Belize: Hazard and Risk Assessment Framework - Prioritization of an Investment Plan

Context and Objectives
The objective of this project was to identify and prioritize mitigation investments in order to support the preparation and implementation of the Disaster Risk Management investment program in Belize. This process was informed through coordinated hazard and disaster risk assessments based on specific sectoral needs.

Main Activities and results

The project activity was undertaken through three main components:

Component 1 Geo-Spatial Data Inventory and Gap Analysis

• Advancing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Initiative. 
• Updating the socio-economic and disaster spatial datasets

Component 2 Hazard and Disaster Risk Assessments

• Developing a guidance book for the Multi-Criteria Evaluation Process.
• Sharing knowledge with national stakeholders and other development partners.

Component 3 Capacity Building on Hazard and Disaster Risk Assessments.  

The project achieved to:

• Advance the National Spatial Data Infrastructure initiative;
• Update and hand over the socio-economic and disaster spatial datasets to government stakeholders; and
• Develop a guidance book for the Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) Process.

A closing event took place in June 2016 to summarize project results, hand over all spatial data and analysis results, present data visualizations on the Belize GeoNode, extract lessons learned, and discuss how the MCE process could be replicated in decision-making across sectors.

Partnerships and Coordination
The World Bank team worked in close collaboration with key counterparts in the Ministry of Economic Development, as well as technical line ministries to enhance the disaster risk management and climate resilience capacity in Belize.