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标签： Haiti

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  • 37th Session of the Sectoral and Thematic Table on Social Protection in Haiti

    37th Session of the Sectoral and Thematic Table on Social Protection in Haiti

    Amid ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive and coordinated support system for vulnerable populations across Haiti, the country’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MAST) has brought together key sector stakeholders for the 37th gathering of its high-level Sectoral and Thematic Table on Social Protection (TSPS). Organized by MAST’s internal Studies and Programming Unit (UEP), the hybrid event, held both in-person at Port-au-Prince’s Montana Hotel and accessible to global participants via live videoconference, opened this week with a clear core mandate: strengthen institutional and multi-partnership coordination to address longstanding gaps in Haiti’s social protection ecosystem.

    In his formal opening address to attendees, Social Affairs Minister Marc-Elie Nelson centered his remarks on the critical role of Haiti’s National Policy on Social Protection and Promotion, framing the framework as a foundational strategic asset for MAST’s work. He explained that the recurring TSPS sessions serve a unique purpose in the sector: creating a structured space for cross-stakeholder dialogue, breaking down silos that have historically fragmented social protection interventions, and unifying diverse actors around aligned, collective action.

    “It is non-negotiable that every intervention, whether led directly by the Haitian state or implemented by our technical and financial partners, aligns fully with this national framework and contributes to its coherent rollout,” Nelson stated. He went on to reaffirm MAST’s unwavering commitment to sustaining collaborative partnerships, upholding alignment with national development priorities, ensuring intervention coherence, and leveraging complementary strengths across all participating organizations.

    Marie Hérolle Michel, Director General of MAST, followed the minister’s remarks by praising the consistent engagement and proactive energy of all stakeholders working to advance social protection across Haiti. She called for deeper cohesion and targeted collaboration to deliver tangible, practical results that directly improve the lives of Haitian citizens. “A cohesive national social protection system starts with cohesion right here within the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor,” Michel emphasized, underscoring the importance of internal alignment to set an example for external partners.

    The 37th TSPS session featured a structured agenda focused on progress tracking and future planning. Attendees heard a joint presentation on the Social Protection and Employment Accelerator Joint Project from leads Sergot Jacob and Thomas Debrouwer. Barbara Canton and Jonès Pyram delivered a comprehensive overview of key progress and achievements delivered through the TSPS framework over the preceding term. Claudy Louis, the TSPS Focal Point, walked attendees through the newly revised Terms of Reference for the roundtable, updating operational guidelines to reflect evolving sector needs. Finally, Lucny Cadet, Coordinator of MAST’s UEP, presented a formal action plan designed to revitalize the TSPS mechanism and expand its impact moving forward.

  • The MTPTC is tackling the obstacles in the construction sector in Haiti

    The MTPTC is tackling the obstacles in the construction sector in Haiti

    Against a backdrop of widespread infrastructure stagnation and limited economic growth across Haiti, the country’s Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Communications (MTPTC) has launched a targeted effort to diagnose and resolve the systemic barriers holding back the nation’s critical construction industry. On April 26, 2026, MTPTC head Joseph Almathe Pierre Louis, a professional engineer, convened a high-stakes working meeting with leadership from the Haitian Association of Construction Companies (AHEC) to align public and private priorities for the beleaguered sector.

    The core mandate of the gathering was straightforward: map the most pressing challenges that have stalled industry progress, then build a collaborative regulatory roadmap to unlock the sector’s potential as a driver of national development. From the opening of discussions, participants agreed that sweeping restructuring of Haiti’s fragmented construction market is a non-negotiable first step. Minister Pierre Louis stressed that more rigorous, organized governance of the sector is required to deliver long-term, sustainable improvements that benefit both industry operators and Haitian communities at large.

