At the 2026 annual conference of Rotary International District 7020, hosted in Jamaica between April 28 and May 1, Haiti’s leading water and sanitation public agency secured a landmark multi-year investment to expand critical public services across the country. The National Directorate of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DINEPA), led by Director General Théophil Ostinvil, held a series of targeted high-level strategic talks with top Rotary leaders during the event, including former Rotary International President Barry Rasin, former Zone 33/34 Director Jeremy Hurst, and incumbent District 7020 Governor William Bill Aiken, alongside multiple past district and organizational leaders.
These in-depth discussions successfully aligned the institutional priorities of both organizations around advancing Haiti’s drinking water and sanitation goals, laying a solid foundation for deeper long-term collaboration. After productive negotiations, the two sides finalized a binding financial commitment of $10 million that will be disbursed over the coming five years. This injection of capital marks a major milestone in resource mobilization for Haiti’s underfunded water and sanitation infrastructure.
The new funding falls under the ongoing partnership between DINEPA and Rotary International District 7020, managed through the Haiti National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Initiative (HANWASH) — the official technical implementation body for Rotary’s development work in Haiti. Beyond addressing the urgent need for capital, this commitment carries broader strategic meaning: it signals broad international confidence in DINEPA’s institutional leadership and validates the impact of recent sectoral reforms implemented by the agency. It also opens new doors for expanded technical and financial partnerships with other global development actors, a critical enabler for Haiti’s goal of achieving universal access to safe drinking water and formal sanitation services for all citizens.