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THE NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTIONfor children and adolescents in Belize 2004-2015
Government of Belize with support from UNICEF
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tsTA B L E O F CO N T E N T S
5 Introduction
6 Chapter 2 - The National Plan of ActionOverall GoalsOverall PrinciplesCommon Strategies
7 Six Main Areas of Attention
8 The Work Plan8 Education
11 Health15 Child Protection19 HIV/AIDS21 Family22 Culture
25 Chapter 3 - Resource MobilizationGuidelines for Resource Mobilization
28 Chapter 4 - Monitoring and Evaluation28 The Status of Data Collection and
Information Systems in Belize
29 Commitment to Improved Information Systems
30 A Proposed Institutional Framework for Monitoring and Evaluating the NPA
31 The Structure of the NPA
32 Guidelines for Monitoring the NPA
33 Guidelines for Evaluating the NPA
34 Annex A - The Working Group
34 Annex B - The Technical Committees
35 Annex C - Technical and Administrative Support
FOREWORD
In November 2002, we committed ourselves to the establishment of a bipartisan WorkingGroup to actively engage in a process of achieving consensus on a National Plan of Actionfor Children and Adolescents. The objective was to develop a framework to further rational-ize the delivery of sustainable services to Belizean children and adolescents. On February 14,2003 we formalized our commitment to the process through the signing of a Memorandumof Understanding.
We are pleased that the efforts of the bipartisan Working Group have culminated in a com-prehensive plan which prioritizes actions, on behalf of children, in the areas of education,health, child protection, HlV/AIDS, family and culture, over the next eleven years.
For over two decades successive government administrations have worked towards ensuringthe wellbeing of children in Belize. Within the framework of our national development agen-da, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Millennium Development Goals, weregard the adoption of this National Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents as the mostrecent indication of our commitment to build a better Belize for our children.
We wish to express our gratitude to all those persons from the government and civil societysectors who contributed to the development of this Plan. Special thanks to the representa-tives from our respective political parties for their hard work and dedication, to the BelizeCouncil of Churches for facilitating the first part of the process, to the National Committeefor Families and Children for coordination and programmatic support and to UNICEF fortechnical and financial support to the process.
While we recognize that the achievement of the objectives of this Plan is the primary respon-sibility of the Government of Belize, we strongly believe in the obligation of the wider societyand the international community to contribute to its successful implementation.
We therefore urge all sectors of society to embrace the National Plan of Action for Childrenand Adolescents and work with us in partnership as we endeavour to safeguard the future.
There is no other alternative but to invest in our children!
Signed this 7th day of September, 2004.
Hon. Said MusaPrime Minister of Belize
Hon. Dean BarrowLeader of the Opposition
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Introduction 5
1. IN T R O D U C T I O N
Belize has, since its independence in 1981,signed key international documents, such as theConvention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), theDakar Education for All Goals (EFA) 2000, theMillennium Development Goals (MGD) 2000, theOutcome Document of the UN GeneralAssembly Special Session on Children(UNGASS) 2002 as well as existing NationalPolicies for Social Development. This NationalPlan of Action for Children and Adolescents istherefore a document that spells out, as a part ofBelize’s international commitments, the nationaltargets and strategies/actions of the people andthe government of Belize in matters of childhoodand adolescent development.
For many years now, a number of institutionsand organizations have been carrying out pro-grams and projects that target children and ado-lescents. There is, however, a need to strengthenthe coordination and thus increase the impactthat these programs have on the welfare of thetarget group. The National Plan of Action intendsto identify key programs and to subsequentlypromote their implementation through partner-ships with government and non-governmentsectors.
To facilitate the systematic development andimplementation of these policies, programs, andprojects, this 12-year plan contains an orderedsequence of overall goals, crosscutting themes,crosscutting strategies, and six main areas ofattention, each with its own objectives, targets,and strategies specifically tailored to theBelizean situation. The National Plan also pro-poses a coordination, monitoring, and evaluationmechanism that will ensure its timely and suc-cessful implementation.
6 The National Plan of Action
2.0 The National Plan of ActionThe National Plan of Action includes overallgoals, principles, common strategies, priorityareas, objectives, targets and strategies, andactions as presented below.
2.1 Overall Goals The main goals of the National Plan ofAction are the following:
To ensure that all children and adolescentsresiding in Belize, irrespective of their legalstatus, live in conditions necessary toachieve their maximum level of spiritual,moral, intellectual, physical, and psychoso-cial development.
To achieve the fulfilment and implementa-tion of all the rights of children and adoles-cents to a happy life, to be loved, and tohave opportunities for their comprehensivedevelopment.
To consolidate the themes of childhood andadolescence as commitments and nationalpriorities, strengthening national systems ofprotection in order to offer to this part of thepopulation, and especially to those that are
found to be living in poverty, opportunitiesthat optimize their development and guaran-tee their rights.
2.2 Overall PrinciplesThe six principles outlined below are toguide the development and implementationof all the policies and programs which forma part of this plan.
• Due care for, and attention to, the princi-ples of gender equality
• Protection and conservation of the environ-ment
• Meaningful and effective participation ofchildren and adolescents in all stages ofthe processes of policy development
• Protection and preservation of the familyas a basic unit of society
• Non-discrimination on the basis of sex,ethnicity, religious affiliation, or nationalorigin
• Multi-sectoral partnerships
CHAPTER 2The National Plan of Action
The National Plan of Action 7
2.3 Common StrategiesThere are six common strategies to beemployed throughout the implementation ofall policies, programs, and projects includedin the Plan:
• Development and effective implementationof national policies and programs, bothgeneral and age specific
• Research and data analysis to inform thedevelopment, revision, and implementa-tion of national policies and programs
• Relevant education and training to pro-mote the goals and targets set in nationalpolicies and programs
• Coordination and networking between andamong relevant organizations in the public, private, and civil society sectors
• Capacity building for implementing organ-izations in the public, private and civilsociety sectors
• Resource mobilization for effective imple-mentation of national policies and pro-grams
• Monitoring and evaluation of ongoing poli-cies and programs
2.4 Six Main Areas of AttentionTo ensure that the overall goals are met, theNational Plan of Action singles out six mainareas under which specific objectives, tar-gets, and strategies are developed. The sixmain areas of attention and their specificobjectives are:
• Education: To provide accessible andaffordable quality education that equipsstudents with the knowledge, skills, andattitudes for moral, mental, and physicaldevelopment and self-fulfilment so thatthey can become creative and productivecitizens.
• Health: To provide conditions that ensurethe optimum health of children and adoles-cents.
• Child Protection: To safeguard the rightsof children and adolescents, especially thoseat risk.
• HIV/AIDS: To combat the spread ofHIV/AIDS and minimize its effects on childrenand adolescents.
• Family: To promote the right of childrenand adolescents to grow up in a nurturingfamily environment.
