On July 22, 2026, a landmark 48-month initiative to strengthen climate disaster resilience across Haiti’s southern regions was officially launched at a Port-au-Prince workshop, marking a coordinated multilateral effort to address the country’s extreme vulnerability to climate shocks.
As a Small Island Developing State and Least Developed Country grappling with decades of severe environmental degradation, Haiti consistently ranks among the world’s most at-risk nations for climate-related disasters. Communities across the country already face recurring, devastating events including hurricanes, prolonged droughts, flash floods, and deadly landslides—crises that are projected to intensify as global temperatures rise.
The new initiative, titled “Strengthening Resilience to Climate Disasters in Southern Haiti,” is led by Haiti’s Ministry of the Environment (MdE) and Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The project carries a total investment of $16 million, including $4.3 million in core funding from the Global Environment Facility’s (GEF) Least Developed Countries Fund, alongside $11.7 million in complementary co-financing.
Over four years, the project will directly support more than 115,000 residents who rely on the already stressed ecosystems of Grand’Anse and Nippes departments, building their ability to adapt to climate impacts. “This project reflects the Haitian government’s commitment to placing environmental protection and community resilience at the heart of our national adaptation strategy,” said Valéry Fils-Aimé, Haiti’s Minister of the Environment. “The Grand Sud region is paying a heavy price for climate hazards, and we must act now, together, to restore our ecosystems and offer a dignified future to the people who depend on them.”
The initiative centers on ecosystem-based adaptation, a nature-centric approach that blends habitat restoration with disaster risk reduction to improve community livelihoods. Juan Bello, Regional Director and Representative of the UNEP Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasized that this strategy turns natural assets into a frontline defense against climate shocks. “Ecosystem-based adaptation represents a proven technical response that combines nature restoration, risk reduction, and tangible improvements in living conditions,” Bello explained. “Thanks to good governance, the natural capital of southern Haiti can become the communities’ first line of defense against climate shocks.”
Project interventions will be focused on three core priority areas. First, the initiative will upgrade institutional governance and build capacity at both the national and local levels to reduce climate vulnerability across the targeted regions. Second, it will support local authorities and communities to adopt more sustainable land management practices, expand environmental protection efforts, and restore degraded habitats. Third, the project will develop climate-resilient agricultural value chains and improve smallholder producers’ access to formal markets.
Pierre Vauthier, FAO Representative in Haiti, framed the work as a critical link between climate action and food security. “Food security cannot be guaranteed without climate security, and vice versa,” Vauthier noted. “Restoring soils and coastal areas, through crop diversification and reforestation, protects communities, their livelihoods, and infrastructure from environmental shocks, while also facilitating access to markets: all concrete levers for transforming vulnerability into sustainable opportunities.”
A wide range of Haitian national stakeholders are participating in project implementation, including the Directorate of Civil Protection, local municipal authorities, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector. UNEP and FAO will provide technical and coordination support to these partners throughout the project lifecycle, backed by GEF resourcing.
Nicole Kouassi, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, reaffirmed the United Nations system’s long-term commitment to supporting Haitian communities amid overlapping climate, environmental, and socio-economic crises. “The United Nations system in Haiti remains fully committed to standing alongside the Haitian people to address the combined climate, environmental, and socio-economic challenges,” Kouassi stated. “This project illustrates the power of coordinated multilateral action to build the resilience of the most vulnerable populations.”
The Port-au-Prince launch workshop brought together all key stakeholders to review the project’s four-year workplan, align efforts with existing ongoing development and climate initiatives in the region, and surface recommendations for maximizing impact while addressing potential implementation barriers. Following the workshop, project teams will move forward with targeted community engagement activities, strengthen inter-departmental coordination, and conduct participatory needs assessments across the six communes selected for intervention. A Project Steering Committee will oversee regular monitoring of all operational activities, with the overall initiative designed to directly advance Haiti’s existing national strategies for climate adaptation and climate disaster risk reduction.