By Belize Live News Staff: A wave of modernisation is on the way for Belize’s public service, with around 16,000 public employees set to benefit from a new programme backed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The IDB has approved a loan of up to US$8 million, about BZ$16 million, to help modernise the country’s public sector, with a focus on strengthening fiscal sustainability and improving how the government manages both its workforce and its spending. To be carried out by the Ministry of Public Service and Disaster Risk Management, the programme aims to create a more efficient, transparent, and digitally connected public administration.
At the heart of the reforms is a push to get a better handle on the government’s wage bill. The IDB pointed out that although Belize has steadily improved its public finances, growing public sector wage costs have continued to limit the money available for priorities like infrastructure, education, and healthcare. In response, the programme will roll out an integrated Human Resources Management Information System, tighten payroll oversight, and support reforms in workforce planning and pay.
The initiative also looks to bring government into the digital age. Plans include expanding digital infrastructure, improving how data is managed, and bolstering cybersecurity across government departments, all aimed at smarter decision-making and more responsive public services.
For the country’s public workers, the changes promise tangible benefits, from better digital tools and professional training to fairer, more transparent employment practices. The programme is also expected to promote the use of data to shape policy and improve workforce management across the board.
IDB Group Representative in Belize Karla González said the project will help Belize build a stronger, more modern public service while supporting long-term economic growth. Valued at a total of US$9 million, around BZ$18 million, including US$8 million from the IDB and US$1 million in local counterpart funding, the programme will be implemented over a five-year period.