• Culture: To provide accessible and afford-able programs that enable children todevelop a sense of self and a healthyrespect and appreciation for the diverseculture in Belize.
Due care for,and attentionto, the principles of genderequality.
Overall principles, NPA
8 The Work Plan: Education
The Work Plan: Education2.5.1 Education Education is a basic human right. It is a key factor in reducing povertyand in promoting democracy, peace, tolerance, and development. Weare committed to strengthening the educational system by offering avariety of options that meet the diverse needs of Belize. The educa-tion offered must be appropriate, relevant, stimulating; it must alsoprovide a basis for the development of responsible and productivecitizens.
ObjectiveTo provide accessible and affordable quality education that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for moral, mental and physical development and self-fulfilment so that they can become creative and productive citizens.
Target 1Accessibility and AffordabilityTo increase the accessibility and affordability of pre-school, primary,and post-primary education in Belize.
To increase to a minimum of 50 per cent the enrolment of childrenthree to five years old in pre-school.
To ensure a 100 per cent enrolment/attendance of primary school-aged children 5-12.
To increase to 90 per cent the net enrolment rate in post-primary edu-cation, including vocational/technical education.
To ensure that all children with disabilities have access to relevanteducation, with at least 60 per cent enrolment within the regularschool system.
Strategies and ActionPromote the establishment of more pre-schools nationwide.
Provide more primary school placements nationwide.
Provide more post-primary school placements nationwide.
Strengthen the capacity of the Special Education Unit to provide sup-port to schools nationwide in educating children with special needs.
Develop and enforce a National Education Policy.
Develop and implement programs that allow schools to be moreaffordable to students.
The Work Plan: Education 9
Target 2Quality of EducationTo improve the academic performance of all students.
To ensure the relevance and adequate use of the curriculum at all lev-els of the education system.
To increase the percentage of trained teachers.
To ensure a maximum of 15 to 1 student/teacher ratio at the pre-school level.
To ensure a maximum of 30 to 1 student/teacher ratio at the primaryand secondary levels.
Strategies and ActionReview and revise the primary and secondary education curriculumon a continuous basis to ensure that it is relevant and up-to-date.
Re-orient the PSE to serve as a measurement of school performancein order to re-structure human and financial resource allocations toschools in an equitable manner.
Implement a process to certify and monitor schools as “ChildFriendly” institutions.
Strengthen the institutional capacity of the District Education Centresto carry out their technical assistance, coordination and monitoringfunctions.
Develop programs to improve teacher performance.
Implement the School Inspectorate System to monitor education at alllevels.
Document and publicize best practices within the primary and sec-ondary education system to be adopted by other schools.
Target 3Repetition and DropoutTo increase the primary and secondary school completion rate.
To reduce to five per cent the repetition rate at the primary level.
To reduce to five per cent the repetition rate at the secondary level.
To reduce to five per cent the dropout rate at the secondary level.
Strategies and Action
Strengthen the capacity of the School Community Liaison and SecurityProgram to operate in communities most in need of assistance.
10 The Work Plan: Education
Provide services to children as part of an “at-risk” and abused chil-dren’s referral network.
Develop programs that support and encourage children to stay inschool.
Increase the age for compulsory education to 16 years.
Strengthen both government and non-government programs that pre-pare early school leavers at both the primary and secondary schoollevels to become re-integrated into the formal school system.
Establish a standardized test to qualify early school leavers for a sec-ondary school equivalency certificate.
Establish and operate technical and vocational/skills training pro-grams nationwide.
Target 4LiteracyTo achieve a 95 per cent functional literacy rate for 18 year olds.
Strategies and ActionExpand and strengthen the national literacy campaign.
Target 5Gender Equity and EqualityTo eliminate gender disparities and achieve gender equity at the pri-mary and secondary school levels.
Strategies and ActionDevelop education strategies that respond to the gender-specificneeds of both males and females.
Develop a National Education Policy and amend the Education Act(1991) and the Education Rules (2000) to be consistent with genderequity at the primary and secondary school levels.
Sensitize all teachers at the pre-school, primary, and secondary levelson gender issues and the effects on the socialization and develop-ment of children.
The Work Plan: Health 11
The Work Plan: Health2.5.2 HealthWe are committed to further develop and maintain an affordable andaccessible system of comprehensive health care that addresses theneeds of children and adolescents. Special attention must be paid topromoting healthy lifestyles as well as providing adequate housingand a safe and healthy environment.
ObjectiveTo provide conditions that ensure the optimum health of children andadolescents.
Target 1Infant and Child Morbidity and MortalityTo increase the number of first prenatal care visits during the firsttrimester to 60 per cent.
To increase the number of women who space their children by two ormore years by 15 per cent.
To reduce the incidence of low birth weight (less than 2.5 kg.) to 3.7per cent of all births.
To reduce the prenatal mortality rate by 20 per cent.
To reduce the infant mortality rate to 14.3/1,000 live births.
To reduce the less-than-five mortality rate to 18.3/1,000 live births.
To reduce the under-five child mortality rate caused by AcuteRespiratory Infections (ARIs) by 15 per cent.
To reduce the under-five child mortality and morbidity rate caused bydiarrhoea by 15 per cent.
To increase the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of congeni-tal conditions.
To achieve and sustain a minimum of 95 per cent immunization ratefor each of the ten immune-preventable diseases in the under-fivepopulation.
Strategies and ActionsMainstream ongoing public awareness activities focused on prenataland early childhood development issues.
Provide health education and counselling to pregnant women andtheir partners through both the public and private health systems.
Fully implement the Safe Motherhood Initiative in Belize.
12 The Work Plan: Health
Strengthen the institutional capacity of the health system to allowpublic health nurses and rural health nurses to supervise and monitorthe activities of traditional birth attendants.
Provide comprehensive continuous training for Traditional BirthAttendants.
Implement and monitor compliance with standards for registeringhospitals and health centres as “Baby-Friendly” institutions.
Establish mechanisms to improve the collection, compilation, and dis-semination of vital statistics.
Provide 100 per cent of vaccines for the continued implementation of thechild immunization program in all public hospitals, health centres, mobilehealth clinics, and private healthcare providers across the country.
Target 2NutritionTo reduce the incidence of severe to moderate malnutrition in chil-dren under one year by five per cent.
To reduce the incidence of severe and moderate malnutrition in chil-dren one to four years by ten per cent.
To eliminate congenital illnesses and defects caused by micro-nutrientdeficiencies.
Strategies and ActionUpdate the national Breastfeeding Policy and amend the Labour Lawto provide legal provisions for the public and private sectors to facili-tate working mothers to breastfeed their babies.
Strengthen the capacity of the Nutrition Unit to be able to effectivelycarry out its research, public awareness, and monitoring functions.
Develop a national information system on the nutritional status ofchildren.
Develop and implement regulations and protocol for the implementa-tion of the Food and Nutrition Security Policy (2001).
