BELIZE CITY, Belize (September 18, 2026) — The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the Government of Belize held a launch ceremony today for the Belize Compact—a $125 million grant agreement from the U.S. Government through MCC to unlock growth in Belize and support opportunities for U.S. businesses in the country through investments in workforce development and energy.
MCC Acting Vice President for Compact Operations Jason Small participated in the ceremony alongside U.S. Ambassador to Belize André Bauer, Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño, and Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Economic Transformation Carlos Pol. The launch ceremony signifies the start of the five-year implementation phase of the compact, which combines a $125 million grant from MCC and nearly $55 million from the Government of Belize to reduce the cost of electricity and increase the number of high school and technical and vocational school graduates with relevant skills for the labor market.
“MCC and the Government of Belize designed this compact together to deliver a more skilled workforce and reduce the cost of electricity so businesses, including American companies investing in Belize, can thrive and expand while laying the foundation for sustained economic growth,” said Jason Small, Acting Vice President of MCC’s Department of Compact Operations.
“With today’s launch of the Belize Compact, the United States and Belize have begun a new chapter in our partnership as we work together to establish long-term prosperity for our two peoples,” said André Bauer, U.S. Ambassador to Belize.
The compact consists of two projects — the Energy Project and the Education Project:
The Energy Project will reduce the cost of electricity by installing a new high-voltage submarine transmission cable from Belize mainland to the nearby island of Ambergris Caye. The new transmission cable will strengthen the national transmission network, remove the need to use more expensive emergency power to support the rapidly growing economic zone, and help deliver more reliable energy to businesses — including American companies. Additionally, the project will improve Belize’s power sector framework through support for modern grid codes and dispatch regulations to enable safe, reliable, and cost-effective electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. Finally, support for a new Energy Act and institutional framework will provide clear, effective rules for governing Belize’s electricity sector and enable future investment from the U.S. and elsewhere.
The Education Project will transform Belize’s secondary education and technical and vocational education training (TVET) sector to ensure post-primary graduates have the skills and knowledge sought by the labor market, creating more opportunities for jobseekers and helping businesses thrive and expand. The project also supports key policy and institutional reforms, such as establishing national student assessments and a more rigorous evaluation process for teacher licensing; improving access by offering free education at all government schools; and creating a National Training Authority to ensure TVET providers and the private sector remain closely aligned and work in collaboration.
“MCC and the Government of Belize designed this compact together in the spirit of true partnership. The grant builds upon development priorities in Belize to deliver long-term economic growth for our people,” said Prime Minister John Briceño.
The Belize Compact will have nationwide impact, with the program reaching all secondary schools and TVET institutions and ultimately benefitting all households and businesses connected to the electricity grid.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation is an independent U.S. Government agency focused on unlocking growth through results-driven foreign assistance. MCC’s grants support large-scale infrastructure, strategic reforms, and economic modernization. MCC advances America’s economic and strategic interests by delivering measurable returns to both recipients and U.S. taxpayers—expanding commercial opportunities for U.S. businesses, reducing the influence of competitors, and reinforcing global environments aligned with American values.
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