The U.S. Embassy announced the recipients of the 2018 Central America Regional Security Initiative Economic Support Fund (CARSI-ESF) grants during an award ceremony on Thursday, September 27, 2018. The four grants are valued at a total of $1,261,666 million USD and are focused on good governance programming, specifically strengthening citizen participation and oversight of government, reducing corruption, and improving accountable government service provision. Through the full CARSI program, the U.S. Embassy has committed more than $42 million USD in funding for justice-related, at-risk youth support, good governance and citizen security programs in Belize since 2008.
U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Keith Gilges highlighted how critical citizen engagement is to the democratic process, stating, “It is the only way to influence public decisions so that they address your needs. It is the only way to realistically hold policy-makers accountable. Ultimately, it is the only way to ensure that the next generation gets involved and continues the hard work of running a free nation.”
The 2018 CARSI ESF grantees are:
Humana People to People – Belize
Project: Strengthen emergency and disaster response in vulnerable communities by building capacities and improving collaboration and service delivery in southern Belize
§ The project will enhance the capacity of communities in natural disaster response.
§ The project aims to work in partnership with the Government to conduct baseline surveys, develop the first Multi-Hazard Operation Plans for the country, and identify training as well as materials/supplies needed to aid in strengthening the natural disaster response systems within the 30 vulnerable communities in the Stann Creek and Toledo districts.
§ Humana People to People – Belize will be working with the National Emergency Management Organization.
Love Foundation
Project: Stomping out Corruption and Kicking in Transparency
§ The project aims to work in partnership with the government to develop training modules focused on strengthening transparency, leadership, enhanced governance practices, and accountability for public servants and civil society organizations. These modules will also be used to aid in the development of University curriculum valued at two elective credits providing participants with the tools to change a number of practices within their spaces creating better monitoring and transparency of transactions and services to minimize corruption.
§ Another key component of the project is to develop a youth oriented multimedia public relations campaign to improve awareness on democratic values and anti-corruption.
§ Love Foundation will partner with the Ministry of Public Service and the University of Belize.
Research Triangle Institute International
Project: Improving the Data Ecosystem for Governance Decision Making in Belize
§ Through this project, RTI will partner with CSOs and government agencies to promote interagency networking, provide mentorship, capacity building, and technical assistance focused on collecting and consolidating data sources to support enumeration activities in Belize City for the country’s 2020 census.
§ The project aims to promote wider access to reliable data that can be disaggregated to smaller levels of analysis and microstudies to inform government decision making and improve accountability and service delivery.
§ RTI will be working with the Belize Association of Planners and the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB).
University of Florida
Project: Strengthening Civil Society and Civil Servant Capacity in Belize through Partnership
§ Through this project UF will develop customized training modules for CSOs and civil servants focused on governance practices and organizational management functions and implement a training of trainers program to promote asset-based community development and civic engagement to promote transparency.
§ The project aims to help strengthen collaboration and networking among CSOs and governmental agencies to play a stronger and enhanced role in improving governance systems.
§ University of Florida will partner with the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) and the Ministry of Education
The U.S. Embassy thanks all the CARSI ESF applicants for their thoughtful and innovative proposals. The United States is proud to partner with the 2018 CARSI ESF grantees and looks forward to the great things that these projects will accomplish for the people of Belize.
