Social Investment Fund marks decade of service

For an institution that has spent almost fifty million dollars, the Social Investment Fund has maintained a remarkably low profile. Today, however, in celebration of its tenth anniversary, officials allowed themselves a small pat on the back. News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports from the nation’s capital.

Johnny Briceño, Deputy Prime Minister
?In ten years the Social Investment Fund has made a difference in the lives of our people.?

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
SIF began operations a decade ago with funding from the World Bank. It mission? Respond to the basic needs of the poor in Belize.

Oscar Alonzo, Executive Director, SIF
?The Social Investment Fund was created in 1996 as a result of an I.M.F. restructuring programme for Belize. So it was always to try to mitigate the negative effects of reduction in expenditures for the social sector so that then we wouldn?t have any deterioration in the services being provided to the country.?

Ten years, forty-eight million dollars, and hundreds of projects later, the organisation is still going strong.

Johnny Briceño
?We?re here to continue the good work of the Social Investment Fund. The case has been made in support of the programme?s success and the effects of its work fell up and down the highways and the roads of our country.?

In addition to constructing access roads and small drainage systems, SIF has installed water systems in fifty-five communities, and sanitary facilities thirteen. One hundred and forty-six schools benefited from added classrooms, rehabilitation, or furniture; two point two million dollars was invested in health centres and clinics, and nine hundred micro-entrepreneurs in the Belize and Cayo districts were able to start businesses. And that is only to name a few. But out of all their projects, Executive Director Oscar Alonzo says two are close to his heart.

Oscar Alonzo
?There are several projects we are particularly proud of. One we have been doing in Indian Church in the Orange Walk district, under which we have been able to provide advance training skills to artisans to improve the quality and the range of their products since they are near to an archaeological site, and they have been able to increase their production. Another project we are proud of is when we were called in to assist with hurricane rehabilitation in the Toledo District where in a matter of initial period of time we were able to mobilise the community in seventeen villages to construct three hundred and forty-three starter houses for them to be able to have a household since their homes were destroyed in the hurricane.?

But where does the money come from? According to Alonzo, funds are procured from international agencies by government and then handed over to SIF for disbursement.

Oscar Alonzo
?There?s a board of directors that we submit all applications to, so our technical staff do all the analysis once the project qualifies and then we prepare a document to the board of directors, which is as an autonomous institution. The board of directors are drawn from a wide cross-section of society. These representatives examine the proposals that are made and they are the ones that approve. Now based on the sources of funding from the international agencies, then we might either have to send it to them for further approval, depending on the size of the project.?

But after a decade of SIF trying to address the needs of Belize?s poor, poverty shows no sign of departure.

Oscar Alonzo
?Poverty cannot be overcome by one institution. It needs the united simultaneous joint efforts of several institutions. And it?s not a thing that can be overcome overnight either. It needs consistent planning, consistent monitoring and so on and collective use of resources to address the issue. So you?re talking about changing generations of cultures, mindsets, practices, and ways of doing things, so that it is a challenge.?

Johnny Briceño
?We live in a country where the demands of our people are ever increasing. The one thing that is constant in the Belizean society is the desire for growth. From the perspective of government it seems that each day the people require more to improve their lot in life. Our challenge therefore is how best to meet their desires and how to make the opportunities more equitable. It is a time for hope whenever we can mark an occasion with the promise that we have only begun to create betters days and brighter tomorrows. Congratulations on your tenth anniversary, we celebrate your good work.?

Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.

As part of its anniversary activities SIF will be launching an educational video later this month. If you have a project you think might qualify for SIF funding, visit their offices in Corozal, Punta Gorda or Belmopan. You must then fill out a project assistance form or write a letter stating your need and how it can be addressed by the Social Investment Fund.