Building Climate Change Resilience and Social Integration of Displaced People in Western Belize

This Lives in Dignity Grant Facility-funded climate resilience and social integration project (January 2022 - December 2024) in Western Belize, implemented by the Government of Belize's Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), addressed the urgent needs of six underserved mixed migrant settlements originally formed after Central American civil unrest, which remained highly vulnerable to climate-related hazards such as flooding, wildfires, and hurricanes while experiencing chronic under-service in basic health, water, and sanitation infrastructure. The initiative pioneered an innovative dual governance model comprising a high-level Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and a Local Project Advisory Committee (LPAC) that successfully linked national policy frameworks with grassroots participation, ensuring alignment with national priorities while facilitating strong community engagement. Key achievements included upgrading water systems for approximately 4,375 residents, constructing a fully equipped polyclinic in Duck Run 1, building three hurricane shelters and rehabilitating two schools as shelters benefiting over 5,900 people, constructing 3 miles of drainage and culvert systems to protect 54 flood-prone households, training 56 volunteers in shelter management and 47 community members in fire management, and establishing sustainable community-led maintenance systems. The project's exceptional success was demonstrated through strong national ownership, with the Government of Belize providing supplemental funding of approximately $375,000 BZD to address global price fluctuations, while integrating all infrastructure outputs into national systems to ensure long-term sustainability and enhanced local resilience to climate-related displacement risks.