National Plan of Action

THE NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION
for children and adolescents in Belize 2004-2015

Government of Belize with support from UNICEF

TA B L E OF CONTENTS

5 Introduction

6 Chapter 2 - The National Plan of Action
Overall Goals
Overall Principles
Common Strategies

7 Six Main Areas of Attention
8 The Work Plan
8 Education
11 Health
contents
15 Child Protection
19 HIV/AIDS
21 Family
22 Culture

25 Chapter 3 - Resource Mobilization
Guidelines for Resource Mobilization

28 Chapter 4 - Monitoring and Evaluation
28 The Status of Data Collection and
Information Systems in Belize

29 Commitment to Improved Information
Systems

30 A Proposed Institutional Framework for
Monitoring and Evaluating the NPA

31 The Structure of the NPA

32 Guidelines for Monitoring the NPA

33 Guidelines for Evaluating the NPA

34 Annex A - The Working Group

34 Annex B - The Technical Committees

35 Annex C - Technical and Administrative
Support

FOREWORD

In November 2002, we committed ourselves to the establishment of a bipartisan Working
Group to actively engage in a process of achieving consensus on a National Plan of Action
for Children and Adolescents. The objective was to develop a framework to further rational-
ize the delivery of sustainable services to Belizean children and adolescents. On February 14,
2003 we formalized our commitment to the process through the signing of a Memorandum
of Understanding.

We are pleased that the efforts of the bipartisan Working Group have culminated in a com-
prehensive plan which prioritizes actions, on behalf of children, in the areas of education,
health, child protection, HlV/AIDS, family and culture, over the next eleven years.

For over two decades successive government administrations have worked towards ensuring
the wellbeing of children in Belize. Within the framework of our national development agen-
da, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Millennium Development Goals, we
regard the adoption of this National Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents as the most
recent indication of our commitment to build a better Belize for our children.

We wish to express our gratitude to all those persons from the government and civil society
sectors who contributed to the development of this Plan. Special thanks to the representa-
tives from our respective political parties for their hard work and dedication, to the Belize
Council of Churches for facilitating the first part of the process, to the National Committee
for Families and Children for coordination and programmatic support and to UNICEF for
technical and financial support to the process.

While we recognize that the achievement of the objectives of this Plan is the primary respon-
sibility of the Government of Belize, we strongly believe in the obligation of the wider society
and the international community to contribute to its successful implementation.

We therefore urge all sectors of society to embrace the National Plan of Action for Children
and Adolescents and work with us in partnership as we endeavour to safeguard the future.

There is no other alternative but to invest in our children!

Signed this 7th day of September, 2004.

Hon. Said Musa Hon. Dean Barrow
Prime Minister of Belize Leader of the Opposition

1. INTRODUCTION

introduction
Belize has, since its independence in 1981,
signed key international documents, such as the
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the
Dakar Education for All Goals (EFA) 2000, the
Millennium Development Goals (MGD) 2000, the
Outcome Document of the UN General
Assembly Special Session on Children
(UNGASS) 2002 as well as existing National
Policies for Social Development. This National
Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents is
therefore a document that spells out, as a part of
Belize’s international commitments, the national
targets and strategies/actions of the people and
the government of Belize in matters of childhood
and adolescent development.

For many years now, a number of institutions
and organizations have been carrying out pro-
grams and projects that target children and ado-
lescents. There is, however, a need to strengthen
the coordination and thus increase the impact
that these programs have on the welfare of the
target group. The National Plan of Action intends
to identify key programs and to subsequently
promote their implementation through partner-
ships with government and non-government
sectors.

To facilitate the systematic development and
implementation of these policies, programs, and
projects, this 12-year plan contains an ordered
sequence of overall goals, crosscutting themes,
crosscutting strategies, and six main areas of
attention, each with its own objectives, targets,
and strategies specifically tailored to the
Belizean situation. The National Plan also pro-
poses a coordination, monitoring, and evaluation
mechanism that will ensure its timely and suc-
cessful implementation.

Introduction 5

CHAPTER 2
The National Plan of Action

2.0 The National Plan of Action found to be living in poverty, opportunities
The National Plan of Action includes overall that optimize their development and guaran-
goals, principles, common strategies, priority tee their rights.
areas, objectives, targets and strategies, and
actions as presented below. 2.2 Overall Principles
The six principles outlined below are to
2.1 Overall Goals guide the development and implementation
The main goals of the National Plan of of all the policies and programs which form
Action are the following: a part of this plan.

To ensure that all children and adolescents • Due care for, and attention to, the princi-
residing in Belize, irrespective of their legal ples of gender equality
status, live in conditions necessary to
achieve their maximum level of spiritual, • Protection and conservation of the environ-
moral, intellectual, physical, and psychoso- ment
cial development.
• Meaningful and effective participation of
To achieve the fulfilment and implementa- children and adolescents in all stages of
tion of all the rights of children and adoles- the processes of policy development
cents to a happy life, to be loved, and to
have opportunities for their comprehensive • Protection and preservation of the family
development. as a basic unit of society

To consolidate the themes of childhood and • Non-discrimination on the basis of sex,
adolescence as commitments and national ethnicity, religious affiliation, or national
priorities, strengthening national systems of origin
protection in order to offer to this part of the
population, and especially to those that are • Multi-sectoral partnerships

6 The National Plan of Action

2.3 Common Strategies • Health: To provide conditions that ensure
There are six common strategies to be the optimum health of children and adoles-
employed throughout the implementation of cents.
all policies, programs, and projects included
in the Plan: • Child Protection: To safeguard the rights
of children and adolescents, especially those
• Development and effective implementation at risk.
of national policies and programs, both
general and age specific • HIV/AIDS: To combat the spread of
HIV/AIDS and minimize its effects on children
• Research and data analysis to inform the and adolescents.
development, revision, and implementa-
tion of national policies and programs • Family: To promote the right of children
and adolescents to grow up in a nurturing
• Relevant education and training to pro- family environment.
mote the goals and targets set in national
policies and programs • Culture: To provide accessible and afford-
able programs that enable children to
• Coordination and networking between and develop a sense of self and a healthy
among relevant organizations in the public, respect and appreciation for the diverse
private, and civil society sectors culture in Belize.

• Capacity building for implementing organ-
izations in the public, private and civil
society sectors

• Resource mobilization for effective imple-
mentation of national policies and pro-
grams

• Monitoring and evaluation of ongoing poli-
cies and programs

2.4 Six Main Areas of Attention
To ensure that the overall goals are met, the
National Plan of Action singles out six main
areas under which specific objectives, tar-
gets, and strategies are developed. The six
main areas of attention and their specific
objectives are: Due care for,
• Education: To provide accessible and and attention
affordable quality education that equips
students with the knowledge, skills, and
to, the
attitudes for moral, mental, and physical principles
development and self-fulfilment so that
they can become creative and productive of gender
citizens. equality.

