The Government of Belize with the assistance of the World Bank is implementing the project entitled “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) Readiness Project in Belize” with grant funding from the FCPF. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Immigration (MAFFESDI) has been appointed for the overall implementation of the Project with the fiduciary support provided by the Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT). AAE in consortium with the Centre for Applied Development Studies (CADS, Belize), is supporting Belize in its final phase of the REDD+ Readiness Project.

Main tasks

• Finalize Belize’s National REDD+ Strategy;
• Conduct a Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) for the REDD+ Strategy of Belize;
• Develop an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), based on the SESA and associated with the REDD+ Strategy, including additional safeguards instruments, such as Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF), Process Framework (PF) and Indigenous Peoples Planning Framework (IPPF);
• Develop a Safeguards Information System (SIS).

Main outputs

• Report on Drivers of Deforestation and Barriers to Forest Carbon Stock Enhancement;
• National REDD+ Strategy;
• SESA scoping and prioritization reports and final SESA report;
• ESMF associated with the REDD+ Strategy of Belize;
• Safeguards Information System (SIS) online portal based on all other outputs.