    Two particularly pressing pain points emerged as top priorities for reform. First, attendees addressed longstanding frustrations around access to public procurement opportunities. Existing eligibility criteria for public tenders are widely viewed as overly restrictive and poorly aligned with the capacity of Haiti’s local construction firms, locking many domestic providers out of both national and international contracted projects. Second, the group flagged chronic payment delays for completed work as a major drain on the national economy. The consistent failure to disburse funds to construction companies on schedule has eroded the financial health of local operators, severely limiting their ability to invest in new equipment, expand workforces, and take on additional projects.

    By the close of the meeting, attendees had agreed on a concrete next step: develop a formal project summary that outlines shared strategic objectives and ranks the most urgent constraints to address. The overarching goal of the collaboration is to reshape Haiti’s construction sector into a well-structured, fiercely competitive, and fully transparent engine of national economic growth. This coordinated public-private initiative aligns directly with the Haitian government’s broader commitment to roll out large-scale national modernization projects across the country, while simultaneously creating space for local entrepreneurship to thrive.

  • Training project in Haiti targeting 5,000 young people from high-risk neighborhoods

    Training project in Haiti targeting 5,000 young people from high-risk neighborhoods

    In a landmark bilateral cooperation gathering held on April 23, 2026, Haitian and Brazilian institutional stakeholders came together to advance two transformative initiatives focused on youth empowerment and community stabilization amid Haiti’s ongoing security challenges. The meeting brought together technical representatives from Haiti’s Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Civic Action (MJSAC), Brazil’s leading community security organization Viva Rio, and the Brazil-Haiti Cultural Center, all aligned around a shared goal of expanding opportunity for vulnerable young Haitians.

    At the core of the talks was the unveiling of an ambitious large-scale training project that aims to reach 5,000 young people residing in some of Haiti’s most high-risk urban neighborhoods. Designed to disrupt the cycle of violence that has drawn many disconnected youth into armed groups, the initiative frames skills training and mentorship as a concrete, life-changing alternative to recruitment by violent factions. Organizers have structured the project around a holistic model of prevention, one-on-one mentorship, and socio-community integration, seeking to reconnect marginalized youth to local support systems and economic opportunity.

    During discussions, stakeholders prioritized two neighborhoods for early intervention: Solino and Fort-Jacques. Both areas have been flagged as facing acute gaps in youth development resources, making them critical starting points for the initiative’s outreach and programming.

    Beyond the youth training project, MJSAC also presented a long-term strategic vision to its Brazilian partners: the “Sport Vision 2030” initiative. This multi-year plan centers on expanding access to quality sports infrastructure across Haiti and nurturing emerging athletic talent through inter-school championship programs. Backers say the project will create structured pathways to identify, mentor, and elevate a new generation of Haitian competitive athletes, while also using sports as a tool to build community cohesion and keep young people engaged in positive activities.

    The joint planning meeting marks a key step forward in bilateral cooperation between Haiti and Brazil, with both sides framing youth investment as a foundational strategy for long-term peace and development in the Caribbean nation.

  • The cleanup of Cap

    The cleanup of Cap

    Long plagued by chronic sanitation gaps that threaten public health and economic vitality, Haiti’s northern coastal hub of Cap-Haïtien is moving forward with sweeping cleanup efforts under the collective community initiative *Konbit Netwayaj*, paired with the monthly *Samedi Sitwayen* (Citizen Saturday) campaign that brings together residents and institutions for coordinated action on the last Saturday of every month. The ongoing effort, which first launched in September 2025, marked its latest major milestone on April 25, 2026, when Cap-Haïtien City Hall coordinated a cross-sector turnout of key national and local partners to clean up one of the city’s most high-profile public spaces.

    Joining the municipal team for the April cleanup were representatives from Haiti’s Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Public Works, and the National Solid Waste Management Service (SNGRS), alongside dozens of civil society groups, all of whom turned out in force to advance the initiative’s goals. What makes this local effort particularly notable is that it forms an integral part of *Konbit Haiti Zero Waste*, a nationwide movement spearheaded by the Ministry of the Environment to overhaul the country’s fragmented waste management systems.