Overall principles, NPA

The National Plan of Action 7

The Work Plan: Education
2.5.1 Education
Education is a basic human right. It is a key factor in reducing poverty
and in promoting democracy, peace, tolerance, and development. We
are committed to strengthening the educational system by offering a
variety of options that meet the diverse needs of Belize. The educa-
tion offered must be appropriate, relevant, stimulating; it must also
provide a basis for the development of responsible and productive
citizens.

Objective
To provide accessible and affordable quality education that
equips students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for
moral, mental and physical development and self-fulfilment
so that they can become creative and productive citizens.

Target 1
Accessibility and Affordability
To increase the accessibility and affordability of pre-school, primary,
and post-primary education in Belize.

To increase to a minimum of 50 per cent the enrolment of children
three to five years old in pre-school.

To ensure a 100 per cent enrolment/attendance of primary school-
aged children 5-12.

To increase to 90 per cent the net enrolment rate in post-primary edu-
cation, including vocational/technical education.

To ensure that all children with disabilities have access to relevant
education, with at least 60 per cent enrolment within the regular
school system.

Strategies and Action
Promote the establishment of more pre-schools nationwide.

Provide more primary school placements nationwide.

Provide more post-primary school placements nationwide.

Strengthen the capacity of the Special Education Unit to provide sup-
port to schools nationwide in educating children with special needs.

Develop and enforce a National Education Policy.

Develop and implement programs that allow schools to be more
affordable to students.

8 The Work Plan: Education

Target 2
Quality of Education
To improve the academic performance of all students.

To ensure the relevance and adequate use of the curriculum at all lev-
els of the education system.

To increase the percentage of trained teachers.

To ensure a maximum of 15 to 1 student/teacher ratio at the
pre-school level.

To ensure a maximum of 30 to 1 student/teacher ratio at the primary
and secondary levels.

Review and revise the primary and secondary education curriculum
on a continuous basis to ensure that it is relevant and up-to-date.

Re-orient the PSE to serve as a measurement of school performance
in order to re-structure human and financial resource allocations to
schools in an equitable manner.

Implement a process to certify and monitor schools as “Child
Friendly” institutions.

Strengthen the institutional capacity of the District Education Centres
to carry out their technical assistance, coordination and monitoring
functions.

Develop programs to improve teacher performance.

Implement the School Inspectorate System to monitor education at all
levels.

Document and publicize best practices within the primary and sec-
ondary education system to be adopted by other schools.

Target 3
Repetition and Dropout
To increase the primary and secondary school completion rate.

To reduce to five per cent the repetition rate at the primary level.

To reduce to five per cent the repetition rate at the secondary level.

To reduce to five per cent the dropout rate at the secondary level.


Strengthen the capacity of the School Community Liaison and Security
Program to operate in communities most in need of assistance.

The Work Plan: Education 9

Provide services to children as part of an “at-risk” and abused chil-
dren’s referral network.

Develop programs that support and encourage children to stay in
school.

Increase the age for compulsory education to 16 years.

Strengthen both government and non-government programs that pre-
pare early school leavers at both the primary and secondary school
levels to become re-integrated into the formal school system.

Establish a standardized test to qualify early school leavers for a sec-
ondary school equivalency certificate.

Establish and operate technical and vocational/skills training pro-
grams nationwide.

Target 4
Literacy
To achieve a 95 per cent functional literacy rate for 18 year olds.

Expand and strengthen the national literacy campaign.

Target 5
Gender Equity and Equality
To eliminate gender disparities and achieve gender equity at the pri-
mary and secondary school levels.

Develop education strategies that respond to the gender-specific
needs of both males and females.

Develop a National Education Policy and amend the Education Act
(1991) and the Education Rules (2000) to be consistent with gender
equity at the primary and secondary school levels.

Sensitize all teachers at the pre-school, primary, and secondary levels
on gender issues and the effects on the socialization and develop-
ment of children.

10 The Work Plan: Education

The Work Plan: Health
2.5.2 Health
We are committed to further develop and maintain an affordable and
accessible system of comprehensive health care that addresses the
needs of children and adolescents. Special attention must be paid to
promoting healthy lifestyles as well as providing adequate housing
and a safe and healthy environment.

Objective
To provide conditions that ensure the optimum health of children and
adolescents.

Target 1
Infant and Child Morbidity and Mortality
To increase the number of first prenatal care visits during the first
trimester to 60 per cent.

To increase the number of women who space their children by two or
more years by 15 per cent.

To reduce the incidence of low birth weight (less than 2.5 kg.) to 3.7
per cent of all births.

To reduce the prenatal mortality rate by 20 per cent.

To reduce the infant mortality rate to 14.3/1,000 live births.

To reduce the less-than-five mortality rate to 18.3/1,000 live births.

To reduce the under-five child mortality rate caused by Acute
Respiratory Infections (ARIs) by 15 per cent.

To reduce the under-five child mortality and morbidity rate caused by
diarrhoea by 15 per cent.

To increase the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of congeni-
tal conditions.

To achieve and sustain a minimum of 95 per cent immunization rate
for each of the ten immune-preventable diseases in the under-five
population.

Strategies and Actions
Mainstream ongoing public awareness activities focused on prenatal
and early childhood development issues.

Provide health education and counselling to pregnant women and
their partners through both the public and private health systems.

Fully implement the Safe Motherhood Initiative in Belize.

The Work Plan: Health 11

Strengthen the institutional capacity of the health system to allow
public health nurses and rural health nurses to supervise and monitor
the activities of traditional birth attendants.

Provide comprehensive continuous training for Traditional Birth
Attendants.

Implement and monitor compliance with standards for registering
hospitals and health centres as “Baby-Friendly” institutions.

Establish mechanisms to improve the collection, compilation, and dis-
semination of vital statistics.

Provide 100 per cent of vaccines for the continued implementation of the
child immunization program in all public hospitals, health centres, mobile
health clinics, and private healthcare providers across the country.

Target 2
Nutrition
To reduce the incidence of severe to moderate malnutrition in chil-
dren under one year by five per cent.

To reduce the incidence of severe and moderate malnutrition in chil-
dren one to four years by ten per cent.

To eliminate congenital illnesses and defects caused by micro-nutrient
deficiencies.

Update the national Breastfeeding Policy and amend the Labour Law
to provide legal provisions for the public and private sectors to facili-
tate working mothers to breastfeed their babies.

Strengthen the capacity of the Nutrition Unit to be able to effectively
carry out its research, public awareness, and monitoring functions.

