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About Us

Mission Statement

and 

Vision

MISSION STATEMENT

The National Association of Village Councils is a collaborative umbrella organization representing the Village Councils of Belize, committed to ensuring the rights and responsibilities of Village Councils through relevant advocacy and services that will enable them to fulfill their mandate. 

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OUR VISION

A sustainable human development of all rural communities in Belize. 

Our Objectives

OBJECTIVES

  1. Rural leaders’ capacities to effectively address the needs of the communities, are improved. 

  2.  The Village Council Act is recognized and respected by the Government of Belize and the general public. 

  3.  Services to the rural communities are delivered effectively and equitably. 

  4. The financial and legal sustainability of NAVCO & DAVCOs are ensured. 

  5. Economic and social programs and projects are identified, developed, and implemented in the rural communities 

 

Our History 

 NAVCO is an association of the smallest unit of local government in the country of Belize. It is made up of the 193 councils of villages including seven communities. A community is the official designation of settlements that do not meet the official qualification criteria for becoming a village. The Village Councils Act of 1999 formalized the establishment of Village Councils and also mandated the establishment of an Association of all village councils nationwide. The formal establishment of Village Councils by the Act bestowed for the first time the opportunity to citizens in rural areas the right to elect their own leaders to govern their villages. A village council consists of seven persons elected by the villagers to govern a village for a period of three years and is headed by a Chairperson. 

     The Act called for the establishment of an Association at the District and National Levels. At the District level, the village councils in a particular district elect among themselves twelve members to serve on a District Board. A similar process is used at the National level. NAVCO has a Board of Directors, also known as the National Board, made up of twelve members with a term of three years. Each of the six District Associations elect two representatives to the National Board with the President elected directly. The rationale for establishing the Associations was to further strengthen the voice of the councils and the people they represent. These Associations can represent any village council or group of village councils at forum where they may not have the resources to represent themselves. 

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