Projects

Strategies and development programmes,Expertise and research work,

Assistance to draft new EU-Belize Country Strategy Paper 2008-2013

Belize

European Commission on behalf of the beneficiary countries

Government of Belize

Belize has been signatory to the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) European Union (EU) Partnership Agreements for over 24 years, with several Lomé Conventions and continuing to the twenty (20) year Cotonou Agreement signed June 23, 2000. Through the various provisions under the respective Lomé Conventions, ACP countries have benefited from non-reciprocal preferential access to European markets, trade protocols for products such as sugar and bananas, and development assistance through the European Development Funds (EDF). The Cotonou Agreement signals a new era of relationship for the ACP-EU partnership. The Agreement mirrors the changing international environment, which requires removal of preferential market access, and the introduction of reciprocity aimed at developing the capacity of ACP countries in trade and for attracting private sector investment. Global objective: To assist the GOB and the EU in the preparation of the Country Support Strategy and National Indicative Programme, 2008-2013. Specific objective(s): 1. A review of critical background documents 2. Undertake extensive and comprehensive bilateral consultations with line ministries, local authorities, executive and legislative bodies, non-state actors, the resident EU Member State and other International Development Partners (IDPs). Explore practical opportunities for joint and/or complementary programming with other IDPs, in particular in the focal areas. 3. Conduct two consultative workshops with EU Members State and IDPs, as well as representatives from GOB and civil society. 4. Draft in collaboration with the Ministry of National Development and the European Commission Delegation, the CSS-NIP 2008-2013 in accordance with the outline and guidelines provided in Annex I. Total EC development assistance to Belize (mainly grants) since Lomé I is over 100 million EUR. This makes the EU the largest provider of grant resources to Belize. Poverty reduction has been the overarching objective of the cooperation under which financing has been provided to Belize for the areas of rural development, infrastructure and agriculture. The framework for the cooperation programme between the GOB and the EU is enunciated in its Country Support Strategy (CSS), and National Indicative Programme (NIP) under the 9th EDF (the 1st financial protocol of the Cotonou Agreement). The GOB-EU 9th EDF CSS/NIP, 2002-2007, has one main focal area, namely Rural Development, with focus on Agriculture. Together € 7.8 million has been reserved for this so-called A-envelope. Resources are also provisionally provided under a separate envelope for emergency assistance, internationally agreed debt relief and instability in export earnings (€ 1 million –the so-called B-envelope). The total amount of the 9th EDF NIP for Belize is € 8.8. The 9th EDF expires on 31st December 2007, and accordingly the implementation of a new Country Support Strategy (CSS) and National Indicative Programme (NIP) should commence on 1st January 2008.

Start date: 2006-05-01

End date: 2006-06-30