Develop a national information system on the nutritional status of
children.

Develop and implement regulations and protocol for the implementa-
tion of the Food and Nutrition Security Policy (2001).

Facilitate micro-nutrient supplementation.

Provide iron and folic acid supplements to all pregnant women who
attend the prenatal clinics and are in need of supplements.

Continue to monitor the growth and development of all children.

Provide appropriate interventions for addressing the nutritional needs
of children through maternal and child health programs and other
existing mechanisms.

12 The Work Plan: Health

Educate primary and secondary school students on proper nutrition.
Re-introduce and maintain a public awareness campaign on proper
nutrition.

Target 3
Disabilities
To reduce the incidence of disabilities in newborns caused by prenatal
complications.

To increase the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of children with
disabilities.

Develop and implement an effective surveillance system to detect and
monitor babies born with congenital disabilities and/or defects.

Implement a prevention, early detection, and intervention disability
program for children.

Strengthen and expand existing services for children with disabilities
(See Education and Child Protection)

Target 4
Public Health, Hygiene and Vector Transmitted Diseases
To reduce the incidence of malaria to less than 10 per 1,000 children
and adolescents.

To reduce the incidence of classical dengue to less than 1 per 1,000
children and adolescents.

To reduce the incidence of dental cavities in children by 50 per cent.

To reduce the incidence of head lice among children of primary
school age by 50 per cent.

To reduce the incidence of accidents involving children and adolescents.

To increase the accessibility and affordability of a safe drinking water
source to all children and adolescents and their families.

To increase the accessibility and affordability of hygienic sanitation
facilities to all homes.

Strengthen and expand the public awareness component of the
national vector control program.

Continue to implement appropriate interventions to manage the
spread of vector-transmitted diseases.

Provide training for health sector personnel in the detection and
management of vector-transmitted diseases, with a focus on malaria
and dengue.

The Work Plan: Health 13

Ensure that information on public health issues, hygiene, and vector-
transmitted diseases is mainstreamed into the healthy lifestyles cur-
riculum at the pre-school, primary, and secondary school levels.

Develop and implement a public awareness campaign on issues relat-
ed to child safety in the home, at school, and on the road.

Maintain and expand community outreach programs aimed at
improving public health, personal hygiene, and sanitation in homes.

Develop and implement a network and referral system (with empha-
sis on poor and indigent households) to enable access to resources
for adequate housing development and/or maintenance.

Strengthen Water Boards in rural communities to ensure that access to
safe water is maintained and available to children and their families.

Strengthen the Public Health Unit so that they can ensure the provi-
sion of a safe source of water and sanitary facilities at all primary
schools.

Identify and apply appropriate technology, using best practices, to
increase access to sanitation facilities for low-income households.

Target 5
Adolescent Health
To increase the vaccination coverage for rubella among adolescents
to 80 per cent.

To reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy to 15 per 1,000.

To increase the accessibility and affordability of comprehensive
healthcare services targeting adolescents.

Implement an immunization campaign aimed at vaccinating adoles-
cents against rubella.

Establish (teen) centres in each district and in strategic rural commu-
nities for the delivery of comprehensive care and support services to
adolescents, including teenaged parents. (See Education, HIV/AIDS,
and Child Protection)

Develop and implement protocol for the implementation of the Sexual
and Reproductive Health Policy (2002) in all public and private hospi-
tals, health centres, and mobile clinics across the country.

Mainstream adolescent health care programs into primary health care
programs at all public hospitals and health centres and through
mobile clinics.

14 The Work Plan: Health

Target 6
Mental Health
To increase the accessibility and affordability of mental health servic-
es to all children and adolescents and their families.

Develop and implement comprehensive public awareness programs
on mental health issues affecting children and adolescents.

Review and revise mental health policies and legislation to include
provisions for children and adolescents.

Provide training for professionals who are a part of the mental health
service delivery and/or client referral system.

Develop, implement, and enforce protocol for the clinical manage-
ment of sexual violence, domestic violence, and child abuse cases.

Include mental health services for children and adolescents in the
National Health Insurance package.

The Work Plan: Child
Protection
2.5.3 Child Protection
Children and adolescents have the right to be protected from all
forms of abuse, neglect, unacceptable forms of child labour, sexual
and commercial exploitation, trafficking, abduction, violence, and
exposure to threatening situations. We are committed to establishing,
strengthening, and expanding the institutional infrastructure that
ensures these rights.

Objective
To safeguard the rights of children and adolescents, especially those
who are at risk.

Target 1
Abandonment and Abuse
To reduce the incidence of family violence by 25 per cent.

To reduce the incidence of child abuse in all its forms by 25 per cent.

To ensure that a minimum of 90 per cent of children in government
custody receive care in a non-institutional setting.

Strengthen preventive measures and actions at all levels of the edu-
cational system to identify, at an early stage, situations that could
lead to abuse and exploitation.

The Work Plan: Child Protection 15

Amend relevant legislation to make them more effective in address-
ing family violence and child abuse issues.

Develop and implement child protection protocol for all agencies
involved in the care of children.

Standardize and implement procedures for family courts countrywide.

Conduct a comprehensive review of all legislation to standardize the
age definition of a child and eliminate all gender disparities.

Develop and implement a program aimed at tracking perpetrators of
child abuse.

Develop and implement public awareness and education programs
on family violence and child abuse.

Explore the possibility of establishing the office of Ombudsperson for
children.

Strengthen programs aimed at providing non-institutional care for
children who are, or need to be, separated from their families.

Target 2
Child and Adolescent Labour
To prevent and eliminate the worst forms of child labour as defined
by national and international legislation.

Amend the Labour Act to include provisions that address child labour
issues.

Develop and implement protocol and regulations for all social service
agencies to deal with the withdrawal and rehabilitation of children
and adolescents engaged in the worst forms of child labour.

Strengthen the institutional capacity of the Labour Department and
the other relevant social service providers to ensure enforcement of
the Labour Act in relation to the provisions for child labour.

Strengthen programs aimed at the prevention of child labour activities.

Develop and implement public awareness programs addressing child
labour issues.

Target 3
Early Pregnancy and Adolescent Parenthood
To reduce the rate of early pregnancy and adolescent parenthood to
15 per 1,000 births.

16 The Work Plan: Child Protection

Provide health and life skills education to adolescents through both
formal and informal training programs. (See Education and Health)

Provide equal access and support to adolescent mothers and fathers
to continue and complete their education. (See Education)

Target 4
Disabled Children and Adolescents
To promote access to, and opportunities for, education, health, eco-
nomic, and social development services for children and adolescents
with disabilities and/or special needs.

To provide access to rehabilitative services to a minimum of 60 per
cent of children and adolescents with disabilities.

