Belize and the United States Launch Five-Year Investment in Education and Energy

Press Release, Belize City, September 18, 2026 – The Government of Belize and the United States Government, through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), officially launched implementation of the US$125 million Belize Compact, marking the beginning of the compact’s five-year implementation period.
The milestone was commemorated during a compact launch ceremony at the Belize Biltmore Plaza in Belize City, and featured remarks by Hon. John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize; H.E. André Bauer, U.S. Ambassador to Belize; Mr. Jason Small, MCC’s Acting Vice President of Compact Operations; and Dr. Marcia Bouloy, Executive Director of MCA-Belize.
With the launch, the compact moves from the planning and preparation stage to a five-year implementation period, which will be carried out by MCA-Belize.
The US$125 million grant from the United States Government, through MCC, is designed to unlock growth by addressing two of Belize’s critical economic constraints: challenges in education and the high cost of electricity. The compact will make strategic investments through two major projects: the Education Project and the Energy Project.
Investing in Education and Belize’s Future Workforce
The Education Project will focus on improving learning outcomes and workforce readiness by strengthening secondary education and transforming Belize’s technical and vocational education and training systems.
The project seeks to help more young Belizeans leave post-primary education with the competencies needed to succeed in further education, training and the labour market, including stronger literacy, numeracy, 21st-century skills and certified technical training.
Investments will support improvements in teaching and learning, education quality assurance, student assessment, teacher development and licensing, school leadership, and technical and vocational education and training.
Modernizing Belize’s Energy Sector
The Energy Project is designed to help lower the overall cost of electricity while improving the efficiency and reliability of Belize’s electricity system.
A major infrastructure investment under the project will strengthen electricity transmission to Ambergris Caye, reducing reliance on higher-cost localized emergency generation and supporting growing electricity demand in one of the country’s most economically important areas.
The project will also support reforms to strengthen and modernize Belize’s energy policy and regulatory framework, helping to improve long-term planning, sector governance and system efficiency.
Together, these investments are intended to create benefits that extend beyond the education and energy sectors by strengthening Belize’s human capital, supporting businesses and communities, improving the environment for investment, and contributing to sustainable economic growth.
The Belize Compact is one of the largest grant investments in Belize’s history and represents a shared commitment to creating lasting opportunities for Belizeans.
“MCC and the Government of Belize designed this compact together in the spirit of true partnership. This grant builds upon development priorities in Belize to deliver long-term economic growth for our people.” – PM. John Briceno
The Belize Compact: Empowering Minds, Energizing Belize.