CARSI FS Grants to Improve Anti-Human Trafficking and Transparency in Government Spending
The Central American Regional Security Initiative Economic Support Fund, through the United States Embassy in Belize, awarded four grants to organizations in Belize that are fighting human trafficking and improving transparency in the management of government finances. All four grants total seven hundred and ten thousand U.S dollars. A handing over ceremony was held at the U.S Embassy Residency in Belmopan this afternoon. News Five’s Paul Lopez was there.
Michelle Kwan
Michelle Kwan, U.S Ambassador to Belize
“I am thrilled you could join us to celebrate the recipients of the 2022 Central American Regional Security Initiative Economic Support Fund, CARSI FS and the Fiscal Transparency Innovation Fund. The United States is very proud to award to award seven hundred and ten thousand American dollars to this organization working to combat trafficking in person, promote accountability and transparency and improve public service delivery to vulnerable communities.”
Among the 2022 CARSI FS Grant recipients were the Accountability Lab, the Human Trafficking Institute, RET International and Love Foundation. Representatives from each organization were present at the U.S Embassy Residency in Belmopan to receive their grant awards.
Deborah Seawell
Deborah Seawell, Representative, Accountability Lab
“We will run an integrity innovation lab which will bolster the ministry’s training unit and work with fourteen reformers from within the Belizean government at all levels to supercharge their reform efforts. These change makers will receive hands on support to push for change and be integrated into a vibrant network, predicated on the ideas of integrity and citizen centric decision making.”
Chris Nick
Chris Nick, Country Coordinator, Human Trafficking Institute
“Our grant goal is to strengthen the collaboration between the government and civil society and their response to trafficking. Our goal is to ensure that front line agencies can ID as well as to report trafficking. Lastly, to collaborate with government to provide better service to victims.”
Cherese Ferguson
Cherese Ferguson, Country Director, RET International
“Our proposal responded directly to objective one of the 2022 Central American Regional Security Initiative Economic Support Fund, CARSI FS Fund, to develop and strengthen mechanisms that improve coordination and cooperation among key stakeholders to curb human trafficking and improve services to vulnerable marginalized populations, especially women and children.”
Deborah Seawell
“Through this grant we hope to develop a mechanism set to improve the coordination and cooperation among public officers to perform their duties as effective stewards of the public service and to promote a more fiscally transparent and accountable government. We will also support Belizean civil society and non-government stakeholders to understand GOB’s financial management and effective fiscal control systems.”
We also spoke with Christine Valeria the Grant Officer Representative at the CARSI FS program. She spoke with us about the selection process for the grant awards and the accountability mechanism in place.
Christine Valeria
Christine Valeria, Grant Officer Representative, CARSI FS
“I think that accountability process starts from even when a proposal is submitted because it is important for us to do our due diligence to ensure that these organizations can manage the funding provided. Aside from that once a grant is awarded we do regular site visits, monitoring, they are required to submit quarterly report to ensure accountability for what they said. We don’t only monitor and speak with the grantee, we also speak with the implement partners so if they mention and activity was carried we make sure to follow up with the other beneficiaries and stakeholders to make sure that was actually carried out.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