Develop, and implement, policies and legislation for children with dis-
abilities. (See Education and Health)

Strengthen services for early screening, detection, treatment, and
rehabilitation of children with disabilities in collaboration with the
health and education systems.

Strengthen education policies that will lead to the inclusion of chil-
dren with disabilities into the education system.

Establish codes to facilitate access for disabled children and adolescents
to 100 per cent of new and 25 per cent of existing public transportation,
public buildings, educational institutions, and recreational facilities.

Target 5
Social Inclusion
To promote equal access and opportunities for children and adoles-
cents of disadvantaged and immigrant populations to the services
and programs offered to the respective age groups.

Sensitize all service providers on the constitutional right of all per-
sons to non-discrimination and respect, regardless of their beliefs,
customs, language, and ethnicity.

Target 6
Youth Violence and Juvenile Offenders
To reduce the number of children committing offences by 50 per cent.

To reduce the rate of recidivism among child and adolescent offend-
ers by 80 per cent.

Strengthen initiatives to coordinate, facilitate and mobilize resources
for the development and monitoring of policies and programs for the
holistic development of adolescents.

The Work Plan: Child Protection 17

Strengthen and expand programs that build the productive capacity
of adolescents.

Ensure legal provisions for the protection of the privacy of children
and adolescents who come in conflict with the law.

Develop mechanisms that ensure legal representation to all children
and adolescents who come in conflict with the law.

Train all magistrates in child development issues and in all relevant
laws, policies, and programs related to children and adolescent
offenders.

Create, coordinate, and monitor care for children and adolescents
who come in conflict with the law.

Strengthen existing and establish new programs aimed at the re-inte-
gration of adolescents into the community as productive and respon-
sible citizens.

Strengthen and expand rehabilitation programs for children serving
terms of imprisonment.

Continue to implement and monitor compliance with the Penal
Reform (Alternative Sentences) Act.

Strengthen the institutional capacity of the Community Rehabilitation
Department, the Police Department, and the Judicial System to ade-
quately respond to the prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation
needs of juvenile offenders, in accordance with national laws and reg-
ulations and international treaties and obligations.

Meaningful
and effective
participation
of children
and adolescents in all
stages of the processes
of policy development.

18 The Work Plan: Child Protection

The Work Plan: HIV/AIDS
2.5.4 HIV/AIDS
The HIV/AIDS pandemic is having a devastating effect on children, ado-
lescents, and those who provide care for them. We are committed to
urgent action to slow the rate of infection and provide the relevant sup-
port and services to affected children, adolescents, and their families.

Objective
To combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and minimize the impact on chil-
dren and adolescents.

Target 1
Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission
To reduce the number of newborns born to HIV infected mothers.

Strengthen and expand the Prevention of Mother-to-Child
Transmission of HIV/AIDS Program (PMTCT) to provide comprehen-
sive services in all districts.

Target 2
Care and Treatment
To increase the accessibility and affordability of care and treatment to
children, adolescents, pregnant women and parents who are HIV pos-
itive to 90 per cent.

Establish Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres (VCT) to provide
comprehensive services in each district and other strategic locations.

Strengthen policies to reduce the cost of anti-retroviral and oppor-
tunistic infection treatments available to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Implement HIV/AIDS protocol developed for health care providers.

Provide relevant and comprehensive training to build the implementa-
tion capacity of health care providers, social workers, and counsellors.

Target 3
Prevention for Children and Adolescents
To reduce the prevalence of HIV infections among children 0 to 12
years by 80 per cent.

To reduce the prevalence of HIV infections among adolescents 13 to
17 years by 60 per cent.

Ensure the strengthening of intervention programs aimed at children
who are vulnerable to contracting HIV/AIDS, especially targeting sur-
vivors of child sexual abuse, children living in poverty, and children
with special needs. (See Child Protection)

The Work Plan: HIV/AIDS 19

Develop and implement an appropriate gender-sensitive HIV/AIDS
sensitization and information program targeting children and adoles-
cents and those who provide services to them.

Develop and implement standardized gender-sensitive peer education
programs in school and non-school settings.

Strengthen existing resource centres to provide information on
HIV/AIDS, STIs, and life skills to both in and out-of-school adoles-
cents. (See Education and Health)

Develop and implement a media strategy utilizing creative art forms
to promote the message of HIV/AIDS prevention targeted at children
and adolescents, ensuring a focus on gender issues.

Distribute free condoms at all STI clinics and VCT centres and through
all Community Nurses Aids, mobile clinics, and other clinics and out-
reach programs available to adolescents.

Facilitate and encourage the development of community-based pro-
grams to ensure adequate health care and nutrition and continued
access to schooling for children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS.

Target 4
Children Orphaned by HIV/AIDS
To increase the availability of support services for children orphaned
by HIV/AIDS.

Strengthen and expand care services for children and adolescents
orphaned and/or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS.

Establish a referral network (with government and non-government
bodies) for services provided to families and children living with and
affected by HIV/AIDS.

Establish mechanisms to ensure that proper case management for
children who are infected with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS will
include systems for responding to their multiple needs.

Establish mechanisms to ensure proper case management for chil-
dren who are infected with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS that will
include systems for responding to their multiple needs

Target 5
Stigma and Discrimination
To reduce the stigma and discrimination against children living with
HIV/AIDS.

Develop and enact policies and legislation to eliminate discrimination
against families and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

20 The Work Plan: HIV/AIDS

Develop and implement public awareness programs aimed at reduc-
ing discrimination against families and children living with and affect-
ed by HIV/AIDS.

The Work Plan: The
Family
2.5.5 The Family
The family in all its various forms is the basic unit of society and
plays a vital role in all aspects of development of children and adoles-
cents. We are committed to strengthen families through education,
training and support services. This includes continuing the fight
against poverty and facilitating the creation of more and better
employment opportunities.

Objective
To promote the right of children and adolescents to grow up in a nur-
turing family environment.

Target 1
The Family as a Basic Unit of Society
To increase the coverage of family support programs by 50 per cent.

To develop, implement, and monitor a Policy Framework that allows for
the strengthening and empowerment of the family as the fundamental
social unit for the holistic development of children and adolescents.

Strengthen and expand the Community and Parent Empowerment
Program and other relevant agencies to provide permanent and ongo-
ing training in family and parenting issues.

Implement public awareness programs aimed at creating awareness
of child and adolescent development issues.

Develop mechanisms to provide quality counselling services nation-
wide.

Establish a Family Court in each district.

Strengthen the institutional capacity of family courts to enforce the
collection and monitoring of maintenance payments both locally and
from abroad.

Promote the establishment of day-care services to support working
families with children.

