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