In a significant move to address critical infrastructure delays, Haiti’s National Directorate of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DINEPA) has conducted a comprehensive evaluation mission of the Gonaïves Drinking Water Supply System rehabilitation project. Led by Director General Engineer Théophile Ostinvil, the inspection comes as part of the Grand-Nord Program—a major initiative funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) focusing on drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene improvements.
The high-level delegation pursued dual objectives: assessing substantial construction delays that have pushed the project’s completion timeline to April 2026, and evaluating the performance of the Results-Based Technical Assistance program responsible for operational strengthening at the Gonaïves Technical Operations Center. The supervising firm TECINA received formal notice regarding these delays during the mission.
This proactive governance approach aligns with DINEPA’s three strategic priorities: ensuring good sector governance, achieving financial autonomy through operational structures, and maximizing development within the drinking water and sanitation sector. The mission included technical meetings with both the Technical Assistance team and TECINA representatives to discuss project advancements and address field implementation challenges.
Strategic decisions were made to enforce contractual commitments, particularly concerning the April 2026 amendment expiration. Director Ostinvil and his technical team conducted multiple site visits to evaluate rehabilitation progress, network expansion efforts, and the condition of hydraulic installations undergoing modernization.
The intensified oversight demonstrates DINEPA’s renewed commitment to modernizing water infrastructure in Haiti’s strategic Grand-Nord region, particularly in densely populated Gonaïves where reliable drinking water access remains a pressing public need.