CEFAS23-66 Contract for services to establish Waste Association in Belize under OCPP

The Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) was announced this year as a key bilateral aid programme under the £500m Blue Planet Fund. Through £5.7m of secured funding for 2021-22, the UK will work in partnership with at least six countries to deliver marine science technical assistance across the 3 core themes of marine pollution, biodiversity loss and supporting sustainable seafood. OCPP objectives are to support countries to tackle marine pollution, support sustainable seafood practices and establish designated, well-managed and enforced Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

In 2021-25, Cefas will lead delivery of the Marine Pollution and Sustainable Seafood themes of OCPP.

The OCPP Marine Pollution strand will build on work in countries where Cefas and UK marine partnerships are already active, as well as forge new relationships in priority regions.

The OCPP will begin by building on the successes of the Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLiP), using established foundations to expand technical training and capacity building in Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) eligible countries and foster collaboration internationally to tackle marine pollution.

Under the OCPP Programme, Cefas are working with The Government of Belize (GOB) to support an aspiration to further safeguard its environment and human health. As such, the Belize Solid Waste Management Authority (BSWaMA) was established to facilitate arrangements for the collection and disposal of solid waste and to devise ways and means for the efficient collection and disposal of solid waste, including exploring the possibility of recycling the waste materials.

As the country continues to grow, there will be demand for more and better waste solutions. In response to the specific challenge of lack of a unified platform for the informal recyclers and private sector waste managers, the GOB has identified the need for the formation of a Waste Recyclers and Producers Organisation.

The supplier will provide technical advice in support of the establishment of a Waste Association in Belize under OCPP.