Belize City, March 4, 2026 – UNICEF’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Roberto Benes, has completed a significant two-day diplomatic mission to Belize, marking a pivotal moment in regional child welfare collaboration. The high-level visit, embedded within an extensive regional itinerary, focused on reinforcing institutional frameworks for children’s rights and well-being throughout the Caribbean basin.
This strategic engagement served as a critical preparatory phase for the forthcoming Caribbean Multi-Country Programme 2027–2031, designed to enhance cooperative mechanisms between governmental authorities and international development partners. During intensive consultations, Director Benes convened with Prime Minister John Briceño, Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca, and Colin Young, Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre.
The multilateral dialogue addressed pressing and emerging challenges affecting youth populations across Belize and the wider Caribbean region. Key discussion points included innovative approaches to strengthen policy frameworks, optimize financial architectures for child-focused initiatives, and amplify adolescent participation in regional decision-making processes. Particular emphasis was placed on customizing technical assistance strategies for middle-income nations like Belize to maximize developmental impact.
In his concluding remarks, Benes highlighted the synergistic partnership between UNICEF and the Belizean government, noting their mutual dedication to creating environments where every child can thrive in safety, receive quality education, and achieve their full potential. He formally recognized Belize’s considerable advancements in children’s rights implementation while reaffirming UNICEF’s commitment to maintaining dynamically responsive cooperation aligned with national development objectives.
This Belizean leg constitutes an integral component of Benes’ comprehensive regional tour, systematically designed to deepen collaborative networks with governments, development agencies, and UNICEF country teams to accelerate transformative outcomes for children across Latin America and the Caribbean.