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.
Related I2UD Projects
I2UD Digital Library Study Guide: Climate Adaptation and Resilience
I2UD Digital Library Study Guide: Urban Climate Adaptation and Resilience: Planning for Equitable and Inclusive Cities, March 2026
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