Facilitate micro-nutrient supplementation.
Provide iron and folic acid supplements to all pregnant women whoattend the prenatal clinics and are in need of supplements.
Continue to monitor the growth and development of all children.
Provide appropriate interventions for addressing the nutritional needsof children through maternal and child health programs and otherexisting mechanisms.
Educate primary and secondary school students on proper nutrition.Re-introduce and maintain a public awareness campaign on propernutrition.
Target 3DisabilitiesTo reduce the incidence of disabilities in newborns caused by prenatalcomplications.
To increase the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of children withdisabilities.
Strategies and ActionDevelop and implement an effective surveillance system to detect andmonitor babies born with congenital disabilities and/or defects.
Implement a prevention, early detection, and intervention disabilityprogram for children.
Strengthen and expand existing services for children with disabilities(See Education and Child Protection)
Target 4Public Health, Hygiene and Vector Transmitted DiseasesTo reduce the incidence of malaria to less than 10 per 1,000 childrenand adolescents.
To reduce the incidence of classical dengue to less than 1 per 1,000children and adolescents.
To reduce the incidence of dental cavities in children by 50 per cent.
To reduce the incidence of head lice among children of primaryschool age by 50 per cent.
To reduce the incidence of accidents involving children and adolescents.
To increase the accessibility and affordability of a safe drinking watersource to all children and adolescents and their families.
To increase the accessibility and affordability of hygienic sanitationfacilities to all homes.
Strategies and ActionStrengthen and expand the public awareness component of thenational vector control program.
Continue to implement appropriate interventions to manage thespread of vector-transmitted diseases.
Provide training for health sector personnel in the detection andmanagement of vector-transmitted diseases, with a focus on malariaand dengue.
The Work Plan: Health 13
Ensure that information on public health issues, hygiene, and vector-transmitted diseases is mainstreamed into the healthy lifestyles cur-riculum at the pre-school, primary, and secondary school levels.
Develop and implement a public awareness campaign on issues relat-ed to child safety in the home, at school, and on the road.
Maintain and expand community outreach programs aimed atimproving public health, personal hygiene, and sanitation in homes.
Develop and implement a network and referral system (with empha-sis on poor and indigent households) to enable access to resourcesfor adequate housing development and/or maintenance.
Strengthen Water Boards in rural communities to ensure that access tosafe water is maintained and available to children and their families.
Strengthen the Public Health Unit so that they can ensure the provi-sion of a safe source of water and sanitary facilities at all primaryschools.
Identify and apply appropriate technology, using best practices, toincrease access to sanitation facilities for low-income households.
Target 5Adolescent HealthTo increase the vaccination coverage for rubella among adolescentsto 80 per cent.
To reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy to 15 per 1,000.
To increase the accessibility and affordability of comprehensivehealthcare services targeting adolescents.
Strategies and ActionImplement an immunization campaign aimed at vaccinating adoles-cents against rubella.
Establish (teen) centres in each district and in strategic rural commu-nities for the delivery of comprehensive care and support services toadolescents, including teenaged parents. (See Education, HIV/AIDS,and Child Protection)
Develop and implement protocol for the implementation of the Sexualand Reproductive Health Policy (2002) in all public and private hospi-tals, health centres, and mobile clinics across the country.
Mainstream adolescent health care programs into primary health careprograms at all public hospitals and health centres and throughmobile clinics.
14 The Work Plan: Health
Target 6Mental HealthTo increase the accessibility and affordability of mental health servic-es to all children and adolescents and their families.
Strategies and ActionDevelop and implement comprehensive public awareness programson mental health issues affecting children and adolescents.
Review and revise mental health policies and legislation to includeprovisions for children and adolescents.
Provide training for professionals who are a part of the mental healthservice delivery and/or client referral system.
Develop, implement, and enforce protocol for the clinical manage-ment of sexual violence, domestic violence, and child abuse cases.
Include mental health services for children and adolescents in theNational Health Insurance package.
The Work Plan: ChildProtection2.5.3 Child ProtectionChildren and adolescents have the right to be protected from allforms of abuse, neglect, unacceptable forms of child labour, sexualand commercial exploitation, trafficking, abduction, violence, andexposure to threatening situations. We are committed to establishing,strengthening, and expanding the institutional infrastructure thatensures these rights.
ObjectiveTo safeguard the rights of children and adolescents, especially thosewho are at risk.
Target 1Abandonment and AbuseTo reduce the incidence of family violence by 25 per cent.
To reduce the incidence of child abuse in all its forms by 25 per cent.
To ensure that a minimum of 90 per cent of children in governmentcustody receive care in a non-institutional setting.
Strategies and ActionStrengthen preventive measures and actions at all levels of the edu-cational system to identify, at an early stage, situations that couldlead to abuse and exploitation.
The Work Plan: Child Protection 15
Amend relevant legislation to make them more effective in address-ing family violence and child abuse issues.
Develop and implement child protection protocol for all agenciesinvolved in the care of children.
Standardize and implement procedures for family courts countrywide.
Conduct a comprehensive review of all legislation to standardize theage definition of a child and eliminate all gender disparities.
Develop and implement a program aimed at tracking perpetrators ofchild abuse.
Develop and implement public awareness and education programson family violence and child abuse.
Explore the possibility of establishing the office of Ombudsperson forchildren.
Strengthen programs aimed at providing non-institutional care forchildren who are, or need to be, separated from their families.
Target 2Child and Adolescent LabourTo prevent and eliminate the worst forms of child labour as definedby national and international legislation.
Strategies and ActionAmend the Labour Act to include provisions that address child labourissues.
Develop and implement protocol and regulations for all social serviceagencies to deal with the withdrawal and rehabilitation of childrenand adolescents engaged in the worst forms of child labour.
Strengthen the institutional capacity of the Labour Department andthe other relevant social service providers to ensure enforcement ofthe Labour Act in relation to the provisions for child labour.
Strengthen programs aimed at the prevention of child labour activities.
Develop and implement public awareness programs addressing childlabour issues.
Target 3Early Pregnancy and Adolescent ParenthoodTo reduce the rate of early pregnancy and adolescent parenthood to15 per 1,000 births.
16 The Work Plan: Child Protection
Strategies and ActionProvide health and life skills education to adolescents through bothformal and informal training programs. (See Education and Health)
Provide equal access and support to adolescent mothers and fathersto continue and complete their education. (See Education)
Target 4Disabled Children and AdolescentsTo promote access to, and opportunities for, education, health, eco-nomic, and social development services for children and adolescentswith disabilities and/or special needs.
To provide access to rehabilitative services to a minimum of 60 percent of children and adolescents with disabilities.
Strategies and ActionDevelop, and implement, policies and legislation for children with dis-abilities. (See Education and Health)
Strengthen services for early screening, detection, treatment, andrehabilitation of children with disabilities in collaboration with thehealth and education systems.
