Diletta Doretti Director, Caribbean Latin America and the Caribbean Region June 30, 2024 The Honourable John Briceño Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Investment Sir Edney Cain Building Belmopan City Belize Re: Belize Omnibus Amendment to Loan Agreements to introduce the Rapid Response Option Honourable Minister Briceño: We refer to the loan agreements between Belize and the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (“Bank”) in respect of the loans listed in Annex 1 to this letter (“Loan Agreements”). We also refer to your letter dated May 30, 2024, regarding the incorporation of the Rapid Response Option (RRO) approved by the World Bank Board of Directors on February 1, 2024, in the Loan Agreements. In view of the above, and to establish the RRO for a CERP, the Bank proposes to amend the Loan Agreements in accordance with Annex 2 to this letter. All other terms and conditions of the Loan Agreements shall remain in full force and effect. Please confirm your agreement with the foregoing by signing and dating this amendment letter in the space provided below. 3rd Floor, Courtleigh Corporate Center, 6 St. Lucia Avenue, Kingston 5, Jamaica  Phone 1 (876) 960-0459 Email : lburunciuc@worldbank.org Honourable Minister Briceño -2- June 30, 2024 The provisions set forth in this amendment letter shall become effective as of the date of the countersignature. Sincerely, By: _________________________ Diletta Doretti Acting Director, Caribbean Latin America and the Caribbean Region AGREED: BELIZE By: _________________________ Authorized Representative Christopher Coye Name: _________________________ Minister of State - Ministry of Finance, Economic Development & Investment Title: _________________________ 01-Jul-2024 Date: _________________________ Enclosures: Annex 1: List of Loan Agreements Annex 2: Amendments to Loan Agreements Cc: Mr. Joseph Waight, Financial Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Mr. Carlos Pol, Ag. Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Economic Development and Investment Mr. Duane Belisle, Director, Policy and Planning Unit, Ministry of Finance, Economic Development & Investment Ms. Rubiceli Perera, Ministry of Finance, Economic Development & Investment Ms. Katharine Rechico, Executive Director, World Bank Mr. Edward Tierney, Alternate Executive Director, World Bank Mr. Ranse Brian Mark Langrin, Advisor to the Executive Director, World Bank Mr. George Richardson, Director, Global Head of Capital Markets, World Bank Mr. Junxue Chu, Director, World Bank Mr. Miguel Navarro-Martin, Manager, World Bank Honourable Minister Briceño -3- June 30, 2024 Ms. Patricia De la Fuente Hoyes, Manager, World Bank Mr. David A. Tan, Manager, World Bank Mr. Victor Ordonez, Senior Finance Officer, World Bank Ms. Gaukhar M. Kaliaskarova, Senior Counsel, World Bank Mr. Isaias Losada Revol, Senior Counsel, World Bank Mr. Jake Jungkwan Kim, Financial Officer, World Bank Mr. Jose C. Janeiro, Senior Finance Officer, World Bank Ms. Lelia Sampaio Werner, Finance Analyst, World Bank Ms. Marina Batkovic, Finance Analyst, World Bank Honourable Minister Briceño -4- June 30, 2024 ANNEX 1 List of Loans by Project Name and Number Loan No. Project Name and Number Signature Date 9347 BELIZE-CRESAP June 21, 2022 9344 BELIZE COVID-19 Response Project July 20, 2022 Honourable Minister Briceño -5- June 30, 2024 ANNEX 2 Amendments to the Loan Agreements 1. A new Section 1.03 is added to Article I of the Loan Agreements to read as follows: “1.03. All references to “Project” in the General Conditions are understood to apply, mutatis mutandis, to the Contingent Emergency Response Project (“CERP”) (except for the relevant Section on “Project Monitoring and Evaluation” and “Financial Management; Financial Statements; Audits” and the definitions of “Project”, “Project Agreement”, “Project Implementing Entity”, “Project Implementing Entity’s Representative”, “Project Report” and “Respective Part of the Project”).” 2. Section 2.01 of Article II of the Loan Agreements is amended by adding the following sentence at the end of this section: “Furthermore, the parties to this Agreement agree that the Loan includes the Rapid Response Option (“RRO”).” 3. Section 3.01 of Article III of the Loan Agreements is amended by adding the following sentence at the end of this section: “Furthermore, the Borrower declares its commitment to the objectives of the CERP, and to this end, shall carry out, or cause to be carried out, the CERP in accordance with Article V of the General Conditions and the Addendum to Schedule 2 to this Agreement.” 4. Part A (General) of the relevant Section on Withdrawal of Loan Proceeds of Schedule 2 to the Loan Agreements is amended by adding a new paragraph in accordance with the applicable numbering sequence, as follows: “[#]. Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous paragraph(s) of this Section, and solely with respect to the amount of the Loan allocated to the Category titled “Eligible Expenditures for the CERP”, the Borrower may withdraw the proceeds of the Loan, in accordance with Article II of the General Conditions and the CERP Disbursement and Financial Information Letter, to finance Eligible Expenditures for the CERP. 5. The withdrawal table set forth in Part A (General) of the relevant Section on Withdrawal of Loan Proceeds of Schedule 2 to the Loan Agreements is amended by adding one additional category in accordance with the applicable numbering sequence, as follows: Honourable Minister Briceño -6- June 30, 2024 [(#) Eligible 0 100% (inclusive of Expenditures for the Taxes) CERP] 6. Part B (Withdrawal Conditions; Withdrawal Period) of the Section on Withdrawal of Loan Proceeds of Schedule 2 to the Loan Agreements is amended by adding the following paragraphs at the end of said part: “[#]. Further to paragraph 1 above and notwithstanding the provisions of Part A above, no withdrawal shall be made: (a) for Eligible Expenditures for the CERP under the respective Category, until and unless the Bank has notified the Borrower that the following conditions have been fulfilled: (i) (A) the Borrower has determined that an Eligible Crisis or Emergency has occurred, and has furnished to the Bank a request to reallocate and thereafter withdraw all or part of the Unwithdrawn Loan Balance for the financing of a specific Crisis Response Plan under a CERP under implementation at the time of the request; and (B) the Bank has agreed with such determination, accepted said request and notified the Borrower thereof; and (ii) the Borrower has adopted the CERP Manual (with the CERP ESCP attached as an annex) and the Crisis Response Plan, both in form and substance acceptable to the Bank. 7. An Addendum to Schedule 2 is added to the Loan Agreements to read as follows: “ADDENDUM TO SCHEDULE 2 CERP Execution Section I. Implementation Arrangements 1. The Borrower shall carry out the CERP pursuant to the Crisis Response Plan(s), the CERP Manual, the Environmental and Social Standards, the CERP ESCP and the environmental and social instruments prepared thereunder, all in a manner acceptable to the Bank. To this end, the Borrower shall ensure that: (a) the structures and arrangements referred to in the CERP Manual are maintained throughout the implementation of the CERP, in a manner and substance acceptable to the Bank; Honourable Minister Briceño -7- June 30, 2024 (b) the environmental and social instruments required for the CERP, and the respective Crisis Response Plans are prepared, disclosed and adopted in accordance with the CERP Manual and the CERP ESCP, and in form and substance acceptable to the Bank; (c) the measures and actions specified in the applicable CERP ESCP are implemented with due diligence and efficiency, as provided in the CERP ESCP; (d) sufficient funds are made available to cover the costs of implementing the CERP ESCP; (e) policies and procedures are maintained, and qualified and experienced staff in adequate numbers are retained to implement the CERP ESCP, as provided in the CERP ESCP; (f) subject to the prior written agreement of the Bank, any revised CERP ESCP, and/or environmental and social documents prepared thereunder, is/are disclosed promptly after their approval; (g) all measures necessary are taken to collect, compile, and furnish to the Bank through regular reports, with the frequency specified in the CERP ESCP, and promptly in a separate report or reports, if so requested by the Bank, information on the status of compliance with the CERP ESCP and the environmental and social instruments referred to therein, all such reports in form and substance acceptable to the Bank, setting out, inter alia: (i) the status of implementation of the CERP ESCP; (ii) conditions, if any, which interfere or threaten to interfere with the implementation of the CERP ESCP; and (iii) corrective and preventive measures taken or required to be taken to address such conditions; and (h) the Bank is promptly notified of any incident or accident related to or having an impact on the CERP which has, or is likely to have, a significant adverse effect on the environment, the affected communities, the public or workers, in accordance with the CERP ESCP, the environmental and social instruments referenced therein and the Environmental and Social Standards. 