    The April cleanup operation focused specifically on the scenic coastline stretching along the key arterial road linking Cap-Haïtien’s international airport to its bustling city center. This corridor is widely recognized as the city’s primary gateway for visitors and commerce, making its upkeep a critical priority for boosting local tourism and economic activity.

    In opening remarks to participants, Cap-Haïtien Mayor Angie Bell welcomed the national program’s support, framing it as a long-awaited boost to the municipality’s ongoing work to build more sustainable waste management practices. Bell emphasized that poor sanitation has stood as one of the most pressing, long-running challenges facing the city, and that the collaborative initiative has injected new momentum into local efforts to turn the tide. The Cap-Haïtien Municipal Administration further reaffirmed its pledge to continue uniting community stakeholders around the shared goal of building a cleaner, more organized urban environment for all residents.

    Environment Minister Valery Fils Aimé used the event to highlight the collaborative model that underpins the national movement, noting that the effort draws together public sector agencies, private sector actors, and civil society organizations in a shared mission. He stressed that solving Haiti’s complex environmental and sanitation challenges requires collective responsibility, urging every resident and institution to commit to ongoing action. “The fight against environmental challenges cannot be won without everyone’s involvement. Every little bit counts,” Fils Aimé told attendees.

    Daril Baltaza, Director General of the SNGRS, echoed that sentiment, praising both Cap-Haïtien residents for their relentless determination and local leaders for their proactive commitment to rolling out the program successfully. Baltaza also called on residents to embed long-term change by adopting consistent, responsible waste disposal and recycling habits in their daily lives, beyond scheduled group cleanup events.

    The Cap-Haïtien event marks a key stepping stone in the national program’s gradual expansion across Haiti. On April 26, just one day after the Cap-Haïtien cleanup, Minister Fils Aimé traveled to the northeastern border city of Ouanaminthe to formally launch the *Konbit Haiti Zero Waste* program locally. The initiative will then roll out to the coastal city of Gonaïves starting April 27, with additional rollouts planned for other municipalities across the country in the coming weeks and months.

  • Towards a new doctrine for the Armed Forces of Haiti

    Towards a new doctrine for the Armed Forces of Haiti

    Against a backdrop of ongoing efforts to strengthen Haiti’s national security infrastructure and align its military institutions with democratic standards, Haiti’s Minister of Defense Mario Andrésol has launched a key initiative outlined in his 2026-2027 Action Plan: the development of a new core doctrine for the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H).

    To ensure the final document draws on diverse, expert insight, Andrésol has assembled a working group of more than a dozen specialists spanning multiple relevant fields. The collaborative, consultation-driven approach is designed to pool perspectives from military practitioners, defense analysts, geopolitical scholars, strategic and security studies researchers, legal advisors, and criminologists, bringing together cross-sector expertise that goes beyond traditional military-only planning.

    The group includes a roster of high-profile, experienced professionals: former military leader General Prosper Avril, Colonel Antoine Atouriste, Lieutenant-Colonel Marie Sandry Charles Pierre, Prosper Charles of the Security Working Group, military historian Georges Michel, and Me James Boyard, a prominent Haitian security expert who also serves as Chief of Staff to Minister Andrésol, among other qualified contributors.

    Guided by clear framing requirements, the working group has been instructed to embed two critical priorities into the new doctrine. First, the document must update the FAd’H’s core mission to address the growing landscape of asymmetric and hybrid threats that challenge modern national security, expanding the traditional scope of national defense beyond conventional conflict. Second, the doctrine must strictly adhere to the normative standards expected of an armed force operating within a democratic society, including explicit commitments to human rights protections, compliance with international humanitarian law, and adherence to established principles of healthy civil-military relations.

    Minister Andrésol has expressed confidence that the interdisciplinary approach to drafting will produce a technical, rule-based document that is comprehensive, contextually relevant, and widely credible. The finished doctrine will serve as the foundational governing framework for what Haiti aims to build: a modern, professional military capable of adapting to a diverse range of national security challenges.

