Trump’s Aid Review Hits Belize CARSI Fundings

Recent reports indicate that local NGOs in Belize were recently notified that CARSI-funded projects would be put on hold as part of a broader foreign assistance review.

The halt in funding follows a series of executive orders signed by the newly inaugurated 47th U.S. President, Donald J. Trump. The orders include a review of various foreign assistance programs, and this includes CARSI.

The review process is reportedly to ensure whether these programs align with the U.S.’s recent national interests.

What is CARSI?

The Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) has been an important and major support towards civil society and good governance in Belize, Panama, and Costa Rica. Since its inception in 2012, the U.S. government has invested over $12 million in programs targeting issues such as crime prevention, transparency, and youth empowerment. CARSI has funded initiatives to address the root causes of criminal behaviour, improve governance, and strengthen the rule of law in these countries.

The most recent CARSI grantees in Belize include:

1. Galen University – Project to strengthen good governance and transparency at the municipal level.
2. UNDP Belize – Project to strengthen governance for transparency and accountability.
3. RET International—Project to Nurture Connections by Empowering Parents, Teachers, and Adolescents for Healthy Relationships
4. Love Foundation – Project to promote youth engagement in political action and advancing integrated municipalities.

A Critical Moment for Regional Cooperation

While the CARSI initiative is not solely responsible for the region’s security challenges, its funding has played a crucial role in fulfilling its purpose. Under President Barack Obama’s administration in 2013, CARSI, along with other security investments, helped Central American governments make streets safer, strengthen the rule of law, and protect human rights. The United States took a broad, coordinated approach to fighting transnational crime and improving safety and opportunities for people across the region.

This latest freeze comes on the heels of other significant cuts in foreign aid programs, including the suspension of funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The impact of these cuts on public health and community programs could be severe, with experts warning that halting such assistance could lead to setbacks in progress made against HIV/AIDS and other critical global challenges.

“This is a matter of life or death,” said Beatriz Grinsztejn, IAS President. “It makes no sense to suddenly stop this incredible catalyst of our global progress towards ending HIV as a threat to public health and individual well-being.”