Develop and implement guidelines to conduct family impact assess-
ments as a component of developing national economic policies and
programs.

The Work Plan: The Family 21

Develop a system to ensure that investment is made in social pro-
grams aimed at the protection and development of families.

Target 2
Poverty and Economic Survival
To reduce the percentage of families who are living in poverty to be
consistent with the Poverty Elimination Strategy and Action Plan.

To increase economic opportunities to families with children and ado-
lescents, especially targeting the most vulnerable families.

Develop and implement all programs included in the National Poverty
Strategy and Action Plan that affect children and their families.

Develop and implement a mechanism to ensure that the national min-
imum wage and the national child and spouse maintenance rates
reflect the cost of living.

Encourage the development and implementation of employment poli-
cies that are sensitive to the needs of working parents, with special
attention given to single parents.

Provide employment and income generating opportunities to parents
through the provision of training and skill development programs and
access to job placements and credit.

The Work Plan: Culture
2.5.6 Culture
Culture is an integral part of a nation’s identity and development. We
are committed to enhancing opportunities for children and adoles-
cents to gain an understanding, appreciation and acceptance of the
diverse cultural heritage of Belize. We also encourage the active par-
ticipation of children and adolescents in the cultural and artistic devel-
opment of the nation.

Objective
To provide accessible and affordable programs that enable children to
develop a sense of self and a healthy respect and appreciation for the
diverse culture of Belize.

Target 1
Creative Arts Education and Training
Increase the accessibility and affordability of creative arts programs
for children at the primary and secondary school levels and out-of-
school adolescents.

Train teachers at all levels to stimulate and nurture children’s interest
in the creative arts.

22 The Work Plan: Culture

Provide itinerant teachers to promote and teach the creative arts in
the school system.

Develop and implement structured creative arts education programs
aimed at at-risk children.

Create and implement structured creative arts programs aimed at par-
ents as well as children and adolescents.

Target 2
Cultural Exposure/Information
Increase the accessibility and affordability of opportunities for expo-
sure to information on the diverse culture of Belize.

Promote field visits by all primary and secondary schools to sites and
exhibits of natural, cultural, and historical interest.

Facilitate and promote family and child friendly travelling cultural
shows and exhibits through the Houses of Culture and other facilities
in each region.

Train personnel to conduct guided tours of cultural shows and
exhibits, for children and adolescents.

Encourage the development of materials containing cultural informa-
tion for all children and adolescents.

Develop and make accessible an electronic database on past and con-
temporary cultural information, resources, and research.

Promote and conduct inter and intra-country cultural exchange pro-
grams to expose children and their families to a wide range of cultur-
al experiences and creative art forms.

Promote private sector and local government involvement in cultural
activities aimed at families and children.

Target 3
Cultural Expression
Increase opportunities for cultural expression among children and
adolescents.

Improve the Festival of Arts Program for primary school students to
raise the standard for participation and award selection.

Expand the National Festival of Arts Program to include the participa-
tion of all children and adolescents.

Develop and implement Outstanding Artist’s award programs with a
young artist component.

The Work Plan: Culture 23

The success of the National Plan of Action for Children and
Adolescents (NPA) for Belize will depend on the quality of the plan as
well as the implementers’ capacity for resource mobilization. The
mobilization of resources includes being able to effectively use all
available resources to implement, monitor and evaluate a plan of
action. In addition to having the financial capacity to engage in these
multiple tasks, the implementers also need to mobilize human and
material resources. Creating partnerships and ensuring effective coor-
dination and monitoring are, therefore, key elements of the resource
mobilization strategy.

Protection
and preser-
vation of the
family as a basic unit
of society.


24 The Work Plan: Culture

CHAPTER 3
Resource Mobilization

2.0 Resource Mobilization Step 3: Know what specific things you
Below are some proposed steps to guide the want to do
mobilization of resources for the implemen- The third step is to know what specific
tation, monitoring and evaluation of the NPA things you will do to effect the changes envi-
to the year 2015. sioned. These specific things are the policies
and programs which individuals or groups of
3.1 Guidelines for Resource persons or organizations will implement
Mobilization over a period of time. These policies and
programs are strategies that determine the
Step 1: Define the problems or issues resource needs for implementation.
to address
This is one of the most important steps in Step 4: Know who will do what
resource mobilization, as it enables the plan- The fourth step is to decide who or which
ners and implementers of the NPA to begin group or organizations are best placed,
to develop strategic solutions to these prob- given their human, financial, and material
lems or issues. The situational analysis of resources as well as their mandate and
children and adolescents, which accompa- experience, to implement the policies and
nies the NPA, is the document which has programs outlined in the plan of action. This
performed this function. process also includes an analysis of the lev-
els of coordination and collaboration
Step 2: Have a vision of the solution required for specific activities to remain
Once the problems or issues are defined, it linked to the larger goals, objectives, and tar-
is necessary to have an idea of what solu- gets they are to achieve. In the context of the
tions are possible. These ideas express the NPA, inter-agency and inter-sectoral coordi-
expected change in the problems or issues nation and collaboration will be key to
identified in Step 1. The NPA process has ensuring that existing resources are maxi-
articulated these ideas or solutions in its mized and that the work remains focused on
goals, objectives, and targets to be achieved the holistic development of children and
within a specific time frame. adolescents.

