Project Detail

Cooperatives Rapid Response to COVID19 and 2020 Floods in Belize

This project will assist 11 cooperative organizations through direct investments enabling their members to adapt to the changes in climate that have caused recurring floods which have decimated their agricultural production. It will enable them to establish the health protocols and safety equipment required to operate in the Covid 19 environment. The approach to be used will have cooperative members directly involved in securing estimates for the purchase of the equipment and the services to be acquired for their sub-projects. This will transform the project into a capacity building action.
All the participating cooperatives are located in low-income rural communities in the six districts across Belize.

Loading map...

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Belize Enterprise for Sustainable Technology

Country:

Belize

Area Of Work:

CapDev

Operational Phase:

OP7 - Y1 (Jul 20-Jun 21)

Grant Amount:

US$ 100,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 182,000.00

Project Number:

BZE/SGP/OP7/Y1/ICCA-GSI-COVID/2021/06

Start Date:

11/2021

End Date:

12/2023

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Capacity - Building Component

BEST, an NGO established in March 1985, promotes the development of micro enterprises and the promotion of sustainable development for rural and marginalized communities and groups. Over the period of its existence, BEST has successfully implemented scores of projects including five [5] financed by the Global Environmental Facility - Small Grants Programme [GEF-SGP].

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

Between BEST and the Cooperative Department, participating cooperatives will be provided with standardized formats for reporting to their members and the Cooperative Department as is required by law. The Information gathered from the reports, the lessons learned from the activities and the best practice models developed will be shared in periodic meetings between and among the participating cooperatives. This information generated from these reports will also be used in cross group discussions which will be held at least twice during the implementation of the project. These meetings will be organized either in person or virtually as is appropriate.

Project sustainability

Measures put in place to ensure project sustainability are the following: ? Ensured that the cooperatives were able to diversify and engaged in concerted efforts to ensure that they continue to identify economic opportunities for their members/owners. Productive activities were either improved or expanded with a view to include new lines of opportunities if possible. ? Ensured that there is a system in place that promotes savings needed for future investments and maintenance of assets. ? Ensured that members of the cooperatives were trained in Covid-19 protocols, modern business practices and new technology. ? Providing opportunities to expand youth and women?s ability to participate in society and in the economy. ? Advancing good governance practices and elevated member/owner participation within the cooperatives.

Notable Community Participation

Most of the cooperatives have a minimal number of female and youth members. During the development phase of the subproject activities, special effort will be made to recruit women, girls and youth to have an improvement in female participation and planned succession of the leadership of the cooperatives.

Planning non gef grant

Rural Resilient Belize Programme is providing co-financing support to several of the Cooperatives. Following a call for proposals for STAR resources, BEST will be upscaling efforts to 13 new Cooperatives.

Gender Focus

The members of the participating cooperatives will actively recruit new members to enable them to broaden the pool of skills available. Also, active measures will be taken to include at least 30 % of this new membership to be drawn from women and youth in their communities. Where possible, individuals with disabilities will be recruited to perform duties for the cooperatives. The Cooperative Department will design a structured Monitoring and Evaluation tool to provide the members with the ability to monitor the activities on a monthly basis. It will also allow for the conduct of quarterly evaluation(s) of the subprojects during the implementation. Additionally, executive members of the cooperatives will be required to actively participate in the selection of contractors for services; and in the collection of purchase invoices as required by each subproject. This will be a learning tool in basic procurement procedures.

Policy Influence

The project was able to contribute to the agriculture policy in Belize. The policy seeks to ensure the development of agriculture and food sector, in order to enhance the sustainable growth of the sector. It also seeks to create nutrition security, to improve the income of famers and processors, to create employment and to attract private sector investment and participation. The investment in these eleven (11) cooperatives and their ability to improve and increase production allowed for greater results under this policy.

Replication of project activities

Yes, there are definitely plans to continue and expand these project activities. A new project proposal was prepared to seek resources to continue working with some of the cooperatives assisted. Additional cooperatives will be included in the project whom have shown an interest and are performing well. The partnership between BEST and the Cooperative Department will continue.

Project Results

The main benefits of this project were the provision of much needed equipment, infrastructure and supplies to eleven (11) cooperatives throughout the entire country of Belize. This was provided along with training and technical assistance. This investment in infrastructure and human resources allowed the cooperatives to improve and increase production in a sustainable manner. Members of the eleven (11) cooperatives were trained in a number of topics which is now serving their needs. The project assisted at least 300 persons directly including direct members, their families and a portion of their communities. By being in a cooperative, all members had equal status and had access to services from their members.
There was substantial social benefits and business growth and sustainability. More than 70% of participants indicated that one of the biggest benefits of the project was improved quality of their crops and vegetables as well as a larger organic market. They are now able to produce vegetables free of chemicals under the covered structure. At the household level, members were able to consume more nutritious vegetables free of chemicals that can affect their health. Their role in rural development improved and highlighted by working together as a team in a harmonious way. Members are now able to share roles and responsibilities and see each other as stepping stone to being resilient to floods and a pandemic.

List the number of persons whom benefited from the project.
Number of females: 51 directly 255 indirectly
Number of males: 121 directly 605 indirectly
Number of children (M/F): 516 total

+ View more

Back to search results

Countries

Regions

Project Snapshot

SGP Country office contact

Address