Author name: Chalsey Gill Anthony

News & Events

Belize Coastal Resilience Art Contest

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The Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future (Belize Fund) is pleased to announce our Belize Coastal Resilience Art Contest in celebration of International Day of Climate Action. We are encouraging artists and creatives to visually express their understanding of climate change impacts on coastal and marine resources in Belize and propose/demonstrate actionable solutions to build coastal resilience. Duration: September 14th – October 16th, 2023 How it Works: Participants create artwork that illustrates the climate change impact on Belize’s coastal and marine resources and propose practical actions or solutions to build coastal resilience. Submission Styles: Rules and Guidelines: Judging Criteria: Prizes ($BZD): Ages 12-17 Ages 18+ 1st Place: $500 1st Place: $800 2nd Place: $300 2nd Place: $500 3rd Place: $200 3rd Place: $300 Award Announcement: Winners will be announced on October 24th, International Day of Climate Action. Disclaimer: By submitting an entry, participants agree and grant permission for full use by the Belize Fund to be displayed, distributed, reproduced, and created as derivative works of the texts, in whole or in part, in any media currently existing or subsequently developed, for any educational, promotional, publicity, exhibition, archival, scholarly, or all other standard purposes of the Belize Fund’s communication activities and product development related to Belize coastal and marine environment. Additional Resources:

News & Events

Stakeholder Engagement Sessions Fuel Enthusiasm for Ocean Conservation Funding

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In a strategic stride towards bolstering Belize’s marine and coastal environment, the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future (Belize Fund) recently hosted stakeholder engagement sessions across the country. These sessions brought together representatives from diverse sectors, comprising fishing associations and cooperatives to tourism entities, NGOs, and local community advocates, who share a collective commitment towards ocean conservation and the strengthening of Belize’s blue economy. The Aim: Our goal was to spotlight the launch of our 2nd Call for Proposals (CfP) under the Grants Award Program (GAP) 2023 grant cycle which opened 4th August, 2023. Attendees learned of the eligibility criteria, award categories, and the application process. We emphasized the need for project proposals to be aligned with the targeted Thematic Areas of sustainable fisheries, climate resilience, and blue business innovation which contributes to the overarching conservation commitments under Belize’s Blue Bond Loan agreement. Resonating through these discussions was an unwavering resolve towards a more sustainable future. Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts, the Belize Fund’s Executive Director, aptly sums it up: “We can all be stewards of Belize’s invaluable coastal and marine resources. Through the Belize Fund, we’re not only enhancing access to financing but also strengthening Belize’s blue economy and fostering the resilience of our coastal communities.” What we achieved: As we navigated each location, we engaged with a total of 87 participants, representing 16 communities and 56 organizations. Beyond the engagement sessions lies an ambitious roadmap. We journey through our second operational year with a commitment to drive targeted initiatives in outreach and capacity building for greater national impact and working towards a flourishing ocean environment. On the 7th and 8th of September 2023, we facilitated a two-day workshop on “Proposal Writing for the Grants Award Program”. This tailored technical assistance workshop focused on project proposal development and brought together stakeholders interested in sustainable coastal and marine initiatives to build resilient communities. Also in the pipeline is a transformative community mentoring program, poised to empower stakeholders and foster lasting impact and innovation in blue businesses. Sustainable Financing for Marine Conservation The Belize Fund is a trailblazer in sustainable financing for coastal and marine conservation. We stand determined to support and fund initiatives that will ensure a path forward, positioning Belize as a global leader in the realm of ocean sustainability. In our breakthrough year, our 1st CfP of the GAP 2022 grant cycle awarded grants amounting to BZD $3.08 million to six (6) non-government organizations: The Opportunity In the wake of these engagement sessions and the opening of our 2nd CfP, the Belize Fund invited all eligible entities to submit a Concept Paper for funding consideration by August 25th. Entities whose concept papers were accepted were invited to develop a full proposal and submit it by November 3rd for funding consideration. We want to support projects that promote collaborative actions working toward Belize’s vibrant and resilient blue space. You can find comprehensive information on the application process, guidelines, and eligibility criteria at https://belizefund.bz/how-to-apply/. For further inquiries and additional information, please contact the Belize Fund team at projectofficer@belizefund.bz or info@belizefund.bz. Updated on January 24, 2024.

