Haiti - IFAD
The Context
Haiti is the poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean and has some of the highest rates of income inequality worldwide. More than six in ten people live in poverty.
Haiti’s history has been dogged by political instability and major natural disasters. The context further deteriorated in 2021 with the murder of President Jovenel Moïse, followed by a violent 7.2 magnitude earthquake a few weeks later which caused more than 2,200 deaths and US$2 billion worth of damage.
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries account for a fifth of GDP and employ almost half the labour force. Agricultural productivity is severely constrained by lack of access to technology and credit, and poor road and irrigation infrastructure. Post-harvest losses are considerable, often due to a lack of storage and processing facilities.
Compounding these issues, Haiti is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, including tropical hurricanes and floods, which are expected to increase in frequency and intensity as climate change worsens.
The Strategy
IFAD aims to reduce rural poverty and strengthen the climate resilience of rural Haitian communities by:
promoting sustainable and inclusive management of natural resources;
promoting community economic ecosystems that are sustainable, diversify livelihoods and facilitate good nutrition;
investing in human capital, including training rural community organizations; and
providing tools for local socio-economic planning, initiatives and investments.
Country Facts
- Haiti is among the 10 most fragile countries in the world.
- One in three Haitians are hungry.
- Between 2020 and 2022, Haiti had the highest prevalence of food insecurity in the Caribbean region at 72 per cent.
Experts
Country Director, Latin America and the Caribbean Division
[email protected]Programme Officer
[email protected]Country Programme Coordinator, Latin America and the Caribbean Division
[email protected]