As Central America and the Caribbean brace for increasing climate-driven extreme weather events, Belize is gearing up to take the helm of one of the region’s most critical financial cooperation bodies later this year. Ahead of its assumption of the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Council of Ministers of Finance of Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic (COSEFIN) this July, a high-level COSEFIN delegation recently wrapped up a four-day working visit to Belize to support the country’s transition into the leadership role. The visit, held from May 19 to 22, focused on aligning priorities and laying the groundwork for Belize’s term at the head of the regional organization. During their stay, the delegation held formal meetings with top Belizean leadership, including Prime Minister John Briceño, Minister of State Dr. Osmond Martinez, and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Pol of the Ministry of Economic Transformation. The talks centered on a set of pressing priorities for the region, starting with the Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Financial Management. This framework was developed to equip member states with the tools and coordinated systems needed to mitigate and respond to the massive economic fallout of natural disasters including hurricanes, flash floods, and other climate shocks that disproportionately impact small Central American and Caribbean nations. Beyond disaster risk planning, discussions also explored actionable pathways to strengthen public financial management across the bloc and enhance cross-border coordination between member states, addressing longstanding gaps in regional economic cooperation. For Belize, this upcoming presidency marks an unprecedented milestone. The country only joined COSEFIN in recent years, where the rotating leadership position passes between all member states on a scheduled basis. The transition to Belizean leadership comes as the region faces growing economic and climate pressures, making coordinated financial action more urgent than ever. As Belize finalizes its preparations, the presidency will offer the small nation an opportunity to shape regional financial policy and amplify its voice on issues that impact Central American and Caribbean development.