BELMOPAN, Belize – The ministry of the public service, governance, and disaster risk management, through the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO), is hosting a Programme Development Mission aimed at advancing the implementation of the Belize Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Country Work Programme (CWP).
The mission, taking place from November 3–7, 2025, is being led by Dr Nicole Grinage, Disaster Risk Management Expert from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
The visit seeks to strengthen collaboration between Belize and the CDB in support of comprehensive disaster management, and to establish the framework for technical assistance to guide the next phase of the Country Work Programme’s implementation. The mission also includes a series of consultations with national stakeholders at NEMO headquarters in Belmopan.
Henry Charles Usher, minister of the public service, governance, and disaster risk management, accompanied by Rolando Zetina, the chief executive officer, and Daniel Mendez, the National Emergency Coordinator, met with Dr Grinage at NEMO’s headquarters. The high-level engagement reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing disaster risk reduction, enhancing institutional capacity, and ensuring sustainable mechanisms for implementation and monitoring under the Country Work Programme.
Throughout the week, the CDB technical mission will meet with key ministries, agencies, and NEMO’s technical staff to review Belize’s existing approaches to disaster risk financing, capacity development, and programme coordination. Feedback gathered during these consultations will inform the design of a Technical Assistance Paper, which will outline proposed components, expected results, governance arrangements, and sustainability plans for the next stage of the programme.
Belize’s participation in this collaborative process underscores the government’s continued dedication to building national resilience through strong partnerships, evidence-based planning, and strategic investment in disaster risk management.
