Addressing compounded crises in Belize: How a flexible approach cushioned vulnerable communities against shocks

The government of Belize, with support from the World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), addressed the urgent needs of vulnerable households and small farmers that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Lessons learned from the publication include:

• Emerging needs from the COVID-19 pandemic did not imply lost focus on the climate agenda;
• Strategic partnerships are key to dealing with compounded crises: The partnership between the public and private sector was effective in making the implementation of the cash transfer programs more attuned to recipients’ realities and the delivery of funds nimble and efficient;
• Centering the community’s needs is vital Through a mobile payments solution that easily let recipients access their funds through their phones or a unique code, the government of Belize removed barriers that might have hindered vulnerable households from cashing out the assistance as quickly as possible;
• The most vulnerable should be prioritized.