AID grant to Belize Enterprise for Sustained Technology for a pilot program of management and technical services

BEST will make preliminary contacts with the cooperatives and associations to determine their operational weaknesses (e.g., in such areas as production, organization, management, and finance), and will then conduct a diagnostic assessment to determine the causes of the problems. In cooperation with group members, BEST will develop possible solutions and assist in implementing them. Once the group is adequately carrying out its new responsibilities and improved growth and returns are evident, BEST will gradually withdraw assistance. Throughout the assistance sequence, BEST will employ an open and sensitive approach in order to promote the active participation of cooperative members and employees on which the success of the project absolutely depends. BEST will also work with at least one lending institution (preferably, the Development Finance Corporation) to enable it to deal more effectively with the project"s target groups. Direct beneficiaries are estimated at some 20,000 people in Belize"s northern and southern districts.