The Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) is a Programme promoting poverty reduction through socio-economic initiatives and community empowerment.

BNTF is jointly funded by the Carribean Development Bank (CDB), the Government of Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and ten beneficiary Governments including Belize. The Carribean Development Bank (CDB) launched the BNTF Programme in 1979. It began as the Carribean Education Development and Basic Human Needs/Employment Sector Programme. This CDB initiative was launched with financial assistance from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), targeted at improving conditions in rural communities (approximately 2/3 of the Region's poor). Over some 23 years and commitments totaling $105 million (mn), BNTF, in its four previous phases of implementation has benefited over 1,700,000 Carribean citizens directly and provided more than 414,000 person weeks of employment to people in poor communities. It has developed special mechanisms to: target poor communities; increases local government and community participation; strengthen local capacity related to planning and implementing small social infrastructure (SI) sub-projects; and improved the efficiency of its SI implementation processes and systems in the region.

The Programme provides the means (infrastructure) for direct delivery of basic public services to poor communities and its method of implementation allows for a more socially inclusive development process. Sub-project activity includes provision of water systems, schools, health facilities, rural roads, drains and footpaths, market infrastructure and day-care centers and skills training. BNTF construction activities have provided much short-term employment for residents of deprived communities. Opportunities through small works contracts have also helped small local contractors and artisans.

The participating Governments are committed to the goals of BNTF and have all requested that CDB continue funding the Programme. CDB recognizes the urgency with which this support must be provided, and has accorded the Programme very high priority with the allocation of increased resources during the strategic plan period of 2000-2004, under the Unified Special Development Fund (SDF V). This is consistent with CDB's strategic objective of helping to reduce poverty and improve the status of the most vulnerable in Carribean Society.