Resource Mobilization 25

Step 5: Analysis of potential partners Step 7: Access funds
and resources (government, non-gov- The seventh step is to access identified
ernment and external agencies) resources. This includes the ongoing access-
The fifth step is to analyze which agency, ing of existing and potential resources. In
whether local or external, has an interest in some cases this will require mobilizing com-
the problems or issues which you have munity participation; in others, it will require
defined as important. The programs includ- getting technical assistance or equipment,
ed in the plan are then matched with poten- and yet in others, it will require accessing
tial partners. Partners include persons, agen- funds. For the effective implementation of
cies, organizations and community groups the NPA, all the above strategies will need to
that can provide financial, human, or materi- be employed to access resources. Since each
al resources to achieve the vision or solution existing partner or potential partner may
to the problems and issues identified. An have his/her own process for deciding on
ongoing process for the implementers of the participation, the implementers of the NPA
NPA will be: will need to be flexible. For example, strate-
gies to mobilize community participation will
(a) analyzing current partnerships and the be very different from accessing funds from
resources they already provide and then the government or from external funding
identifying gaps, and partners. To access funds from the govern-
ment, implementers will need to budget for
(b) identifying and matching gaps with new
specific activities under their recurrent or
partners who can assist in advancing the
Capital II budgets and lobby actively for
goals, objectives, and targets of the NPA.
financing of those activities. The Ministry of
Finance is prepared to assist in the justifica-
A key activity at this level is to develop mini-
tion and lobbying process. To access funds
plans. This includes prioritizing strategies
from external agencies, the implementers
and developing initial three-year plans with
will need to develop concept papers and
accompanying provisional budgets for those
project proposals (including budgets) for
activities that require financial input.
submission to these partners. The Ministry
of Economic Development has committed
Step 6: Lobbying and nurturing poten-
itself to providing assistance to social sector
tial partners
ministries in this regard.
The sixth step is to lobby and nurture the
potential partners. This includes dialoguing
Step 8: Implement plans
and developing a relationship with them.
The eighth step is to implement activities for
This nurturing and relationship building
which resources have been mobilized. In the
extends to ongoing partners as well. The
context of the NPA, some activities can be
NPA is expected to attract both local and
implemented with little or no resources in
external partners, none of whom are to be
addition to what already exists. However, for
taken for granted. For example, government
those activities that require additional
resources are not infinite: therefore, there is
resources, implementation begins with the
always a constant need for information shar-
access and distribution of resources. The
ing, lobbying, and understanding between
management of resources is also to be con-
the finance and economic development min-
sidered at this point.
istries and the social sector ministries to
enable the prioritization of resources for the
Step 9: Monitor plans
NPA. Similarly, there is a need to build rela-
The ninth step is to monitor the specific pro-
tionships with communities, beneficiaries,
grams being implemented in the context of
non-government organizations, and external
whether or not they are meeting their tar-
technical assistance or funding agencies to
gets. For the implementers of the NPA, this
create “buy-in” and “ownership” of the pro-
process will include the monitoring of indica-
grams to be implemented.
tors that measure change (either positively

26 Resource Mobilization

or negatively) and conducting research to of plans of action. At times reporting to part-
provide baseline data where none exists. ners depends on the partner’s funding cycle
or the contracts made with individual part-
Step 10: Evaluate plans by measuring ners. Reporting to a community will depend
impact on agreements made with that community. It
The tenth step is to evaluate the impact that will be important for the implementers of the
the plans have had on making the changes NPA to honour reporting agreements and
envisioned as solutions to the problems or contracts to enable proper accountability
issues identified in Step 1. The implementers throughout the process of implementation.
of the NPA will need to conduct regular eval- This helps to maintain existing partnerships
uations through: as well as to build new partnerships, leading
to program sustainability.
(a) an analysis of the monitoring indicators
(Step 9) and Step 12: Start all over again
Resource mobilization is a continuous
(b) social research (semi and end-of-term
process. As an integral part of the planning
evaluation reports), which will employ a vari-
cycle, it must be flexible. The implementers
ety of research methods to gather data of
of the NPA will need to ensure that their
impact–surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc.
resource mobilization strategies are consis-
tent with the needs identified for the
Step 11: Report to partners
advancement of the overall plan.
This step is completed on an ongoing basis
and alongside the monitoring and evaluation

RESOURCE MOBILIZATION FLOW CHART

2. Envision 3. Develop
Solutions Plan
1. Define
4. Define
Problems /
Implementers
Issues

10. Evaluate 5. Conduct
Impact and 11. Report Resource
Plans to Partners Needs Analysis

6. Lobby /
9. Monitor Nurture Existing
Plans and Potential
8. Implement 7. Access Partners
Plans Funds

Resource Mobilization 27

CHAPTER 4
Monitoring and Evaluation

4.0 Monitoring and Evaluation 4.1 The Status of Data Collection and
The outcome document of the World Summit Information Systems in Belize
for Children clearly stated that for National Belize has signed and ratified numerous
Plans of Action for Children to be monitored international conventions, treaties, and dec-
and evaluated, each country should: larations that call for action to be taken to
enhance human development in all spheres
“establish appropriate mechanisms for the of life and throughout the lifespan. In many
regular and timely collection, analysis and instances, the Government of Belize, through
publication of data required to monitor its national mechanisms, has adopted these
relevant indications… Statistics should be international commitments by developing
disaggregated by gender. It is particularly local policies and/or developing relevant
important that mechanisms be established local legislation as required. The develop-
to alert policy makers quickly to any adverse ment of the Families and Children’s Act, for
trends to enable timely corrective action… example, was prompted by the Child
Indicators of human development should be Protection components of the Convention on
periodically reviewed by national leaders the Rights of the Child (CRC). Similarly, the
and decision makers, as is currently done development of the Sexual and Reproductive
with indicators of economic development.” Health Policy was prompted by international
commitments to eliminate discrimination
Belize has recognized that it must strength- against women as outlined in the
en its data collection and information sys- Convention on the Elimination of all Forms
tems if it is to successfully monitor and of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
evaluate its National Plan of Action for The NPA is also the localizing of Belize’s
Children and Adolescents. Below is a review international commitment as stated in the
of the status of data collection and informa- outcome document of the United Nations
tion systems in Belize, a commitment to General Assembly’s Special Session on
improve these systems, a proposed institu- Children.
tional framework for monitoring and evalua-
tion, and proposed guidelines for monitor- With the signing and ratification of these
ing and evaluating the NPA. numerous international and national commit-
ments, the Government of Belize must

28 Monitoring and Evaluation

account, both nationally and internationally, The recommendations called for the SIC to
for progress made toward achieving the goals
and objectives of human development. A well- • Clearly define some social sector issues
established, well-coordinated and implement- requiring data collection and monitoring
ed data collection and information system is e.g. child abuse.
key to measuring progress as defined by both
national and international conventions, • Review and modify the data collection
treaties, declarations, policies, and laws. instruments within specific sectors and sur-
veillance units.
As the demand for technical data and infor-
mation becomes more critical in the human • Provide training that will enhance the
development planning process, Belize is, as capacity of personnel to manage relevant
are most countries in the Caribbean, strug- hardware and software.
gling to improve its data collection and infor-
mation systems. • Provide training in data analysis.