News & Events, Press Release

Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future Announces the opening of the Grants Award Program (Gap) 2023 grant cycle

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                   (Belize Fund Media Release 2023/003) (City of Belmopan, August 4, 2023) – The Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future (Belize Fund) is pleased to announce the opening of the Grants Award Program (GAP) 2023 grant cycle with the launch of its 2nd Call for Proposals (CfP), starting on 4th August and concluding on 3rd November 2023.  About the Call for Proposals The 2nd CfP follows a two-step process which involves preparing a Concept Paper for acceptance before developing a full Proposal. The CfP invites project proposals that focus on coastal and marine areas of Belize, in alignment with three of the Belize Fund’s thematic areas, namely sustainable fisheries, climate resilience and blue business innovation. Furthermore, eligible organizations are invited to submit project proposals under three award categories: The Executive Director of the Belize Fund, Dr Leandra Cho-Ricketts, encourages “All eligible organizations should take advantage of this opportunity to submit their ideas for projects or initiatives that help contribute to a sustainable blue economy for Belize and the conservation of Belize’s coastal and marine resources. Together, we can make a significant impact on the future of our ocean environment.” Additionally, the first grant cycle of the GAP awarded grants amounting to BZD $3.08 million to six (6) non-government organizations. Finally, the deadline for submission of concept papers is 25th August 2023 and full proposals is 3rd November 2023. Interested entities can find comprehensive information on the application process, guidelines, and eligibility criteria at www.belizefund.bz. For further inquiries and additional information, please contact the Belize Fund team at projectofficer@belizefund.bz or info@belizefund.bz. – End – The Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future (Belize Fund) is a private, non-profit Belizean organization, formally incorporated on 8 March 2022 and established to support conservation and climate change adaptation activities in Belize, with a focus on marine resources. With the involvement of relevant stakeholders, the Belize Fund finances and supports initiatives aligned with Belize’s conservation commitments under the Blue Bonds Loan Agreement to ensure a sustainable future for Belize. ### Media Contact: Chalsey Gill Anthony, Communications Officer, communications@belizefund.bz. Updated on January 24, 2024.

News & Events, Press Release

Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future Addresses Concerns and Affirms Commitment to Stakeholders in the Coastal and Marine Communities

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                      (Belize Fund Media Release 2023/002) (City of Belmopan, July 18, 2023) – The Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future (Belize Fund) recognizes the importance of engaging with key stakeholders, including fisherfolks and grassroot communities, and is committed to fostering transparent and inclusive processes that support national and global marine conservation efforts. The Belize Fund acknowledges recent concerns raised by the Belize Federation of Fishers regarding their application submitted in the 2022 Grants Award Program (GAP) grant cycle. During the first GAP Call for Proposals, which took place from December 15, 2022, to January 31, 2023, the Belize Fund received fifteen (15) proposals with a total funding request of BZD $5.7 million. Following a rigorous and impartial evaluation process to ensure soundness, long-term sustainability, and positive impact of projects, six (6) proposals were approved, resulting in BZD $3.08 million grant funding. Although the Belize Federation of Fishers’ application did not meet all the necessary criteria, the Belize Fund encouraged them, along with the other organizations, to reapply after addressing the feedback provided. The Belize Fund firmly believes in the importance of supporting capacity development and building long-term relationships within coastal and marine communities and stakeholders. We extend a cordial invitation to all those interested to participate in our upcoming stakeholder engagement sessions, which will be held countrywide from July 25th to August 3rd, 2023. These sessions aim to define the capacity needs of our stakeholders and develop solutions that enable access to available funding.  Additionally, in an effort to improve the quality of proposals and project management, the Belize Fund will offer a comprehensive training in proposal writing and development. We will also be hosting a Fisher’s Forum in the near future. Stay tuned for more information and updates regarding these events. The Belize Fund welcomes all stakeholders to directly engage with our team to address any concerns or questions they may have. We are committed to ongoing dialogue and collaboration with stakeholders to strengthen their involvement. We value the diversity of voices and are dedicated to working together for the sustainable management of Belize’s coastal and marine resources which are critical to coastal livelihoods. – End – The Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future (Belize Fund) is a Belizean non-profit organization, formally incorporated on 8 March 2022 and established to support conservation and climate change adaptation activities in Belize, with a focus on marine resources. With the involvement of relevant stakeholders, the Belize Fund finances and supports initiatives aligned with Belize’s conservation commitments under the Blue Bonds Loan Agreement to ensure a sustainable future for Belize. ### Media Contact: Chalsey Gill Anthony, Communications Officer, communications@belizefund.bz.

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