Strengthen education policies that will lead to the inclusion of chil-dren with disabilities into the education system.
Establish codes to facilitate access for disabled children and adolescentsto 100 per cent of new and 25 per cent of existing public transportation,public buildings, educational institutions, and recreational facilities.
Target 5Social InclusionTo promote equal access and opportunities for children and adoles-cents of disadvantaged and immigrant populations to the servicesand programs offered to the respective age groups.
Strategies and ActionSensitize all service providers on the constitutional right of all per-sons to non-discrimination and respect, regardless of their beliefs,customs, language, and ethnicity.
Target 6Youth Violence and Juvenile OffendersTo reduce the number of children committing offences by 50 per cent.
To reduce the rate of recidivism among child and adolescent offend-ers by 80 per cent.
Strategies and ActionStrengthen initiatives to coordinate, facilitate and mobilize resourcesfor the development and monitoring of policies and programs for theholistic development of adolescents.
The Work Plan: Child Protection 17
Strengthen and expand programs that build the productive capacityof adolescents.
Ensure legal provisions for the protection of the privacy of childrenand adolescents who come in conflict with the law.
Develop mechanisms that ensure legal representation to all childrenand adolescents who come in conflict with the law.
Train all magistrates in child development issues and in all relevantlaws, policies, and programs related to children and adolescentoffenders.
Create, coordinate, and monitor care for children and adolescentswho come in conflict with the law.
Strengthen existing and establish new programs aimed at the re-inte-gration of adolescents into the community as productive and respon-sible citizens.
Strengthen and expand rehabilitation programs for children servingterms of imprisonment.
Continue to implement and monitor compliance with the PenalReform (Alternative Sentences) Act.
Strengthen the institutional capacity of the Community RehabilitationDepartment, the Police Department, and the Judicial System to ade-quately respond to the prevention, intervention, and rehabilitationneeds of juvenile offenders, in accordance with national laws and reg-ulations and international treaties and obligations.
18 The Work Plan: Child Protection
Meaningfuland effectiveparticipationof children
and adolescents in allstages of the processesof policy development.Overall principles, NPA
The Work Plan: HIV/AIDS2.5.4 HIV/AIDSThe HIV/AIDS pandemic is having a devastating effect on children, ado-lescents, and those who provide care for them. We are committed tourgent action to slow the rate of infection and provide the relevant sup-port and services to affected children, adolescents, and their families.
ObjectiveTo combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and minimize the impact on chil-dren and adolescents.
Target 1Prevention of Mother to Child TransmissionTo reduce the number of newborns born to HIV infected mothers.
Strategies and ActionStrengthen and expand the Prevention of Mother-to-ChildTransmission of HIV/AIDS Program (PMTCT) to provide comprehen-sive services in all districts.
Target 2Care and TreatmentTo increase the accessibility and affordability of care and treatment tochildren, adolescents, pregnant women and parents who are HIV pos-itive to 90 per cent.
Strategies and ActionEstablish Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centres (VCT) to providecomprehensive services in each district and other strategic locations.
Strengthen policies to reduce the cost of anti-retroviral and oppor-tunistic infection treatments available to people living with HIV/AIDS.
Implement HIV/AIDS protocol developed for health care providers.
Provide relevant and comprehensive training to build the implementa-tion capacity of health care providers, social workers, and counsellors.
Target 3Prevention for Children and AdolescentsTo reduce the prevalence of HIV infections among children 0 to 12years by 80 per cent.
To reduce the prevalence of HIV infections among adolescents 13 to17 years by 60 per cent.
Strategies and ActionEnsure the strengthening of intervention programs aimed at childrenwho are vulnerable to contracting HIV/AIDS, especially targeting sur-vivors of child sexual abuse, children living in poverty, and childrenwith special needs. (See Child Protection)
The Work Plan: HIV/AIDS 19
Develop and implement an appropriate gender-sensitive HIV/AIDSsensitization and information program targeting children and adoles-cents and those who provide services to them.
Develop and implement standardized gender-sensitive peer educationprograms in school and non-school settings.
Strengthen existing resource centres to provide information onHIV/AIDS, STIs, and life skills to both in and out-of-school adoles-cents. (See Education and Health)
Develop and implement a media strategy utilizing creative art formsto promote the message of HIV/AIDS prevention targeted at childrenand adolescents, ensuring a focus on gender issues.
Distribute free condoms at all STI clinics and VCT centres and throughall Community Nurses Aids, mobile clinics, and other clinics and out-reach programs available to adolescents.
Facilitate and encourage the development of community-based pro-grams to ensure adequate health care and nutrition and continuedaccess to schooling for children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS.
Target 4Children Orphaned by HIV/AIDSTo increase the availability of support services for children orphanedby HIV/AIDS.
Strategies and ActionStrengthen and expand care services for children and adolescentsorphaned and/or made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS.
Establish a referral network (with government and non-governmentbodies) for services provided to families and children living with andaffected by HIV/AIDS.
Establish mechanisms to ensure that proper case management forchildren who are infected with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS willinclude systems for responding to their multiple needs.
Establish mechanisms to ensure proper case management for chil-dren who are infected with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS that willinclude systems for responding to their multiple needs
Target 5Stigma and DiscriminationTo reduce the stigma and discrimination against children living withHIV/AIDS.
Strategies and ActionDevelop and enact policies and legislation to eliminate discriminationagainst families and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.
20 The Work Plan: HIV/AIDS
Develop and implement public awareness programs aimed at reduc-ing discrimination against families and children living with and affect-ed by HIV/AIDS.
The Work Plan: TheFamily2.5.5 The FamilyThe family in all its various forms is the basic unit of society andplays a vital role in all aspects of development of children and adoles-cents. We are committed to strengthen families through education,training and support services. This includes continuing the fightagainst poverty and facilitating the creation of more and betteremployment opportunities.
ObjectiveTo promote the right of children and adolescents to grow up in a nur-turing family environment.
Target 1The Family as a Basic Unit of SocietyTo increase the coverage of family support programs by 50 per cent.
Strategies and ActionTo develop, implement, and monitor a Policy Framework that allows forthe strengthening and empowerment of the family as the fundamentalsocial unit for the holistic development of children and adolescents.
Strengthen and expand the Community and Parent EmpowermentProgram and other relevant agencies to provide permanent and ongo-ing training in family and parenting issues.
Implement public awareness programs aimed at creating awarenessof child and adolescent development issues.
Develop mechanisms to provide quality counselling services nation-wide.
Establish a Family Court in each district.
Strengthen the institutional capacity of family courts to enforce thecollection and monitoring of maintenance payments both locally andfrom abroad.
Promote the establishment of day-care services to support workingfamilies with children.
Develop and implement guidelines to conduct family impact assess-ments as a component of developing national economic policies andprograms.