2. The Borrower shall ensure that neither the Crisis Response Plan nor the CERP Manual or the CERP ESCP is amended, suspended, abrogated, repealed or waived without the prior written approval by the Bank. Nevertheless, in the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of the CERP Manual, the Crisis Response Plan, or the CERP ESCP, on the one Honourable Minister Briceño -8- June 30, 2024 side, and any provision of this Agreement, on the other, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail. 3. The Borrower shall, or shall cause to, establish, publicize, maintain, and operate an accessible grievance mechanism, to receive and facilitate resolution of concerns and grievances of people affected by the CERP, and take all measures necessary and appropriate to resolve, or facilitate the resolution of, such concerns and grievances, in a manner acceptable to the Bank. 4. The Borrower shall ensure that all bidding documents and contracts for civil works under the CERP include the obligation of contractors, subcontractors and supervising entities to: (a) comply with the relevant aspects of the CERP ESCP and the environmental and social instruments referred to therein; and (b) adopt and enforce codes of conduct that should be provided to and signed by all workers, detailing measures to address environmental, social, health and safety risks, and the risks of sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and violence against children, all as applicable to such civil works commissioned or carried out pursuant to said contracts. 5. All goods, works, and services required for the CERP and to be financed out of the proceeds of the Loan shall be procured in accordance with the requirements set forth or referred to in the latest iteration of the “World Bank Procurement Regulations for Borrowers under Investment Project Financing” that had been issued by the Bank on the day of the Bank’s endorsement of the CERP for financing and the provisions of the CERP Procurement Plan. 6. The Borrower shall ensure that the CERP is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the latest iteration of the “Guidelines on Preventing and Combating Fraud and Corruption in Projects Financed by IBRD Loans and IDA Credits and Grants” that had been issued by the Bank on the day of the Bank’s endorsement of the CERP for financing. Section II. Project Monitoring, Reporting and Evaluation 1. The Borrower shall: (a) maintain or cause to be maintained policies and procedures adequate to enable it to monitor and evaluate on an ongoing basis, in accordance with indicators acceptable to the Bank, the progress of the CERP and the achievement of its objectives; (b) prepare or cause to be prepared periodic reports (“CERP Report”) and in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank, integrating the Honourable Minister Briceño -9- June 30, 2024 results of the monitoring and evaluation activities of the CERP and setting out measures recommended to ensure the continued efficient and effective execution of the CERP, and to achieve its objectives; and such CERP Reports shall be prepared: (i) on an annual basis in the absence of an Eligible Crisis and Emergency; and (ii) at least semi-annually, as further determined in the CERP Manual, throughout the implementation period of a Crisis Response Plan during an Eligible Crisis and Emergency; (c) furnish or cause to be furnished each CERP Report to the Bank promptly upon its preparation, afford the Bank a reasonable opportunity to exchange views with the Borrower on any such report, and thereafter implement such recommended measures, taking into account the Bank’s views on the matter; and (d) except as the Bank may reasonably determine otherwise, not later than six (6) months after the end of the implementation period of the CERP, prepare or cause to be prepared and furnish to the Bank: (i) a report of such scope and in such detail as the Bank shall reasonably request, on the execution of the CERP, the performance by the Borrower and the Bank of their respective obligations, and the accomplishment of the purposes of the Loan; and (ii) a plan designed to ensure the sustainability of the CERP’s achievements.” 2. The Borrower shall: (a) maintain or cause to be maintained a financial management system and prepare financial statements (“CERP Financial Statements”) in accordance with consistently applied accounting standards acceptable to the Bank, both in a manner adequate to reflect the operations, resources and expenditures related to the CERP; (b) have the CERP Financial Statements periodically audited by independent auditors acceptable to the Bank, in accordance with consistently applied auditing standards acceptable to the Bank; (c) not later than the date specified in the CERP Disbursement and Financial Information Letter, furnish or cause to be furnished to the Bank the CERP Financial Statements as so audited, and such other information concerning the audited Financial Statements and such auditors, as the Bank may from time to time reasonably request; (d) make the audited CERP Financial Statements, or cause the audited CERP Financial Statements to be made, publicly available in a timely fashion and in a manner acceptable to the Bank; and Honourable Minister Briceño -10- June 30, 2024 (e) if requested by the Bank, periodically furnish or cause to be furnished to the Bank interim unaudited financial reports for the CERP, in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank and as further specified in the CERP Disbursement and Financial Information Letter.” 