BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC – The Belize government says it has launched the 2026-30 National Rural Development Strategy (NRDS), which establishes a coordinated, evidence-based framework to advance inclusive, resilient, and sustainable rural transformation across the country.
Minister of Rural Transformation, Oscar Requena, said the strategy serves as a critical roadmap for enhancing livelihoods, expanding economic opportunities, and addressing long-standing development challenges facing rural Belize.
The Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development and Local Government (MRTCDLG) said that the strategy constitutes a significant milestone for a consultancy it led, with support from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), and that the development of the NRDS was carried out through a comprehensive three-stage process.
The first stage focused on a strategic diagnosis, utilising mixed research methods and over 40 expert interviews to identify 16 structural challenges across social, economic, and environmental dimensions.
This was followed by the second stage, which prioritised participatory design through eight community dialogues across all six districts, ensuring the strategy was informed by the voices of over 190 rural stakeholders.
The process culminated in stage 3, which included technical consultations and the final validation of a roadmap identifying 14 lines of action and 32 flagship initiatives.
The NRDS launch was attended by several government ministers and other stakeholders, including Prime Minister John Briceño, who, in his address, reaffirmed his government’s strong support for the strategy.
Briceño said that rural development must be closely linked to climate resilience, noting the urgent need for decisive action as climate change continues to impact Belize’s rural communities.
The event was also attended by representatives from Clio Consulting, who provided a technical overview of the strategy’s vision and methodology.
The NRDS 2026–2030 defines a bold 2030 vision centered on four strategic axes: Partnership, Prosperity, People, and Places. By targeting these pillars, the strategy aims to overcome critical constraints currently hindering rural growth, including land insecurity, high financial costs, market failures, and infrastructure gaps in roads and basic services.
“The framework also integrates two transversal approaches: Inclusion (focusing on Gender, Youth, and Culture) and Climate Change Resilience, ensuring that development remains sustainable and equitable,” the ministry said in a statement on Friday.
It said the launch provides the ministry and its partners with a structured framework to empower rural communities and ensure they remain at the forefront of Belize’s national development.
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