India Supports Infrastructure for Human Development, Health, and Sports in Belize

27/02/2018

L to R at the signing are His Lordship, Mayor Earl Trapp; Ms. Karen Elizabeth Bernard Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP; and Hon. Omar Figueroa, Minister of State within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration.

Representatives of the India-UN Development Partnership Fund today signed an agreement committing $590,000 for infrastructure projects supporting human development, health and sports west of Belize City in the town of San Ignacio.

The infrastructure projects, implemented by UNDP in collaboration with the Government of Belize, will upgrade the Youth Challenge Programme facilities and construct a new San Ignacio Community Exercise, Social Sports, and Women’s Group Feeding Programme Complex.

This project is one of the first worldwide under the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. Managed by UNOSSC, the India-UN Development Partnership Fund supports Southern-owned and led, demand-driven, and transformational sustainable development projects across the developing world. Focusing on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), United Nations agencies implement the Fund’s projects in close collaboration with partnering governments.

Infrastructure improvements under the project will contribute to addressing young male vulnerability to crime and violence, young female vulnerability to early pregnancy, and poor nutrition and lack of fitness opportunities for all ages.

The infrastructure improvements under this project will support:

Infrastructure improvements to an existing campus 21 miles west of Belize City, that will contribute to the implementation of the Youth Challenge Programme and other similar future programmes. and other programs for at-risk youth. This will provide young people with an opportunity to go back to school, and learn a trade, thereby contributing to the social transformation of country; and
The construction of a multi-purpose facility in San Ignacio Town, where the Get Active and Stay Healthy Programme will be housed in a new San Ignacio Community Exercise, Social Sports, and Women’s Group Feeding Programme Complex. This project aims to transform the lives of over 4,000 community members between the ages of 10 and 40 by providing a multi-purpose sports and health facility providing them the chance to play with their peers, be involved in their communities, and improve their health and well-being while simultaneously creating opportunities for income generation for the local community.

The project will contribute toward the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDGs 1) No Poverty, 2) No Hunger, 3) Good Health, 5) Gender Equality, 10) Reduced Inequalities, and 12) Responsible Consumption.

For more information, or to schedule media interviews, please contact: Ms. Ines Tofalo, United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (ines.tofalo@undp.org + 1 917 497 5177).