(l to r) Stuart Krohn – Belize Fund Chairman; Leandra Cho-Ricketts PhD – Exec. Dir. Belize Fund; Henry Anderson – CEO of DFC; Reynaldo Guerrero – DFC Chairman
By William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)
BELMOPAN, Wed. July 30, 2025
Belizean fishermen and others whose livelihoods depend on Belize’s marine resources will now be better able to adapt to Climate Change and become more resilient to its impacts, with monies from funds set aside as part of the Blue Bond debt-for-nature swap that retired the “Superbond’ in November 2021.
The Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future is a private conservation trust fund which manages a pool of funds created as partial fulfillment of the terms of the Blue Bond agreement, and the Fund will assist all those whose livelihood is derived from the sea – including fisherfolk, seaweed farmers, artisans who turn marine resources into art, and tour guides—through training and the expansion of their capacity to access funding. The Fund will also provide technical support and other resources to these “Blue Economy” professionals, to help them protect the marine environment in order to secure their livelihoods for years to come.
To this end, the Belize Fund has partnered with the Development Finance Corporation (DFC), which will disburse the funds to those who need to buffer themselves against the impacts of Climate Change, thus enabling them to avoid the usurious interest rates of moneylenders and pawnshops, and the higher interest rates of commercial banks. DFC’s chief executive officer, Henry Anderson signed an agreement with Leandra Cho-Ricketts PhD, Executive Director of the Belize Fund, at DFC’s headquarters in Belmopan on Tuesday morning, July 29.
As part of the Blue Bond agreement, the Belize government made a commitment to have 30 percent of its seas under conservation protection by 2026, which is certainly in line with the United Nations’ goal of “30 by 30”—for 30 percent of the world’s oceans to be under protection by 2030. Fishermen who obey the law on “no-take zones,” which is aimed at maintaining a healthy population of fish, also need access to financing at lower lending rates, and the DFC promises to create innovative financial solutions to help the Blue Economy grow in a sustainable manner, despite Climate Change impacts.
The landmark five-year agreement commits the DFC and the Belize Fund to work more closely together, sharing knowledge, as they jointly develop financing initiatives to meet the needs of all interested parties in the Blue Economy.
“This agreement strengthens the reach and impact of the Belize Fund,” Cho remarked. “Working alongside DFC allows us to amplify national efforts to secure a more resilient future for both our people and our marine and coastal ecosystems.”
“We are proud to work with the Belize Fund in bridging financing gaps for sustainable development,” Anderson affirmed. “This partnership aligns directly with our mission to foster equitable growth and support the nation’s climate and economic resilience.”
The partners aim to support Belize’s development goals while addressing the growing challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution. Together they will work within their respective mandates to co-develop solutions that promote sustainability, economic opportunity, and environmental stewardship for the benefit of current and future generations.
