Posted: Tuesday, June 10, 2025. 8:24 am CST.
Press Release
The Ministry of Economic Transformation (MET) wishes to address recent media coverage regarding the position of Financial Administrator within the Global Fund Implementation Unit, responsible for managing the Global Fund Cycle 7 Grant.
As the Principal Recipient (PR) of the Global Fund, MET is committed to transparency, accountability, and full compliance with both national and international standards in all aspects of its operations, particularly recruitment.
The Global Fund is a well-established international financing institution that has supported Belize’s national HIV/AIDS response since 2007. In August 2024, the Ministry of Economic Development (now the Ministry of Economic Transformation) began the transition process to become the new Principal Recipient of the Global Fund. This process involved a comprehensive capacity assessment conducted by the Global Fund to ensure that all systems met the required fiduciary, programmatic, and governance standards. Full approval was granted in October 2024, at which point the recruitment process for the Global Fund Implementation Unit officially commenced.
On 4th November 2024, the position of Financial Administrator was publicly advertised in strict adherence to Government of Belize (GOB) procurement procedures and with the explicit approval of the Global Fund. Applications were screened and shortlisted based on the specifications outlined in the approved Terms of Reference. A total of four candidates were shortlisted and invited to the interview stage.
The interview panel included:
- The Finance Officer of the former Principal Recipient (PR), National Health Insurance
- The Finance Officer of the Ministry of Economic Development
- A representative of The National AIDS Commission
- A representative of The Ministry of Finance
- A representative from the Ministry of the Public Service (MPS)
- An external consultant/specialist
Following the interview process, which took place on 22nd November 2024, a standardized evaluation report was completed. The candidate with the highest overall score on technical skills and experience, Jorge Rodriguez, was recommended for the position. This recommendation was then submitted to the Ministry of Finance for review and forwarded to the Office of the Contractor General for final approval. Upon receiving the required clearances, the candidate was formally offered the position which he accepted on 31st December 2024, with his agreement of engagement thereafter, dated with effect from January 1, 2025.
Importantly, at no point was the current Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Transformation, Dr. the Hon. Osmond Martinez, involved in any part of this recruitment process; he was, in fact, serving as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Trade at the time, up until March 12, 2025. It is also important to note that the Ministry of Economic Development had no involvement in the procurement process — this was conducted by an independent evaluation committee comprised of designated technical personnel and oversight bodies in accordance with approved guidelines.
The Global Fund Implementation Unit strongly encourages any media platforms and interested parties to contact our office if there are any discrepancies or questions you wish to be addressed. We are more than willing to comply with any valid information request as we believe in a process that is fair, impartial, and fully compliant with national and international standards.
We reaffirm our commitment to transparency, good governance, and the successful implementation of the Global Fund Grant in Belize.
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The post Ministry of Economic Transformation Clarifies the Hiring of the Financial Administrator– Global Fund Implementation Unit appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Tuesday, June 10, 2025. 8:24 am CST. Press Release The Ministry of Economic Transformation (MET) wishes to address recent media coverage regarding the position of
The post Ministry of Economic Transformation Clarifies the Hiring of the Financial Administrator– Global Fund Implementation Unit appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
