Over the course of three days, local authorities, civil society representatives, development partners, and community leaders came together to chart a path toward a more resilient future for Belize City. Through a series of participatory workshops under the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative, the city has taken an important first step in developing its Local Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Resilience Action Plan.
With technical guidance from UNDRR, and in collaboration with UN Women and the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Belize, the workshops marked a milestone in localizing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and advancing commitments made under the MCR2030 initiative, which Belize City formally joined earlier this year.
This effort also builds on the momentum of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative, which began earlier this year through Belize’s First National Consultative workshop, which assessed the country’s early warning systems and identified critical gaps and opportunities. The MCR2030 workshop continues this trajectory by translating national priorities into local action—advancing people-centered, multi-hazard early warning systems that reflect the needs of communities on the frontlines.
Upcoming sessions will further explore the EW4All initiative through Belize’s Second National consultative workshop, held the following week to define a national implementation roadmap for closing the gaps validated earlier this year. Belize City will also engage with the MCR2030 Resilience Scorecard Addendum for Gender Equality and Intersectionality, ensuring that the final resilience plan is gender-responsive, inclusive, and equitable. Together, these actions will culminate in a comprehensive local resilience plan that reflects the priorities and strengths of the community.
These achievements are made possible thanks to the collaboration of our dedicated partners: United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office in Belize, UN Women, UNDRR, the UN Joint SDG Fund, Belize City Council, CEMO, NEMO, and the MCR2030 network.
Tools for transformation: Scorecards, systems, and inclusion
At the core of the workshop series was the application of three strategic tools: The Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities, which helped assess Belize City’s capacities across ten essentials for urban resilience; the Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems (MHEWS) Addendum, supporting the evaluation of early warning capacities at the local level; and the Disability Inclusion Annex, designed to assess how disaster risk reduction efforts can be more accessible and inclusive of persons with disabilities.
The assessments identified both strengths and areas for improvement — from infrastructure gaps in informal settlements to the absence of comprehensive risk data, especially in socio-economically marginalized communities. Participants stressed the importance of equitable access to early warning systems, the enforcement of building codes, and risk-informed urban planning.
Angela L. Davis, Planning and Coordination Specialist for Barbados and the OECS at UN Women Multi Country Office-Caribbean, emphasized the importance of placing inclusion at the center of risk governance: “Creating inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities requires more than infrastructure — it demands intentional design, that is person-centered and inclusive, recognizing the needs and vulnerabilities of those disproportionately at greater risk, which often includes women and girls. In Belize, we are working to ensure that urban planning reflects the needs of all.”
A participatory path forward
Opening the event, his worship Mayor Bernard Wagner underscored the stakes: “This is not an abstract conversation—we live with the realities of climate change and disaster risk every year. These challenges push us to innovate, engage citizens, harness technology, and to put people—especially our most vulnerable—at the very center of planning."
Facilitated group sessions created space for diverse voices, including women, persons with disabilities, civil society and LGBTQ+ organizations. Participants highlighted challenges ranging from the digital divide to cultural barriers in risk communication and discussed practical solutions — such as building trust with underserved communities, leveraging data for evidence-based planning, and ensuring political support at every level.
“Belize is only resilient if all groups are strong and protected,” emphasized Captain Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Coordinator. “We cannot prevent every disaster, but we can ensure our communities emerge stronger and wiser.”
From dialogue to action: The road to a local DRR plan
These workshops serve to inform the Local Resilience Action Plan for Belize City, to be developed in the coming months. The plan will outline clear actions, responsibilities, and indicators for progress, reflecting a shared vision for safe, inclusive, and sustainable urban development. This process reflects Belize City’s vision of a plan derived from participatory action, scientific evidence, and political commitment for resilience.
Offering his support for Belize City’s resilience efforts, Raul Salazar, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Belize, noted:
“This is a moment of learning, reflection, and collaboration. What is being built through this initiative will guide the future of disaster risk governance in Belize City.”
A collective commitment to resilience
This effort is part of the broader Belize Inclusive Resilience in Safe and SMART Spaces Joint Programme, supported by the UN Joint SDG Fund. It aligns with global frameworks including the Sendai Framework, the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, and the New Urban Agenda.
The success of this initiative depends on sustained engagement. As the process moves toward the drafting and implementation of the Resilience Action Plan, continued participation by local stakeholders and support from development partners will be essential.
Belize City has taken its first important step — and set an example of what inclusive, locally driven resilience building can look like.
Originally published by UNDRR.
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
