Building Capacity, Brand, and Innovation

Funder

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office – Blue Social Challenge Fund (Grant ID: SBE-BSCF 301439-407)

Cofinancing

International Institute for Sustainable Development – IISD Grant, Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future (Grant ID: BFSF/GAP/TA4/2023/10), SICA AZUL Project – Republic of China (Taiwan)

Timeframe

November 2024 – September 2025

Empowering BWSFA: Strengthening Sustainable Seaweed Mariculture through Capacity Building, Marketing and Innovation

By late 2024, BWSFA was ready to think bigger. With farms, training, and institutional systems in place, the Association turned its attention to innovation, branding, and diversification. This flagship project became a showcase of what Belizean women could achieve when given the resources to dream and deliver. The project didn’t just expand farms — it expanded possibilities. Soap-making, ecotourism tours, branded merchandise, and viral social media campaigns all came to life, bringing Belizean seaweed into homes, conversations, and markets in ways never seen before.

Highlights

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New three-year organizational Strategic Plan and fundraising strategy developed to guide organizational growth.
Seven (7) plots rehabilitated plus a seed bank established, yielding 5,170 lbs wet Kappaphycus alvarezii and 112 lbs Eucheumatopsis isiformis.
Developed and piloted the innovative Seaweed Farm Tour, with 7 guides trained; received 4.8/5 satisfaction rating.
Eight (8) members trained in seaweed soap-making, producing 24 test batches.
Developed draft formulations for three new seaweed soaps.

Standardized wet-to-dry ratios, imported grinding machine (BS 180 Hammer Mill) for powder.
Filed a collective trademark, launched new packaging and branded merchandise.
Social media campaigns (including a viral influencer collaboration) drove visibility and boosted sales by 152%.
Five (5) members completed Advanced Level II Boat Captain training.

Outcomes

This project showed that BWSFA was more than a farming association — it was an engine of innovation. From new products to ecotourism to social media buzz, BWSFA proved seaweed could capture imagination and market share alike.

Partners

Legacy

This was the project where BWSFA became a household name. It bridged the gap between local farming and national branding, preparing the ground for initiatives like SICA AZUL.