One of the most important data collection • Develop a local area network system to
and information systems in Belize is operat- facilitate data collection and dissemination
ed by the Central Statistical Office (CSO). across units, departments, and ministries.
This Office co-chairs the Social Indicators
Committee (SIC). The CSO is responsible for 4.2 A Commitment to Improved
conducting the national census and country- Information Systems
wide surveys such as the Household The National Plan of Action for Children and
Expenditure Survey, the Population and Adolescents provides an opportunity for the
Housing Census, the Family Health Survey, Social Indicators Committee (SIC) to provide
the Labour Force Survey, and, just recently, valuable technical input into an inter and
the Child Activity Surveys and the Poverty intra-ministerial long-term social planning
Study, among others. initiative, not only for the NPA, but also for
broader human development policies and
In addition, there are data collection and plans of action. In recognition of this grow-
information systems localized in ministries ing demand for data to enable the monitor-
such as the National Health Information and ing and evaluating of such initiatives, the SIC
Surveillance System in the Ministry of has made a renewed commitment to institu-
Health and the Education Statistical Data tional strengthening and inter and intra min-
System in the Ministry of Education. The isterial collaboration. The SIC, in partnership
Ministry of Human Development, the Vital with UNICEF, is therefore embarking on a
Statistics Office, the Social Security Board, capacity-building project to:
and other government and quasi-govern-
ment bodies also have their own data and • Develop and implement an Integrated and
information collection systems. It is because Comprehensive Data and Information
of the recognized need to coordinate and System which allows for the monitoring of
monitor these information systems that social development indicators, including
most of these bodies have organized them- data and information on children and their
selves to form the Social Indicators families.
Committee, whose main task is to provide
information for the monitoring of social • Strengthen the institutional capacity of the
development goals and targets. Social Indicators Committee to manage
and monitor social development indicators,
To be able to effectively perform its monitor- including data and information on children
ing duties, the SIC and its member agencies and their families.
are implementing recommendations ema-
nating from a recent institutional assessment
exercise.

Monitoring and Evaluation 29

This project includes the provision of Advisory Committee (NHDAC). The NHDAC
is chaired by the Ministry of Economic
(a) hardware and software dedicated solely Development and includes representation
for data collection, analysis, and dissemina- from key social sector ministries, non-gov-
tion and ernment organizations, community-based
(b) relevant training in the use of the data col- organizations, and international develop-
lection, analysis, and dissemination system. ment partners. Because the NCFC, which is a
member of the NHDAC, legally serves as the
The implementation of this capacity-building coordinating and monitoring body for issues
project remains key to the successful moni- related to families and children, it will be
toring and evaluation of the NPA. directly responsible for the coordination,
monitoring, and evaluation of the NPA.
4.3 A Proposed Institutional Reports from the NCFC will be submitted to
Framework for Monitoring and the NHDAC on a regular basis as input into
Evaluating the NPA the overall planning, monitoring, and evalua-
The overall monitoring and evaluation of tion of human development policies and
human development policies and plans of plans in Belize. It is proposed that the infor-
action are the responsibility of a Cabinet mation flow between the NCFC and NHDAC
appointed National Human Development be conducted as presented below.

Information Flow Chart

National Human Dissemination to
NHDAC
Development relevant stakeholders
Planning, Monitoring and the public
and Reporting
NCFC Membership

Central Relevant
NCFC M&E subcommittee
Statistical NGOs /
Office (SIC) Partners
NCFC Secretariat

Ministry of Ministry of
Health the Attorney
(SIC) Ministry of General
Ministry of Human
Education Development
(SIC) (SIC)

As shown in the information flow chart, an • Representatives from the two major politi-
NCFC Monitoring and Information cal parties
Subcommittee will be formed. It is proposed
that this committee be comprised of: • Technical resource persons

• Members of the NCFC • Children and adolescents


It is proposed that the subcommittee be • The timing of birth intervals
responsible for:
• The mental health status of children and
• Reviewing the proposed guidelines for adolescents
monitoring and evaluation.
• The incidence and prevalence of child
• Agreeing on the monitoring indicators and abuse in all its forms
baseline data. • The recidivism rates among adolescents
• Agreeing on the flow of information from who come in conflict with the law
the source of information gathering to the It is also recommended that a longitudinal
NCFC Secretariat. This will include the study be conducted over the full period that
development of a mechanism for input the plan will be implemented. This means
from children. selecting a sample of children from birth and
• Agreeing on the terms of reference for any following them through their lifespan to
staff/consultant hired to compile and ana- assess the impact of policies and services on
lyze the relevant data or conduct the trien- their lives.
nial situational analysis and evaluation
studies. It is proposed that the subcommittee meet,
as necessary, to agree on the structure and
• Reviewing periodic draft NPA monitoring process for carrying out their duties and
reports and triennial situational analysis and then at least twice a year to review bi-annual
evaluation reports submitted by the NCFC NPA monitoring reports. It is also proposed
Secretariat or consultant (as necessary). that once every three years the subcommit-
tee meet to discuss the findings of the situa-
• Making policy recommendations to the tional analysis and evaluation reports.
larger NCFC body based on the contents of
the monitoring reports and the triennial sit- 4.4 The Structure of the NPA
uational analysis and evaluation reports. The overall aim of the NPA is to improve the
• Ensuring the timely compilation and offi- lives of children and adolescents in Belize.
cial release of periodic monitoring reports The improvement envisioned is stated as
and updates on the status of progress on goals and objectives in the NPA. The goals
the NPA and ensuring the same for the sit- and objectives are broad qualitative state-
uational analysis and evaluation reports. ments that present a vision of the state of
Reports and updates are to be sent to the children and adolescents in the next 12
policy-makers, the NHDAC, the Central years.
Statistical Office, international develop- To enable the effective monitoring of
ment partners, key government ministries, progress toward meeting those goals and
NGOs, communities, and the public. objectives, the NPA has outlined a set of tar-
• Ensuring that the NCFC conducts annual gets that are to be achieved by 2015. The tar-
retreats to discuss the findings of the peri- gets outlined in the NPA are child-centred,
odic and triennial reports in order to make defining the outcome of what is to be
adjustments (as necessary) to the NPA. achieved, if the strategies and actions are
effectively employed. The strategies and
The Subcommittee should also be responsible actions therefore determine how the targets
for ensuring that research activities are con- are to be achieved. To ensure that the NPA is
ducted in 2004 to enable the establishment of moving toward achieving its targets, a set of
baseline data in areas in which this has been social indicators has been developed. These
identified as an urgent need. This includes social indicators indicate the status of chil-
studies to determine baseline data on: dren and adolescents in relation to the tar-
gets set in the NPA.
• The incidence and patterns and trends in
the manifestation of disabilities


4.5 Guidelines for Monitoring the NPA achieving the outcome desired. It is critical
The monitoring of the NPA is therefore to note that there must be flexibility at the
premised on following progress through level of strategies and actions to ensure that
matching the indicators with the targets to be the NPA becomes an effective working docu-
achieved by 2015. This means that the focus ment which can respond to the recommen-
of monitoring is not on whether or not the dations resulting from the monitoring and
strategies and actions were completed, but evaluation process.
on whether those strategies and actions were
effective in showing positive changes toward The following tables are presented as a
the achievement of the targets of the NPA. guide to be used to monitor the NPA. The
first table outlines the targets and indicators
For example, if the strategies and actions to for measuring progress as well as defines:
reduce juvenile delinquency are not showing (a) the information system to be used to col-
positive changes in the monitoring indica- lect the relevant data and information for the
tors, and if it is clear that the target of reduc- purposes of monitoring and evaluation;
ing recidivism by 80 per cent will not be
achieved by 2015, then the monitoring (b) the period or frequency of data and infor-
process needs to recommend that new mation collections e.g. monthly, quarterly,
strategies and actions be developed rather annually, biennially, or every five years etc., and
than continuing to employ those that are not

