SIB ENHANCES INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY FOR MONETARY POVERTY ANALYSIS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SIB Enhances Institutional Capacity for Monetary Poverty Analysis

BELMOPAN CITY, BELIZE, June 4, 2025 – The Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB) hosted an intensive, week-long training session on the computation of Monetary Poverty Statistics from May 26 to May 30, 2025, at its headquarters in Belmopan. The training was delivered by international consultant Mr. Marcos Dantas Hecksher and funded under the Enabling of Belize’s Statistical System project, supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). This training aligns with one of the main activities of the project, which is to “Support the educational upskilling of SIB staff.” This activity is overseen by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which serves as one of the primary Participating United Nations Organizations (PUNO) under the KOICA-funded initiative.

The training was conducted in a hybrid format and brought together SIB’s statisticians and technical officers to learn about the methodologies and practical tools required for the production of poverty statistics using internationally aligned methodologies. Specifically, the training focused on the income approach to poverty measurement, which involves comparing household income against a defined poverty threshold to identify individuals or households living in poverty. This method is integral to producing consistent and comparable poverty statistics that can inform effective policy-making.

As Belize continues to strive towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1, to end poverty in all its forms by 2030, the enhancement of SIB’s statistical capacity becomes increasingly vital. These efforts reinforce the Institute’s pivotal role in supporting the country’s Medium Term Development Strategy and Horizon 2030, both of which prioritize poverty reduction and sustainable development. The technical assistance provided by Mr. Hecksher through the KOICA project, represents a strategic investment in SIB’s mission to deliver high-quality, evidence-based statistics that inform effective policy-making and drive national development.

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For more information, please contact:

Javier Romero
Communications and Marketing Officer
Statistical Institute of Belize
jromero@mail.sib.org.bz
+501 822 2207 ext. 209