The Work Plan: The Family 21
Develop a system to ensure that investment is made in social pro-grams aimed at the protection and development of families.
Target 2Poverty and Economic SurvivalTo reduce the percentage of families who are living in poverty to beconsistent with the Poverty Elimination Strategy and Action Plan.
To increase economic opportunities to families with children and ado-lescents, especially targeting the most vulnerable families.
Strategies and ActionDevelop and implement all programs included in the National PovertyStrategy and Action Plan that affect children and their families.
Develop and implement a mechanism to ensure that the national min-imum wage and the national child and spouse maintenance ratesreflect the cost of living.
Encourage the development and implementation of employment poli-cies that are sensitive to the needs of working parents, with specialattention given to single parents.
Provide employment and income generating opportunities to parentsthrough the provision of training and skill development programs andaccess to job placements and credit.
The Work Plan: Culture2.5.6 Culture Culture is an integral part of a nation’s identity and development. Weare committed to enhancing opportunities for children and adoles-cents to gain an understanding, appreciation and acceptance of thediverse cultural heritage of Belize. We also encourage the active par-ticipation of children and adolescents in the cultural and artistic devel-opment of the nation.
ObjectiveTo provide accessible and affordable programs that enable children todevelop a sense of self and a healthy respect and appreciation for thediverse culture of Belize.
Target 1Creative Arts Education and TrainingIncrease the accessibility and affordability of creative arts programsfor children at the primary and secondary school levels and out-of-school adolescents.
Strategies and ActionTrain teachers at all levels to stimulate and nurture children’s interestin the creative arts.
22 The Work Plan: Culture
Provide itinerant teachers to promote and teach the creative arts inthe school system.
Develop and implement structured creative arts education programsaimed at at-risk children.
Create and implement structured creative arts programs aimed at par-ents as well as children and adolescents.
Target 2Cultural Exposure/InformationIncrease the accessibility and affordability of opportunities for expo-sure to information on the diverse culture of Belize.
Strategies and ActionPromote field visits by all primary and secondary schools to sites andexhibits of natural, cultural, and historical interest.
Facilitate and promote family and child friendly travelling culturalshows and exhibits through the Houses of Culture and other facilitiesin each region.
Train personnel to conduct guided tours of cultural shows andexhibits, for children and adolescents.
Encourage the development of materials containing cultural informa-tion for all children and adolescents.
Develop and make accessible an electronic database on past and con-temporary cultural information, resources, and research.
Promote and conduct inter and intra-country cultural exchange pro-grams to expose children and their families to a wide range of cultur-al experiences and creative art forms.
Promote private sector and local government involvement in culturalactivities aimed at families and children.
Target 3Cultural ExpressionIncrease opportunities for cultural expression among children andadolescents.
Strategies and ActionImprove the Festival of Arts Program for primary school students toraise the standard for participation and award selection.
Expand the National Festival of Arts Program to include the participa-tion of all children and adolescents.
Develop and implement Outstanding Artist’s award programs with ayoung artist component.
The Work Plan: Culture 23
The success of the National Plan of Action for Children andAdolescents (NPA) for Belize will depend on the quality of the plan aswell as the implementers’ capacity for resource mobilization. Themobilization of resources includes being able to effectively use allavailable resources to implement, monitor and evaluate a plan ofaction. In addition to having the financial capacity to engage in thesemultiple tasks, the implementers also need to mobilize human andmaterial resources. Creating partnerships and ensuring effective coor-dination and monitoring are, therefore, key elements of the resourcemobilization strategy.
24 The Work Plan: Culture
Protectionand preser-vation of the
family as a basic unitof society.
Overall principles, NPA
Resource Mobilization 25
CHAPTER 3Resource Mobilization
Step 3: Know what specific things youwant to doThe third step is to know what specificthings you will do to effect the changes envi-sioned. These specific things are the policiesand programs which individuals or groups ofpersons or organizations will implementover a period of time. These policies andprograms are strategies that determine theresource needs for implementation.
Step 4: Know who will do whatThe fourth step is to decide who or whichgroup or organizations are best placed,given their human, financial, and materialresources as well as their mandate andexperience, to implement the policies andprograms outlined in the plan of action. Thisprocess also includes an analysis of the lev-els of coordination and collaborationrequired for specific activities to remainlinked to the larger goals, objectives, and tar-gets they are to achieve. In the context of theNPA, inter-agency and inter-sectoral coordi-nation and collaboration will be key toensuring that existing resources are maxi-mized and that the work remains focused onthe holistic development of children andadolescents.
2.0 Resource MobilizationBelow are some proposed steps to guide themobilization of resources for the implemen-tation, monitoring and evaluation of the NPAto the year 2015.
3.1 Guidelines for ResourceMobilization
Step 1: Define the problems or issuesto address This is one of the most important steps inresource mobilization, as it enables the plan-ners and implementers of the NPA to beginto develop strategic solutions to these prob-lems or issues. The situational analysis ofchildren and adolescents, which accompa-nies the NPA, is the document which hasperformed this function.
Step 2: Have a vision of the solutionOnce the problems or issues are defined, itis necessary to have an idea of what solu-tions are possible. These ideas express theexpected change in the problems or issuesidentified in Step 1. The NPA process hasarticulated these ideas or solutions in itsgoals, objectives, and targets to be achievedwithin a specific time frame.
Step 5: Analysis of potential partnersand resources (government, non-gov-ernment and external agencies)The fifth step is to analyze which agency,whether local or external, has an interest inthe problems or issues which you havedefined as important. The programs includ-ed in the plan are then matched with poten-tial partners. Partners include persons, agen-cies, organizations and community groupsthat can provide financial, human, or materi-al resources to achieve the vision or solutionto the problems and issues identified. Anongoing process for the implementers of theNPA will be:
(a) analyzing current partnerships and theresources they already provide and thenidentifying gaps, and
(b) identifying and matching gaps with newpartners who can assist in advancing thegoals, objectives, and targets of the NPA.
A key activity at this level is to develop mini-plans. This includes prioritizing strategiesand developing initial three-year plans withaccompanying provisional budgets for thoseactivities that require financial input.
Step 6: Lobbying and nurturing poten-tial partners The sixth step is to lobby and nurture thepotential partners. This includes dialoguingand developing a relationship with them.This nurturing and relationship buildingextends to ongoing partners as well. TheNPA is expected to attract both local andexternal partners, none of whom are to betaken for granted. For example, governmentresources are not infinite: therefore, there isalways a constant need for information shar-ing, lobbying, and understanding betweenthe finance and economic development min-istries and the social sector ministries toenable the prioritization of resources for theNPA. Similarly, there is a need to build rela-tionships with communities, beneficiaries,non-government organizations, and externaltechnical assistance or funding agencies tocreate “buy-in” and “ownership” of the pro-grams to be implemented.
