National Consultation on a Framework for Climate Services in Belize

• To review the current status of generating climate information at the country level and asses specific needs for climate services in the agriculture and food security sector;
• To review the current status of interfacing mechanisms and interactions between climate services providers and users, identify major areas for improvement and recommend effective mechanisms and practices in the Caribbean;
• To articulate the capacity building needs in terms of mandates, infrastructure as well as human resources, in all the components of the GFCS in the Caribbean;
• To discuss and recommend arrangements for improved production, better access and sustainable operations for climate  predictions and services to facilitate the flow of climate information from global and regional scales through the national and local scales;
• To chart a roadmap for the effective development and application of climate services in support of agriculture and food security and other climate sensitive sectors in Belize, particularly water, which is itself of strategic importance to agriculture in the Caribbean context.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE WORKSHOP

(i) enhanced understanding of the needs for climate services in different user sectors; (ii) improved knowledge of the existing interface mechanisms and recommendations for improvements where needed; (iii) clear understanding of capacity development needs to implement the GFCS at national levels; (iv) strategic guidance on institutional arrangements, partnerships and processes required to operationalize the GFCS at the national level.