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“Assessing Alternative Resiliency Strategies in Under-Resourced Coastal Communities in Belize Impacted by Climate Change and Vulnerable to Environmental Risk”

Abstract

From 2014-2016, team members at I2UD, in collaboration with Elizabeth Hamin and Jan Meerman, conducted research assessing climate resilience strategies for Dangriga, Belize, a low-lying coastal municipality vulnerable to sea-level rise, flooding, and severe storms. The study compares grey and green infrastructure approaches while evaluating whether land value capture and other land-based financing tools could support implementation in a low-capacity municipal context.

The report’s findings suggest green infrastructure offers a more flexible and cost-effective pathway for resilience, but financing remains constrained by weak land governance and institutional capacity. Land value capture shows promise, yet without stronger planning systems and municipal authority, resilience investments risk being impractical or inequitable, highlighting the need for integrated land-use planning and incremental, community-supported approaches.

Project Year:2014-2016
Project Type:Research and Policy Discussion
Geographic Regions:Dangriga, Belize
Reports:Assessing Alternative Resiliency Strategies, Belize (Working Paper, 2015)
Authors:James Kostaras; Elda Solloso; Maren Larsen; Elizabeth Hamin; Jan Meerman
Sponsors:Lincoln Institute of Land Policy; Belize Social Investment Fund
Categories:Climate Change and Resilience Building
  
ID:2014_12_001
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“Belize Municipal Development Plan,” Urban Growth Plans, 2012-2014

Abstract

Between 2012-2014, the I2UD team worked to improve the urban planning capacity of Belize, by developing Municipal Development Plans (MDPs) for seven municipal governments: Corozal, Orange Walk, Benque Viejo, San Ignacio & Santa Elena, Belmopan, Dangriga, and Punta Gorda. The project was sponsored by the World Bank and the Belize Social Investment Fund.

The method of the project was based on the 2015 UN-Habitat Cities and Climate Change Initiative: Planning for Climate Change Toolkit. I2UD’s contributions outlined baseline social and economic data, used to generate cadastral and land utilization databases. The plans supported building urban planning skills among local authorities to upkeep infrastructure development plans over time, with examples from economic capital improvement programs. Key goals included:

  • To Develop comprehensive municipal development plans to improve land use planning and livability within their territories;
  • To Identify strategies that promote the development of local economic activities;
  • To Improve local revenue generation to finance public improvements through an efficient collection of locally based fees and taxes;
  • To Improve the efficiency of local financial management; and
  • To Engage the participation of stakeholders and community groups to ensure that proposed plans and investments targeted priority needs.

Documents include expression of interest, inception reports, strategy reports, workshops and presentations, progress reports, and guidance manual reports from 2012 through 2014.

Project Year:2012-2014
Project Type:Comprehensive Plans
Geographic Regions:Belize
Reports:

Supporting Documents:

Templates:

First, Second, and Third National Workshops:

Progress Reports:
Authors:Marion Cayetano; Lucien Chung; John Driscoll; David Dunbar; James Kostaras; Maren Larsen; Borja Lopez; John McGill; Jan Meerman; Ian Morrison; Juan Pablo Bocarejo; Mona Serageldin; Linda Shi; Elda Solloso; François Vigier
Sponsors:World Bank; Social Investment Fund (Belize)
Categories:Urban Planning; Urban Finance; Informal Settlements and Urban Upgrading
  
ID:2012_10_003