26 Resource Mobilization
Step 7: Access funds The seventh step is to access identifiedresources. This includes the ongoing access-ing of existing and potential resources. Insome cases this will require mobilizing com-munity participation; in others, it will requiregetting technical assistance or equipment,and yet in others, it will require accessingfunds. For the effective implementation ofthe NPA, all the above strategies will need tobe employed to access resources. Since eachexisting partner or potential partner mayhave his/her own process for deciding onparticipation, the implementers of the NPAwill need to be flexible. For example, strate-gies to mobilize community participation willbe very different from accessing funds fromthe government or from external fundingpartners. To access funds from the govern-ment, implementers will need to budget forspecific activities under their recurrent orCapital II budgets and lobby actively forfinancing of those activities. The Ministry ofFinance is prepared to assist in the justifica-tion and lobbying process. To access fundsfrom external agencies, the implementerswill need to develop concept papers andproject proposals (including budgets) forsubmission to these partners. The Ministryof Economic Development has committeditself to providing assistance to social sectorministries in this regard.
Step 8: Implement plansThe eighth step is to implement activities forwhich resources have been mobilized. In thecontext of the NPA, some activities can beimplemented with little or no resources inaddition to what already exists. However, forthose activities that require additionalresources, implementation begins with theaccess and distribution of resources. Themanagement of resources is also to be con-sidered at this point.
Step 9: Monitor plansThe ninth step is to monitor the specific pro-grams being implemented in the context ofwhether or not they are meeting their tar-gets. For the implementers of the NPA, thisprocess will include the monitoring of indica-tors that measure change (either positively
Resource Mobilization 27
or negatively) and conducting research toprovide baseline data where none exists.
Step 10: Evaluate plans by measuringimpactThe tenth step is to evaluate the impact thatthe plans have had on making the changesenvisioned as solutions to the problems orissues identified in Step 1. The implementersof the NPA will need to conduct regular eval-uations through:
(a) an analysis of the monitoring indicators(Step 9) and
(b) social research (semi and end-of-termevaluation reports), which will employ a vari-ety of research methods to gather data ofimpact–surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc.
Step 11: Report to partnersThis step is completed on an ongoing basisand alongside the monitoring and evaluation
of plans of action. At times reporting to part-ners depends on the partner’s funding cycleor the contracts made with individual part-ners. Reporting to a community will dependon agreements made with that community. Itwill be important for the implementers of theNPA to honour reporting agreements andcontracts to enable proper accountabilitythroughout the process of implementation.This helps to maintain existing partnershipsas well as to build new partnerships, leadingto program sustainability.
Step 12: Start all over againResource mobilization is a continuousprocess. As an integral part of the planningcycle, it must be flexible. The implementersof the NPA will need to ensure that theirresource mobilization strategies are consis-tent with the needs identified for theadvancement of the overall plan.
RESOURCE MOBILIZATION FLOW CHART
1. DefineProblems /
Issues
2. EnvisionSolutions
3. DevelopPlan
4. DefineImplementers
5. ConductResource
Needs Analysis
6. Lobby /Nurture Existing
and PotentialPartners7. Access
Funds
9. MonitorPlans
10. EvaluateImpact and
Plans
11. Reportto Partners
8. ImplementPlans
4.0 Monitoring and EvaluationThe outcome document of the World Summitfor Children clearly stated that for NationalPlans of Action for Children to be monitoredand evaluated, each country should:
“establish appropriate mechanisms for theregular and timely collection, analysis andpublication of data required to monitor relevant indications… Statistics should bedisaggregated by gender. It is particularlyimportant that mechanisms be establishedto alert policy makers quickly to any adversetrends to enable timely corrective action…Indicators of human development should beperiodically reviewed by national leadersand decision makers, as is currently donewith indicators of economic development.”
Belize has recognized that it must strength-en its data collection and information sys-tems if it is to successfully monitor andevaluate its National Plan of Action forChildren and Adolescents. Below is a reviewof the status of data collection and informa-tion systems in Belize, a commitment toimprove these systems, a proposed institu-tional framework for monitoring and evalua-tion, and proposed guidelines for monitor-ing and evaluating the NPA.
28 Monitoring and Evaluation
4.1 The Status of Data Collection andInformation Systems in BelizeBelize has signed and ratified numerousinternational conventions, treaties, and dec-larations that call for action to be taken toenhance human development in all spheresof life and throughout the lifespan. In manyinstances, the Government of Belize, throughits national mechanisms, has adopted theseinternational commitments by developinglocal policies and/or developing relevantlocal legislation as required. The develop-ment of the Families and Children’s Act, forexample, was prompted by the ChildProtection components of the Convention onthe Rights of the Child (CRC). Similarly, thedevelopment of the Sexual and ReproductiveHealth Policy was prompted by internationalcommitments to eliminate discriminationagainst women as outlined in theConvention on the Elimination of all Formsof Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).The NPA is also the localizing of Belize’sinternational commitment as stated in theoutcome document of the United NationsGeneral Assembly’s Special Session onChildren.
With the signing and ratification of thesenumerous international and national commit-ments, the Government of Belize must
Monitoring and EvaluationCHAPTER 4
Monitoring and Evaluation 29
account, both nationally and internationally,for progress made toward achieving the goalsand objectives of human development. A well-established, well-coordinated and implement-ed data collection and information system iskey to measuring progress as defined by bothnational and international conventions,treaties, declarations, policies, and laws.
As the demand for technical data and infor-mation becomes more critical in the humandevelopment planning process, Belize is, asare most countries in the Caribbean, strug-gling to improve its data collection and infor-mation systems.
One of the most important data collectionand information systems in Belize is operat-ed by the Central Statistical Office (CSO).This Office co-chairs the Social IndicatorsCommittee (SIC). The CSO is responsible forconducting the national census and country-wide surveys such as the HouseholdExpenditure Survey, the Population andHousing Census, the Family Health Survey,the Labour Force Survey, and, just recently,the Child Activity Surveys and the PovertyStudy, among others.
In addition, there are data collection andinformation systems localized in ministriessuch as the National Health Information andSurveillance System in the Ministry ofHealth and the Education Statistical DataSystem in the Ministry of Education. TheMinistry of Human Development, the VitalStatistics Office, the Social Security Board,and other government and quasi-govern-ment bodies also have their own data andinformation collection systems. It is becauseof the recognized need to coordinate andmonitor these information systems thatmost of these bodies have organized them-selves to form the Social IndicatorsCommittee, whose main task is to provideinformation for the monitoring of socialdevelopment goals and targets.
To be able to effectively perform its monitor-ing duties, the SIC and its member agenciesare implementing recommendations ema-nating from a recent institutional assessmentexercise.
The recommendations called for the SIC to
• Clearly define some social sector issuesrequiring data collection and monitoringe.g. child abuse.
• Review and modify the data collectioninstruments within specific sectors and sur-veillance units.