Table 1.1 Data Monitoring Systems and Agencies
Targets Indicators Level of Information Frequency of Agency
Dis-aggregtion System Data Responsible
Collection

(c) the agency responsible, e.g. department, (c) comments regarding progress or regress
ministry, organization, etc. in achieving the targets set for 2015. The
comments here are intended to be brief.
The second table is a Progress Monitoring Major comments are to be written in the nar-
Chart which outlines the targets and indica- rative of the larger monitoring report.
tors and then goes on to define:

(a) the baseline data or starting point for These tables or charts are to be used in con-
measuring progress e.g. IMR = 21.1 per junction with other sources of information
1,000 live births in 2003; that provide a more qualitative means of
monitoring progress. For example, an
(b) the status of the indicator and the year of improved quality of education can only be
the data e.g. IMR = 17.1 per 1,000 live births measured if both quantitative and qualitative
in 2007; and measures are taken to monitor progress.


Table 1.2 Progress Monitoring Chart
Targets Indicators (a) Baseline (b) Status-Yr. (c) Comments
Data-Yr.

4.6 Guidelines for Evaluating the NPA the evaluation process. Some key questions
In addition to the ongoing monitoring of the to be answered in the evaluation process are
NPA is the need to engage in periodic evalu-
ations. The evaluations will be concerned • Are the NPA targets being met?
mainly with the level of progress toward
achieving the overall goals, objectives, and • Are the NPA objectives and goals being
targets of the NPA. They will, therefore, be met? To what extent?
concerned with measuring the impact of the • What are the best practices to be replicated
NPA over a specific period of time. A two- and why?
pronged approach to evaluation is recom-
mended–on the one hand, to carry out a situ- • What strategies need to be discontinued
ational analysis which compiles and ana- and why?
lyzes both quantitative and qualitative data
to measure impact, and on the other hand, • What are the major challenges?
to conduct an evaluation of the internal • What lessons can be learnt?
processes and systems for implementing the
NPA. It is recommended that a situational • What now needs to be completed within
analysis and evaluation studies be complet- the next three-year period and where will
ed every three years. the resources come from?

The Situational Analysis should examine the • Who are the major stakeholders for the
current status of children and adolescents next period and what are their interests?
and record the major challenges and oppor- • What new benchmarks need to be set for
tunities for addressing and meeting their monitoring and evaluation in the next
needs, while abiding by both national and period?
international commitments.
While the monitoring of the NPA is the
The Evaluation Study should focus more on responsibility of a core group of persons and
the NPA and how that process has been able organizations (children and adolescents
to meet its own targets, objectives, and included), the evaluation process should
goals within a specified period of time. The involve all relevant stakeholders.
Situational Analysis should greatly inform


Annex A- The Working Group

The National Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents was devel-
oped, reviewed and approved by a bi-partisan Working Group com-
prised of:

Three representatives from the People’s United Party:
Joan Musa
Sandra Hall
H.E. Dolores Balderamos Garcia
with Melissa Balderamos-Mahler as an alternate

Three representatives from the United Democratic Party
Kathy Esquivel
Diane Haylock
Darrel Bradley
with Honourable Patrick Faber as an alternate

National Youth Council
Rafael Castillo

National Committee for Families and Children
Judith Alpuche

UNICEF
Dr. Nadya Vasquez
Roy Bowen
Minelva Johnson – Consultant
Joop Hendrikx - Consultant

PAHO
Sandra Jones

ANNEX B - The Technical Committees

The National Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents was developed with
technical input from:

Ministry of Education
Ernest Raymond, Projects and Planning
Yolanda Gongora, Director of School Services
Dativa Martinez, Director of Education Support Services
Sakina Mohammed; Coordinator, Communications Skills Program
Eleanor Enriquez-Castillo, Coordinator, Special Education Unit
Diane Hall; Coordinator, Community Liaison and Security Program
Anthony Castillo, Coordinator, Employment Training and Education Services
Arthur Shears, Consultant, National Apprenticeship Program
Alana Gillett, Coordinator, Pre-school Unit
Shirlene Tablada, Coordinator, School Health and Physical Education Program
(SHAPES)
Dr. Paul Jones, Consultant

Ministry of Health
Dr. Peter Allen, Director of Planning and Projects
Dr. Natalia Largaespada Beer, Director of the Maternal and Child Program
Nurse Malva Allen, Coordinator, Maternal and Child Health Program
Nurse Dorla Mckenzie, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Project

34 Annex A - The Technical Committees

Dr. Paul Edwards, Director of the National AIDS Program and the
National Health Surveillance
Erica Goldson-McGregor, Acting Director, HECOPAB

Ministry of Human Development, Labour and Local Government
Anita Zetina, Director of the Women’s Department
Ava Pennill, Director of the Department of Human Services
Fermin Olivera, Director of the Community Rehabilitation Department
Maureen Williams, Inspector of Social Services Institutions, MHD
Kevin Cadle, Human Development Coordinator, Community Rehabilitation
Department

Judith Alpuche, Executive Director
John Flowers, Program Coordinator

National AIDS Commission
Martha Carrillo, Executive Director, National AIDS Commission

Ministry of Tourism and Culture
Yasser Musa, President of the National Institute for Culture and History
Andy Palacio, Director of the Institute of Creative Arts
Leroy Green, Institute of Creative Arts
With Affiliates
Diane Haylock
Michael Coye
Althea Sealy

Civil Society Organizations
Lorna McDougal, National Organization for the Prevention of Child
Abuse and Neglect
Jewel Quallo, Belize Family Life Association
Joan Burke, Belize Family Life Association
Sonia Lenares, Young Women’s Christian Association
Carolyn Gentle-Gennitty, Young Men’s Christian Association
Michael Cain, Alberto August, Herman Ramirez and Candelaria Young;
Friends Boys School
Rodel Beltran-Perrera, Alliance Against AIDS

International Development Organizations
Sandra Jones, PAHO
Roy Bowen, UNICEF
Minelva Johnson, UNICEF
Joop Hendrikx, UNICEF

ANNEX C - Technical and Administrative Support

The National Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents was developed
with Technical and Administrative support from:

Belize Council of Churches
Rev. Canon Leroy Flowers
Dame Elaine Middleton – Consultant

Adele Catzim – Consultant
Yuri Espiritu

Annex B - The Working Group 35

National Plan of Action

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