  • Return of the PM to Haiti, assessment of his official visit (video)

    Return of the PM to Haiti, assessment of his official visit (video)

    Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé returned to Port-au-Prince on Thursday, April 24, 2026, following an official working visit to the United States, and held a press conference immediately upon arrival at the Diplomatic Salon of Toussaint Louverture International Airport to outline key outcomes of his trip.

    Waiting to welcome the prime minister on the tarmac was a high-level cross-institutional delegation, including top members of the Haitian government: Marie Élisabeth Régine Joseph Haddad, Secretary General of the Presidency; Odilien Charles, Secretary General of the Council of Ministers; Lieutenant-General Derby Guerrier, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H), accompanied by senior military staff; and Vladimir Paraison, Director General of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), alongside the national police high command.

    In his opening remarks to reporters, Fils-Aimé framed the visit as a productive strategic engagement that aligned with Haiti’s most pressing national priorities: curbing widespread gang violence, shoring up fragile state institutions, and laying the groundwork for long-term, sustainable economic rebound. Over the course of his trip, the prime minister held more than 20 bilateral meetings with representatives of global and regional stakeholders.

    He placed particular emphasis on constructive, forward-looking discussions with senior leadership from three of the world’s leading multilateral financial institutions: the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Fils-Aimé noted that these talks centered on accelerating high-impact immediate programs focused on driving domestic private investment and expanding formal job opportunities across the country. “Every new job that we create is a direct, tangible blow to insecurity,” he emphasized, linking economic opportunity directly to the country’s ongoing fight against criminal gangs.

    On the security and governance fronts, Fils-Aimé shared that top global leaders have reaffirmed their unwavering support for Haiti’s efforts to restore full state sovereignty across national territory. These leaders include Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General Albert Ramdin, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, and other senior international figures. During his meetings, the prime minister also pushed for the rapid, full deployment of the multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF) and called for international support to strengthen Haiti’s national electoral infrastructure ahead of upcoming democratic processes.

    Closing his remarks, Fils-Aimé extended sincere gratitude to the international community and U.S. congressional leaders for their continued commitment to Haiti’s stability and development, framing the visit as a critical step forward in rebuilding partnerships to address the country’s most urgent challenges.

  • FLASH : An arson destroys the Botanical Garden of Les Cayes

    FLASH : An arson destroys the Botanical Garden of Les Cayes

    On April 25, 2026, just one day after global communities marked World Earth Day to celebrate and protect planetary biodiversity, a deliberate act of arson has left one of Haiti’s most important ecological and scientific sites in ruins: the Les Cayes Botanical Garden, a conservation hub decades in the making.

    Founded in 2003, the botanical garden grew far beyond a public green space over its 23 years of operation. Teams of botanists, conservationists and local researchers spent more than two decades traversing Haiti to collect and cultivate a one-of-a-kind collection of the country’s native and endemic plant species, many of which cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. The site also doubled as a critical wildlife refuge, supporting fragile local ecosystems and serving as a living laboratory for ecological research focused on Haiti’s unique natural heritage. Today, that decades-long work is gone: large swathes of the garden have been reduced to ash, with entire stretches left completely charred and unrecognizable.

    In an official statement released shortly after the fire was discovered, Haiti’s Ministry of the Environment issued a harsh condemnation of the intentional vandalism, announcing an immediate temporary closure of the site to the public. The closure will allow law enforcement and conservation authorities to secure the area and conduct a full, detailed assessment of the full scope of damage. The garden has been placed under formal police protection, with additional operational support provided by Haiti’s National Agency for Protected Areas (ANAP).

    The Ministry expressed profound dismay over the attack, noting that the blaze did not only damage the natural environment—it destroyed a national collective asset of incalculable scientific, cultural and ecological value to the Haitian people. Authorities have called for calm and public responsibility as the investigation proceeds, confirming that all necessary steps have been taken to secure the site and suspend all public and research activities pending the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings into the arson.

    Initial assessments of the damage underscore the unprecedented scale of the loss. Investigations remain open to confirm the full details of the attack and identify those responsible, but early observations confirm the permanent disappearance of multiple rare plant species, the irreversible destruction of intact native ecosystems, and the total loss of more than 20 years of accumulated scientific research data tied to the garden’s work.