• Provide training that will enhance thecapacity of personnel to manage relevanthardware and software.
• Provide training in data analysis.
• Develop a local area network system tofacilitate data collection and disseminationacross units, departments, and ministries.
4.2 A Commitment to ImprovedInformation Systems The National Plan of Action for Children andAdolescents provides an opportunity for theSocial Indicators Committee (SIC) to providevaluable technical input into an inter andintra-ministerial long-term social planninginitiative, not only for the NPA, but also forbroader human development policies andplans of action. In recognition of this grow-ing demand for data to enable the monitor-ing and evaluating of such initiatives, the SIChas made a renewed commitment to institu-tional strengthening and inter and intra min-isterial collaboration. The SIC, in partnershipwith UNICEF, is therefore embarking on acapacity-building project to:
• Develop and implement an Integrated andComprehensive Data and InformationSystem which allows for the monitoring ofsocial development indicators, includingdata and information on children and theirfamilies.
• Strengthen the institutional capacity of theSocial Indicators Committee to manageand monitor social development indicators,including data and information on childrenand their families.
30 Monitoring and Evaluation
This project includes the provision of
(a) hardware and software dedicated solelyfor data collection, analysis, and dissemina-tion and
(b) relevant training in the use of the data col-lection, analysis, and dissemination system.
The implementation of this capacity-buildingproject remains key to the successful moni-toring and evaluation of the NPA.
4.3 A Proposed InstitutionalFramework for Monitoring andEvaluating the NPAThe overall monitoring and evaluation ofhuman development policies and plans ofaction are the responsibility of a Cabinetappointed National Human Development
Advisory Committee (NHDAC). The NHDACis chaired by the Ministry of EconomicDevelopment and includes representationfrom key social sector ministries, non-gov-ernment organizations, community-basedorganizations, and international develop-ment partners. Because the NCFC, which is amember of the NHDAC, legally serves as thecoordinating and monitoring body for issuesrelated to families and children, it will bedirectly responsible for the coordination,monitoring, and evaluation of the NPA.Reports from the NCFC will be submitted tothe NHDAC on a regular basis as input intothe overall planning, monitoring, and evalua-tion of human development policies andplans in Belize. It is proposed that the infor-mation flow between the NCFC and NHDACbe conducted as presented below.
Information Flow Chart
As shown in the information flow chart, anNCFC Monitoring and InformationSubcommittee will be formed. It is proposedthat this committee be comprised of:
• Members of the NCFC
• Representatives from the two major politi-cal parties
• Technical resource persons
• Children and adolescents
National HumanDevelopment
Planning, Monitoringand Reporting
NHDAC
NCFC Secretariat
NCFC Membership
NCFC M&E subcommittee
Dissemination to relevant stakeholders
and the public
Ministry ofthe Attorney
General
Relevant NGOs /Partners
Ministry ofHuman
Development(SIC)
Ministry ofEducation
(SIC)
Ministry ofHealth(SIC)
CentralStatistical
Office (SIC)
Monitoring and Evaluation 31
It is proposed that the subcommittee beresponsible for:
• Reviewing the proposed guidelines formonitoring and evaluation.
• Agreeing on the monitoring indicators andbaseline data.
• Agreeing on the flow of information fromthe source of information gathering to theNCFC Secretariat. This will include thedevelopment of a mechanism for inputfrom children.
• Agreeing on the terms of reference for anystaff/consultant hired to compile and ana-lyze the relevant data or conduct the trien-nial situational analysis and evaluationstudies.
• Reviewing periodic draft NPA monitoringreports and triennial situational analysis andevaluation reports submitted by the NCFCSecretariat or consultant (as necessary).
• Making policy recommendations to thelarger NCFC body based on the contents ofthe monitoring reports and the triennial sit-uational analysis and evaluation reports.
• Ensuring the timely compilation and offi-cial release of periodic monitoring reportsand updates on the status of progress onthe NPA and ensuring the same for the sit-uational analysis and evaluation reports.Reports and updates are to be sent to thepolicy-makers, the NHDAC, the CentralStatistical Office, international develop-ment partners, key government ministries,NGOs, communities, and the public.
• Ensuring that the NCFC conducts annualretreats to discuss the findings of the peri-odic and triennial reports in order to makeadjustments (as necessary) to the NPA.
The Subcommittee should also be responsiblefor ensuring that research activities are con-ducted in 2004 to enable the establishment ofbaseline data in areas in which this has beenidentified as an urgent need. This includesstudies to determine baseline data on:
• The incidence and patterns and trends inthe manifestation of disabilities
• The timing of birth intervals
• The mental health status of children andadolescents
• The incidence and prevalence of childabuse in all its forms
• The recidivism rates among adolescentswho come in conflict with the law
It is also recommended that a longitudinalstudy be conducted over the full period thatthe plan will be implemented. This meansselecting a sample of children from birth andfollowing them through their lifespan toassess the impact of policies and services ontheir lives.
It is proposed that the subcommittee meet,as necessary, to agree on the structure andprocess for carrying out their duties andthen at least twice a year to review bi-annualNPA monitoring reports. It is also proposedthat once every three years the subcommit-tee meet to discuss the findings of the situa-tional analysis and evaluation reports.
4.4 The Structure of the NPAThe overall aim of the NPA is to improve thelives of children and adolescents in Belize.The improvement envisioned is stated asgoals and objectives in the NPA. The goalsand objectives are broad qualitative state-ments that present a vision of the state ofchildren and adolescents in the next 12years.
To enable the effective monitoring ofprogress toward meeting those goals andobjectives, the NPA has outlined a set of tar-gets that are to be achieved by 2015. The tar-gets outlined in the NPA are child-centred,defining the outcome of what is to beachieved, if the strategies and actions areeffectively employed. The strategies andactions therefore determine how the targetsare to be achieved. To ensure that the NPA ismoving toward achieving its targets, a set ofsocial indicators has been developed. Thesesocial indicators indicate the status of chil-dren and adolescents in relation to the tar-gets set in the NPA.
32 Monitoring and Evaluation
4.5 Guidelines for Monitoring the NPAThe monitoring of the NPA is thereforepremised on following progress throughmatching the indicators with the targets to beachieved by 2015. This means that the focusof monitoring is not on whether or not thestrategies and actions were completed, buton whether those strategies and actions wereeffective in showing positive changes towardthe achievement of the targets of the NPA.
For example, if the strategies and actions toreduce juvenile delinquency are not showingpositive changes in the monitoring indica-tors, and if it is clear that the target of reduc-ing recidivism by 80 per cent will not beachieved by 2015, then the monitoringprocess needs to recommend that newstrategies and actions be developed ratherthan continuing to employ those that are not
achieving the outcome desired. It is criticalto note that there must be flexibility at thelevel of strategies and actions to ensure thatthe NPA becomes an effective working docu-ment which can respond to the recommen-dations resulting from the monitoring andevaluation process.
