PACT Awards Additional BZ$3.2 million in Grants to Enhance Belize’s Climate Resilience

PACT Awards Additional BZ$3.2 million in Grants to Enhance Belize’s Climate Resilience

Belmopan, Belize, September 5, 2025 The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) awarded BZ$3,267,756.70 in grants to support four subprojects under its Building Community Resilience via Transformative Adaptation project (EDA Project). The agreements were signed on August 29, 2025, during Belize’s first-ever Climate Finance Forum hosted by the Ministry of Economic Transformation. 

L-R: Mr. Jamal Bohn-Andrewin, The Belize Zoo; Mr. Raineldo Guerrero, Vice Chair - PACT's Board of Directors; Mr. Carlos Pol, Member - PACT's Board of Directors; Hon. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Solid Waste Management; Ms. Milagro Matus, Chair - PACT's Board of Directors and CEO in the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Sustainable Development; Mr. Clifford King, Ministryof Rural Transformation; Mr. Abil Abil Castañeda, PACT's Executive Director

Financed through the Adaptation Fund’s Enhanced Direct Access facility, a locally led adaptation funding window, the project aims to improve Belize’s long-term capacity to protect communities from the impacts of climate change. The new subprojects, outlined below, are expected to directly impact 48,424 persons across 15 communities in Belize over the next five years.

Project Title

Grantee

Amount Approved (BZD)

Time Frame

Safeguarding Forest and Water Resources through Strategic Protection and Restoration Solutions in the Macal and Mopan River Watersheds via Community Engagement

National Biodiversity Office in partnership with the Forest Department

$1,588,061.38

36 months

Strengthening Ladyville Fire Station’s Fire Response Capacity for Climate-Resilient Communities

Ladyville Fire Station in partnership with the Ladyville Village Council

$ 492,653.40

24 months

Enhancing Community Resilience through Fire Management in Central Belize

The Belize Zoo & Tropical Education Center

$448,505.00

30 months

Flood Disaster Mitigation and Management for Vulnerable Communities in the Orange Walk and Toledo Districts.

Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour, and Local Government

$738,536.92

18 months

In February 2025, PACT awarded grants for four other subprojects currently being implemented by the Belmopan City Council, Sarteneja Village Council, Belize Forest Department, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Enterprise, and BELTRAIDE. Together, the eight subprojects total BZ$10 million and target five interconnected components critical to building community resilience. These include: 

  • Component One: Safeguarding Forest and Water Resources through Strategic Protection and Restoration Solutions 
  • Component Two: Combating Wildfires through Adaptive Management 
  • Component Three: Creating Opportunities to Support Alternative Livelihoods 
  • Component Four: Building National Capacity to Access Adaptation Finance 
  • Component Five: Community Disaster Risk Management 
Mr. Jamal Bohn-Andrewin signs grant agreement on behalf of The Belize Zoo

PACT serves as Belize’s national implementing entity to the Adaptation Fund. In this role, PACT accesses, administers, and implements resources for the EDA Project, an on-granting mechanism for in-country climate finance. 

###

About the Protected Areas Conservation Trust

The Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT) is a statutory organization established as a Trust Fund under the Protected Areas Conservation Trust Act, Chapter 218 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2020. PACT sources funds nationally and internationally to finance the sustainable management and development of Belize’s natural and cultural heritage through partnership and in collaboration with government agencies, non-governmental and community-based organizations that manage Belize’s National Protected Areas System. Through its accreditation to international climate financing institutions, PACT also provides access to funding for climate adaptation and mitigation projects.