    Ecovert Haiti, a leading Haitian environmental conservation organization, has framed the tragedy as more than a singular ecological and scientific loss—it is a urgent wake-up call for the entire nation. The organization has issued a public appeal to Haitian citizens, domestic institutional stakeholders and international conservation partners to unite in defense of Haiti’s irreplaceable natural heritage. Ecovert Haiti emphasized that this devastating destruction must serve as a catalyst to launch a broad national movement committed to biodiversity protection and building a more sustainable future for all Haitians.

  • URGENT : Yellow alert for 3 departments, reinforcements expected

    URGENT : Yellow alert for 3 departments, reinforcements expected

    On April 24, 2026, Haitian national disaster authorities issued a yellow-level heavy rain alert for three of the country’s northern departments, as a lingering cold front brings forecasts of intense precipitation that could trigger life-threatening flash floods and mudslides across large swathes of the nation.

    While the segment of the cold front currently impacting Haiti has begun to weaken, its residual effects continue to disrupt local atmospheric conditions, leaving unstable weather patterns across the system’s entire path. Forecasters note that lingering frontal instability, paired with the inflow of mildly moist air masses pushing into Haiti’s southern regions, has already sparked scattered rainfall across the Upper Artibonite, Lower Northwest, and multiple southern localities.

    These ongoing showers, which carry a high chance of turning into severe thunderstorms, are projected to grow in intensity through Friday afternoon, evening, and into overnight hours, eventually expanding to cover nearly the entire Haitian archipelago. The most extreme precipitation is expected to concentrate in Haiti’s far northern region, where dangerous conditions are forecast to persist longest. While gradual weather improvement is set to begin in the far north by overnight Friday, many low-lying areas in the far south can expect a soggy start to Saturday, April 25, with scattered wet conditions continuing through the morning.

    Meteorological projections estimate total 24-hour rainfall accumulations ranging from 100 millimeters to 200 millimeters across the far north, with steep, mountainous zones potentially recording totals in excess of 250 millimeters. Periodic wind gusts reaching 20 to 40 kilometers per hour will accompany the storm system, adding additional risk to already hazardous conditions.

    Haiti’s Hydrometeorological Unit (UHM), operating under the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR), partnered with the General Directorate of Civil Protection (DGPC) to issue the alert. In coordination with the National Disaster Risk Management Plan (SPGRD), the DGPC kept the yellow heavy rain alert active Friday for the Northwest, North, and Northeast departments. Officials have indicated emergency reinforcements are on standby to respond to potential disasters, as pre-existing saturated soil across the region creates high susceptibility to rapid flash flooding and landslides if the predicted heavy, intermittent rainfall materializes.

  • Haiti mobilizes its international partners

    Haiti mobilizes its international partners

    In a high-profile gathering on the margins of a UN Security Council session focused on the UN Secretary-General’s quarterly report on the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), Haiti’s top diplomatic and governmental leaders have made an urgent appeal for stepped-up global support to address the country’s escalating challenges. Held on Thursday, April 23, 2026, the side event was co-hosted by Haiti and Canada through their permanent missions to the United Nations, drawing an unprecedented cross-section of global stakeholders to coordinate action on Haiti’s crisis.

    More than 60 UN member states took part in the event, with major global and regional powers including the United States, France, Germany, China, Brazil, Kenya, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic sending representatives. Multiple leading international institutions also joined the deliberations, alongside senior officials heading key missions in Haiti. Attendees included Jack Christofides, the designated Special Representative for the Gangs Suppression Force (GSF), UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, and Carlos G. Ruiz Massieu, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Haiti.

    The core mandate of the gathering was to tighten coordination across three critical groups: UN Security Council members, nations contributing personnel and resources to the Gangs Suppression Force (GSF), and all international and regional partners that collaborate directly with Haitian state institutions. With the Caribbean nation grappling with prolonged gang violence, institutional instability, and stalled democratic progress, the event served as a platform for Haiti’s leadership to lay out its most pressing priorities for global support.

