MONTREAL – Between April 17 and 19, 2026, the La Renaissance Convention Centre played host to the 8th annual International Days of the Haitian Diaspora (JIDH 2026), a three-day collaborative summit that gathered cross-sector stakeholders united around a single shared mission: unlocking tangible, actionable pathways to drive long-term change for Haiti. As the lead partner for this year’s edition, Haiti’s National Education Fund (FNE) positioned the event as a critical platform to rally the global Haitian diaspora around a new, education-centered vision for national progress, bringing a high-level delegation led by Director General Elysé Colagene to lead discussions.
For decades, the global Haitian diaspora has been recognized primarily for its critical financial remittances that support households and local economies across the country. But at JIDH 2026, FNE leaders made the case that the diaspora’s contribution can no longer be limited to monetary support. With deep professional expertise, global connections, and proven talent across education, technology, and institutional development, the community is uniquely positioned to drive systemic modernization of Haiti’s public education system – a transformation FNE frames as the foundational pillar of sustainable national development.
In multiple addresses to summit attendees, Colagene stressed that scattered, uncoordinated diaspora initiatives have historically limited their impact on Haiti’s education sector. Instead, he argued for embedding diaspora leadership into a formal, cohesive national strategy that aligns contributions with clear, measurable outcomes. “Our goal is not just to mobilize the diaspora – it is to center their skills and perspective in every step of our work to deliver real change to Haitian students and educators,” Colagene stated, calling for strengthened alignment between Haitian public institutions, international technical partners, and diaspora-led expertise networks.
Summit discussions centered on three core priorities for collaborative action: expanding inclusive talent development for Haitian educators and students, integrating digital technology into classroom learning to expand access to high-quality resources, and building formal, sustainable mechanisms for cross-border skills transfer. FNE representatives emphasized that building structured, coordinated frameworks for these efforts is key to avoiding the fragmentation of initiatives that has weakened past education improvement projects, ensuring every contribution advances shared national goals.
Beyond plenary sessions and working groups, the FNE delegation held a series of closed-door bilateral meetings with key diaspora leaders and stakeholder organizations to lay the groundwork for new cooperative projects. The talks identified multiple new opportunities for partnership in educator training, educational innovation, and institutional capacity strengthening, setting the stage for formal collaborations to launch in the coming months.