The following tables are presented as aguide to be used to monitor the NPA. Thefirst table outlines the targets and indicatorsfor measuring progress as well as defines:
(a) the information system to be used to col-lect the relevant data and information for thepurposes of monitoring and evaluation;
(b) the period or frequency of data and infor-mation collections e.g. monthly, quarterly,annually, biennially, or every five years etc., and
Targets Indicators Level of Dis-aggregtion
InformationSystem
Frequency ofData
Collection
AgencyResponsible
Table 1.1 Data Monitoring Systems and Agencies
(c) the agency responsible, e.g. department,ministry, organization, etc.
The second table is a Progress MonitoringChart which outlines the targets and indica-tors and then goes on to define:
(a) the baseline data or starting point formeasuring progress e.g. IMR = 21.1 per1,000 live births in 2003;
(b) the status of the indicator and the year ofthe data e.g. IMR = 17.1 per 1,000 live birthsin 2007; and
(c) comments regarding progress or regressin achieving the targets set for 2015. Thecomments here are intended to be brief.Major comments are to be written in the nar-rative of the larger monitoring report.
These tables or charts are to be used in con-junction with other sources of informationthat provide a more qualitative means ofmonitoring progress. For example, animproved quality of education can only bemeasured if both quantitative and qualitativemeasures are taken to monitor progress.
Monitoring and Evaluation 33
4.6 Guidelines for Evaluating the NPAIn addition to the ongoing monitoring of theNPA is the need to engage in periodic evalu-ations. The evaluations will be concernedmainly with the level of progress towardachieving the overall goals, objectives, andtargets of the NPA. They will, therefore, beconcerned with measuring the impact of theNPA over a specific period of time. A two-pronged approach to evaluation is recom-mended–on the one hand, to carry out a situ-ational analysis which compiles and ana-lyzes both quantitative and qualitative datato measure impact, and on the other hand,to conduct an evaluation of the internalprocesses and systems for implementing theNPA. It is recommended that a situationalanalysis and evaluation studies be complet-ed every three years.
The Situational Analysis should examine thecurrent status of children and adolescentsand record the major challenges and oppor-tunities for addressing and meeting theirneeds, while abiding by both national andinternational commitments.
The Evaluation Study should focus more onthe NPA and how that process has been ableto meet its own targets, objectives, andgoals within a specified period of time. TheSituational Analysis should greatly inform
the evaluation process. Some key questionsto be answered in the evaluation process are
• Are the NPA targets being met?
• Are the NPA objectives and goals beingmet? To what extent?
• What are the best practices to be replicatedand why?
• What strategies need to be discontinuedand why?
• What are the major challenges?
• What lessons can be learnt?
• What now needs to be completed withinthe next three-year period and where willthe resources come from?
• Who are the major stakeholders for thenext period and what are their interests?
• What new benchmarks need to be set formonitoring and evaluation in the next period?
While the monitoring of the NPA is theresponsibility of a core group of persons andorganizations (children and adolescentsincluded), the evaluation process shouldinvolve all relevant stakeholders.
Targets Indicators (a) BaselineData-Yr.
(b) Status-Yr. (c) Comments
Table 1.2 Progress Monitoring Chart
Annex A- The Working Group
The National Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents was devel-oped, reviewed and approved by a bi-partisan Working Group com-prised of:
Three representatives from the People’s United Party:Joan MusaSandra HallH.E. Dolores Balderamos Garcia with Melissa Balderamos-Mahler as an alternate
Three representatives from the United Democratic PartyKathy EsquivelDiane HaylockDarrel Bradleywith Honourable Patrick Faber as an alternate
National Youth CouncilRafael Castillo
National Committee for Families and ChildrenJudith Alpuche
UNICEFDr. Nadya VasquezRoy BowenMinelva Johnson – ConsultantJoop Hendrikx - Consultant
PAHOSandra Jones
ANNEX B - The Technical Committees
The National Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents was developed withtechnical input from:
Ministry of EducationErnest Raymond, Projects and PlanningYolanda Gongora, Director of School Services Dativa Martinez, Director of Education Support Services Sakina Mohammed; Coordinator, Communications Skills ProgramEleanor Enriquez-Castillo, Coordinator, Special Education UnitDiane Hall; Coordinator, Community Liaison and Security Program Anthony Castillo, Coordinator, Employment Training and Education Services Arthur Shears, Consultant, National Apprenticeship ProgramAlana Gillett, Coordinator, Pre-school Unit Shirlene Tablada, Coordinator, School Health and Physical Education Program(SHAPES) Dr. Paul Jones, Consultant
Ministry of HealthDr. Peter Allen, Director of Planning and ProjectsDr. Natalia Largaespada Beer, Director of the Maternal and Child Program Nurse Malva Allen, Coordinator, Maternal and Child Health ProgramNurse Dorla Mckenzie, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Project
34 Annex A - The Technical Committees
Annex B - The Working Group 35
Dr. Paul Edwards, Director of the National AIDS Program and the National Health Surveillance Erica Goldson-McGregor, Acting Director, HECOPAB
Ministry of Human Development, Labour and Local Government Anita Zetina, Director of the Women’s Department Ava Pennill, Director of the Department of Human Services Fermin Olivera, Director of the Community Rehabilitation Department Maureen Williams, Inspector of Social Services Institutions, MHDKevin Cadle, Human Development Coordinator, Community RehabilitationDepartment
National Committee for Families and Children Judith Alpuche, Executive Director John Flowers, Program Coordinator
National AIDS Commission Martha Carrillo, Executive Director, National AIDS Commission
Ministry of Tourism and CultureYasser Musa, President of the National Institute for Culture and HistoryAndy Palacio, Director of the Institute of Creative Arts Leroy Green, Institute of Creative ArtsWith Affiliates Diane HaylockMichael CoyeAlthea Sealy
Civil Society OrganizationsLorna McDougal, National Organization for the Prevention of Child Abuse and NeglectJewel Quallo, Belize Family Life AssociationJoan Burke, Belize Family Life AssociationSonia Lenares, Young Women’s Christian AssociationCarolyn Gentle-Gennitty, Young Men’s Christian Association Michael Cain, Alberto August, Herman Ramirez and Candelaria Young; Friends Boys School Rodel Beltran-Perrera, Alliance Against AIDS
International Development OrganizationsSandra Jones, PAHO Roy Bowen, UNICEFMinelva Johnson, UNICEFJoop Hendrikx, UNICEF
ANNEX C - Technical and Administrative Support
The National Plan of Action for Children and Adolescents was developedwith Technical and Administrative support from:
Belize Council of ChurchesRev. Canon Leroy Flowers Dame Elaine Middleton – Consultant
National Committee for Families and ChildrenAdele Catzim – Consultant Yuri Espiritu