    In his keynote address to attendees, Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé pressed the international community to ramp up its collective mobilization to back the Haitian government’s two core priorities: restoring national security and advancing the restart of the country’s electoral process. The Prime Minister underlined the critical urgency of fully deploying the GSF across Haiti to counter rampant gang activity, while also stressing that enhanced international backing is required to advance key institutional reforms. Among the most critical of these reforms, he highlighted strengthening the national justice sector and expanding efforts to combat systemic impunity for violence and corruption.

    The gathering marks a key moment in global diplomatic efforts to align behind Haiti’s recovery, as international stakeholders continue to work through the UN framework to coordinate a coordinated response to the country’s deepening crisis.

  • UN : Haiti between political hope and security emergency (video speech)

    UN : Haiti between political hope and security emergency (video speech)

    In a video address to the international community on April 23, 2026, UN Secretary-General Special Representative Ruiz Massieu outlined the stark dual reality currently defining Haiti: a rare moment of tangible institutional progress paired with an ongoing, devastating security emergency that continues to uproot millions of lives.

    Massieu framed the current moment as a striking Haitian paradox: while the country’s state institutions are slowly rebuilding their administrative function after years of collapse, large swathes of national territory remain deeply scarred by pervasive gang-related violence. He gave credit to the administration led by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé for successfully maintaining basic state continuity through a period of extreme instability. A key step forward highlighted by the envoy is the National Pact for Stability, signed by a broad cross-section of Haitian civil society, which signals a widespread commitment to forging a homegrown, Haitian-led solution to the years-long national crisis.

    The most significant milestone on the political path to normalcy, Massieu noted, is the successful completion of national political party registration — a process that has not been fully carried out since 2016. This foundational achievement paves the way for what the international community universally recognizes as the only legitimate end to the crisis: the holding of free, credible national elections that will restore full constitutional order to Haiti. Beyond this regulatory progress, the resumption of weekly Cabinet meetings inside Haiti’s National Palace, a practice that had been suspended for three years due to instability, marks a symbolic and practical step toward the state reclaiming control of central public spaces in the heart of Port-au-Prince.

    Coordination between Haitian national authorities and international support partners has also reached an unprecedented level of alignment, according to the UN envoy. The recent appointment of all key leadership positions at the United Nations Office for Security and Justice in Haiti, paired with strengthened operational coordination with Haiti’s national Gang Repression Force (FRG), has created a more unified front against armed groups.

    Even with these notable political gains, Massieu stressed that the overall security landscape remains deeply alarming. Recent targeted massacres in the Jean-Denis region and ongoing coordinated attacks across Haiti’s Southeast department prove that armed gangs retain both the capability and mobility to wreak widespread harm on civilian populations. As of the latest UN projections, the ongoing violence has displaced more than 1.45 million Haitians, who now live in overcrowded displacement camps or rely on host families for shelter. By the end of 2026, UN humanitarian estimates project that 6.4 million Haitians — more than half the country’s population — will require life-saving humanitarian assistance.

    To build lasting, sustainable peace in Haiti, Massieu argued that the international response cannot focus solely on security crackdowns. Reviving the country’s National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration is a critical priority, he said, as it creates a safe, viable path out of armed groups for young people who were forcibly recruited by gangs. Complementing this effort, the planned creation of specialized judicial units focused on prosecuting mass atrocities and transnational financial crime is designed to finally break the cycle of impunity that has enabled systemic violence in Haiti for decades.

    Massieu emphasized that Haiti currently stands at a critical window of opportunity that cannot be wasted. Drawing on a traditional Haitian proverb that notes shared burdens are lighter to carry, he called for sustained, unified international support to help Haitian institutions carry forward the progress they have made. The year 2026, he urged, must become the turning point where hard-won political progress finally translates to tangible, everyday security and improved living conditions for all Haitian citizens.