8. The following definitions are inserted in the Appendix to the Loan Agreements in alphabetical order, as follows: [([#]) “CERP Disbursement and Financial Information Letter” means the letter transmitted by the Bank to the Borrower specifying the additional instructions for disbursement (including the “World Bank Disbursement Guidelines for Projects”, as revised from time to time by the Bank and as made applicable to this Agreement pursuant to such letter) and setting out CERP specific financial reporting requirements. ([#]) “CERP ESCP” means the environmental and social commitment plan for the CERP to be prepared and adopted by the Borrower as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions thereof, setting forth the material measures and actions that the Borrower shall carry out or cause to be carried out to address the potential environmental and social risks and impacts of the activities detailed in the said Crisis Response Plan, including the timeframes of the actions and measures, institutional, staffing, training, monitoring and reporting arrangements, and any environmental and social instruments to be prepared thereunder. ([#]) “CERP Financial Statements” means the financial statements referred to in Section II.2 (a) of the Addendum to Schedule 2 to this Agreement. ([#]) “CERP Manual” means the implementation manual to be prepared and adopted by the Borrower setting forth the detailed implementation arrangements for the CERP, including: (i) any structures or institutional arrangements, allocation of responsibilities and decision making powers for coordinating and implementing the activities thereunder; (ii) the specific activities to be implemented under the CERP in response to the declared/determined Eligible Crisis and Emergency; (iii) the template for the Crisis Response Plan; (iv) the positive list of Eligible Expenditures for the CERP; (v) the financial management and withdrawal arrangements for the CERP; (vi) the procurement methods and procedures to be followed in the implementation of the CERP; (vii) a description of the environmental and social assessment and management arrangements applicable to the CERP; and (viii) template of the CERP Reports as well as the monitoring and evaluation arrangements for the activities thereunder. Honourable Minister Briceño -11- June 30, 2024 [([#]) “CERP Procurement Plan” means the Borrower’s procurement plan for the CERP, provided for under Section IV of the Procurement Regulations, as such plan may be updated from time to time with the Bank’s approval. ([#]) “CERP Report” means each report on the CERP to be prepared and furnished to the Bank pursuant to Section II.1 of the Addendum to Schedule 2 to this Agreement. ([#]) “Contingent Emergency Response Project” or “CERP” mean the contingent emergency response project prepared from time to time by the Borrower and agreed with the Bank aimed at responding promptly and effectively to an Eligible Crisis or Emergency, as further elaborated in the Crisis Response Plan(s), as amended from time to time by agreement between the Borrower and the Bank. ([#]) “Crisis Response Plan” means the plan to be prepared and adopted by the Borrower in response to an Eligible Crisis or Emergency detailing, among others: (i) the activities to be implemented under the CERP in response to the Eligible Crisis or Emergency; (ii) the estimated budget therefor and corresponding appropriations and/or financing sources; (iii) the implementation timeline which, unless the Bank otherwise agrees, shall not exceed twelve (12) months; (iv) the foreseeable procurement and an abridged CERP Procurement Plan therefor; and (v) the envisioned results framework and indicators. ([#]) “Eligible Crisis or Emergency” means an event that has caused, or is likely to imminently cause, a major adverse economic and/or social impact to the Borrower, associated with a natural or man-made crisis or disaster. ([#]) “Rapid Response Option” or “RRO” means the use of all or any portion of the Loan that has been requested by the Borrower and accepted by the Bank in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to assist in financing the CERP.”