The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a new Belize Early Childhood Development and Female Empowerment Project aimed at expanding access to quality early childhood education while improving women’s employment opportunities. The initiative is designed to address key social and economic gaps by strengthening childcare systems and supporting workforce participation among women.
Belize currently faces low preschool enrollment and limited childcare availability. In the 2023–24 school year, only 39% of children aged 3 to 4 were enrolled in preschool, while formal childcare services remain scarce, with just 24 registered daycare centers concentrated in major cities. This limited access contributes to weaker early learning outcomes, which can affect long-term educational achievement and workforce readiness.
The shortage of affordable childcare also significantly impacts women’s participation in the labor market. The female labor force participation rate stands at 43.6%, below the regional average, and many women with young children leave employment to manage household responsibilities. The challenge is particularly pronounced in rural and Indigenous communities, where childcare constraints are even more severe.
To address these issues, the project will expand early education infrastructure by adding 60 new preschool classrooms in underserved communities and upgrading 30 existing preschools to improve learning conditions and teaching quality. It will also establish or enhance around 80 early childhood development centers in collaboration with communities and private providers, offering services for children up to age four.
The initiative is expected to strengthen both educational outcomes and economic participation by reducing childcare barriers and creating new jobs in early childhood education and care. It also aims to improve service quality and climate resilience across facilities, while building stronger pathways to skills development and employment for women.
The project is supported by a US$23.5 million credit from the International Development Association, the World Bank’s concessional lending arm, along with a US$1.28 million grant from the Early Learning Partnership.
