Empowering communities through social and economic inclusion in southern Belize

Isolated rural communities in southern Belize struggle to meet basic needs including food security.

The COVID-19 pandemic has especially worsened conditions for underrepresented groups that make up the majority of these communities such as women youth Afro-descendants and Mayan people who have relatively few income-generating or leadership opportunities. The IAF supports community-led solutions to expand economic opportunity.

Our grantee Humana People to People Belize (HPPBZ) is working with community groups in Stann Creek and Toledo districts of Belize to expand income generation opportunities increase access to services engage underrepresented groups such as youth and women to lead community initiatives and strengthen overall community awareness of gender equality nutrition hygiene and natural resource management.

This grant is part of the IAF's Women INvesting in Growth and Security (WINGS) initiative to empower women as business and community leaders and of the IAF's broader COVID-19 response strategy.