expected to directly support Belize’s Medium-term Development Strategy 2022-2026, which aims to reduce inequalities and promote sustainable growth. The PROSPER project will target the country’s southern communities, building economic opportunities for groups that are often underserved. The border management project will provide modern tools and training to agencies responsible for cross-border cooperation, trade facilitation, and natural resource protection.