Belize and U.N. Sign Five-Year Development Framework

Belize and the United Nations are charting a new course for the country’s future, putting pen to paper on a five-year roadmap designed to tackle some of the nation’s biggest development challenges and opportunities. At a signing ceremony held at the Fort George Hotel today, government leaders and UN officials formally launched the Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2027-2031, an agreement that will guide closer collaboration in areas ranging from social development to economic growth and environmental resilience. Minister of Foreign Affairs Francis Fonseca and United Nations Resident Coordinator Raul Salazar highlighted the partnership as a chance to align national priorities with global expertise, setting the stage for a new chapter of cooperation aimed at delivering tangible results for Belizeans over the next five years.

 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“We gather during the United Nations Week as we celebrate Belize’s longstanding partnership with the United Nations, a trusted and reliable partner. Today’s signing of the multi-country sustainable development cooperation framework, the MSDCF, for the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean for the period 2027 to 2031, is an important milestone for that partnership and for our collective pursuit of the 2030 Agenda. Its theme says it simply, “One Caribbean, One Framework”. Belize was the first country to endorse this framework, and I am proud we are the first to sign it.”

 

Raul Salazar, UN Nations Resident Coordinator,

“Belize is, as we have heard, among the first of the twenty-two countries and territories that are covered by this framework and is the first country signing this framework. We recognize this commitment and the work the government has done to bring Belize’s development prioritize, not only on this occasion, but also taken the principles of what multilateralism, the sustainable development goals, making sure that we know what “no one is left behind” means and bringing this voice in the regional and global forums.”

 

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: