Belize holds Poverty Assessment Workshop

By Melissa Bryant
Reporter~SKNVibes.com

~~Adz:Right~~BELMOPAN, Belize – REPRESENTATIVES from a wide a cross-section of government, non-government organisations and civil society attended a Launching Workshop held by the Ministry of Economic Development, Commerce and Industry, and Consumer Protection in preparation of a new Country Poverty Assessment (CPA) last week.

According to Caribbean Net News, this project was facilitated by the Ministry of Economic Development, Commerce and Industry, and Consumer Protection with financial assistance from the Caribbean Development Bank.

The Workshop was held to present the CPA’s methodology and components, highlight some of the issues that will be of greatest importance, obtain stakeholders’ initial thoughts on what priority areas should be addressed by the CPA and how they could contribute to its success.

Minister of Economic Development, Commerce and Industry, and Consumer Protection Erwin Contreras urged all individuals, families, communities, businesses and organisations in Belize to assist in the process by participating in the discussions and consultations.

He also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to working in partnership with all stakeholders.

The overall objective of the CPA is to assess the current conditions contributing to poverty and identify policies, strategies, action programmes and projects that would reduce the extent and severity of poverty in Belize.

The process is being implemented under the auspices of the National Human Development Advisory Committee, which is a multi-sectoral body mandated to provide informed advice to the Belizean government and the general public on socioeconomic policy development with special emphasis on sustainable human development and the elimination of poverty.