S.I.B. Receives Vehicles and IT Equipment from UNDP and KOICA

The Statistical Institute of Belize is celebrating a significant boost to its capacity with the official handover of two hundred and ninety thousand dollars’ worth of IT equipment and two brand-new Ford Everest SUVs. This generous donation was made possible through the Enabling of Belize’s Statistical System Project, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme, in collaboration with UNICEF, UNFPA, and the Food and Agriculture Organization. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano with the following story.

 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The Statistical Institute of Belize is essential for shaping policy decisions and understanding the country’s development. They provide valuable data on everything from population and labor force to consumer prices and GDP, giving us a clear picture of Belize’s progress. The SIB, an independent organization, has been actively involved in the Enabling of Belize’s Statistical Systems Project. This initiative also includes the United Nations Development Programme and the Korea International Cooperation Agency.

 

Diana Castillo-Trejo, Director General, S.I.B.

“Secured with the full endorsement of the Government of Belize, this project was carefully designed to address some of the urgent capacity gaps within the SIB and our wider national statistical system.  Over the course of its two-and-a-half-year life, it will provide for the upgrading of equipment and IT systems, the upskilling of SIB staff through numerous scholarships and short training programs, capacity development for our other data producers within the national statistical system.”

 

Earlier today in Belmopan, Michael Lund, the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP, was on hand to present two vehicles and IT equipment to the SIB. Lund mentioned that this donation will significantly boost the institute’s ability to collect data across the country.

 

Michael Lund, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP

“It’s a significant day where we donate about two hundred and ninety thousand Belize dollars’ worth of equipment which includes a lot of IT equipment and these two beautiful vehicles.  I was told by Ms. Diana that this increases the fleet of SIB by infinity because it goes from zero to two and the goal is to have six vehicles in the fleet so all the districts can be covered and it’s an enormously important investment so data can be collected in all the districts in a timely manner.  And this, of course, is part of the larger project of enabling the statistical system in Belize.”

 

KOICA is a key organization set up by the South Korean government to make its grant aid programs for developing countries more effective. They focus on sustainable development, reducing poverty, and building strong partnerships with developing nations.

 

Sohui Cho, Director, KOICA

“This is one of the many activities under the supervision of the UNDP team that improves the SIB’s resource capabilities and contributes to the overall project goals supporting SIB and other institutions from the Government of Belize to provide relevant, accurate and timely data in support of evidence-based development planning and effective monitoring of national problems.  With these new tools, the Statistical Institute of Belize will also be empowered to accomplish this very important role as the coordinator of the country’s national statistical system as the equipment will enable efficient and fast communication and mobility of officials throughout the territory.”

 

Diana Castillo-Trejo points out that this initiative comes at a time when securing funds for data collection has become tougher than ever worldwide.

 

Diana Castillo-Trejo

“Valued at US$2.7M, this project represents the single largest grant to date for the development of our country’s NSS.  At a time when funding for data is becoming more and more constrained globally, it stands out as an acknowledgement of the critical role that robust data systems play in supporting evidence-based policy making.  The SIB believes firmly that such decisions based on sound information always has the greatest likelihood of achieving positive results for our people.”

 

Isani Cayetano for News Five.