PROMOTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL HAITIANS APRIL 2019 PROMOTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL HAITIANS The World Bank Group in Haiti The World Bank Group (WBG) supports the efforts of the Government of Haiti to reduce poverty and provide economic opportunities for all its people. This joint strategy is based on three priority pillars, namely promoting economic opportunities for all Haitians, strengthening human capital, and enhancing resilience to natural disasters and one cross-cutting pillar on governance. “We are working in partnership with the Haitian Government to support the country’s efforts to reduce poverty and promote opportunities for all. We are also in Haiti to support the country’s transition toward a more resilient economy in the face of climate disasters” Anabela Abreu World Bank Country Director for Haiti Key Figures The World Bank’s portfolio in Haiti now stands at over $879 million and covers 19 active projects. This is complemented by almost $123 million from trust funds that support the implementation of these projects. PROMOTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL From farm to fork In Haiti, around 50% of the population lives in rural areas where agriculture is the main economic activity, producing 45% of the country’s food needs. More than 70% of rural households are poor. Our support is designed to improve agricultural output, increase income flows for small farmers, and enhance resilience in the face of climate change, through: Restoration or conversion of 1,100 hectares to agroforestry; “Since 2015, the support from the Ministry of Agriculture has helped us Around 28,000 training days on best practices rehabilitate our premises in agriculture, health, and marketing techniques, and buy the equipment about half of which targeted women farmers and and supplies needed members of organizations to process cocoa. We have also been able to develop a whole range Registration of close to 42,000 farmers in the of new products, such as national registry chocolate, cocoa butter, and chocolate bars and The provision of co-financing to over 110 milk, and this has allowed organizations of rural producers to strengthen us to access other markets. We also benefited from training sessions on best practices in hygiene, as well value chains as in marketing and micro-enterprise management techniques,” explains Ernise Petigny, founding member of a women’s organization that processes Grants and the distribution of quality inputs to cocoa into chocolate in the Limonade commune in the Nord region. 9,300 farmers, 45% of whom are women. Focus on grand nord Each year, a half million tourists visit the beaches of Labadie in northern Haiti, but only a fraction of these go on to visit the historic city center and National Park of Cap-Haïtien, located just a few kilometers from the seaside resort. Today, the city’s chaotic growth is hindering the sustainable economic development of the region and preventing it from fully embarking on the path to development as a tourist destination. The World Bank is investing in the renovation and development of infrastructure in Cap-Haïtien and in the other cities close to the National History Park. Around 35,000 inhabitants of the Nord region benefit “This project will improve from the Cultural Heritage Preservation and Tourism living and working conditions and reduce Sector Support project, through improvements to poverty among artisans infrastructure, better economic opportunities, and belonging to the SOCOP support for the organization of cultural events; and those living in the community,” explains Renovation being carried out in the National History Luckner Monpoint. This craftsman from the Grand Park, which includes the Citadelle Henri Christophe, Nord is the director of the the Sans Souci Palace, the Sans Souci Chapel and the 30-year old Cooperative Ramiers site; Society for Progress (SOCOP in French) pottery Stabilization of the strategic roadways of the transport workshop, located near network of the Boucle Centre Artibonite region, Dondon. SOCOP has been trying to find ways to through various rehabilitation and preservation access the tourism markets projects that guarantee all-weather access for 10,000 of the Nord Region. additional people to agricultural areas and markets. PROMOTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL HAITIANS Mobilizing the private sector IFC supports the country’s efforts to develop the private sector through a portfolio standing at $109 million, $42 million of which was mobilized from other partners. IFC investments and advisory operations in the areas of energy, water, transport, manufacturing, financial markets, and the hotel industry have promoted: The creation of The training of 3,000 The provision of The establishment 8,000 jobs and the entrepreneurs and natural disaster risk of the Haitian Credit preservation of business managers, 45% insurance to 60,000 Bureau that, up to end- 5,000 others of whom were women micro-entrepreneurs 2018, had logged over 200,000 meetings “To succeed as an entrepreneur, you need clear goals and, above all, strong discipline,” explains Marielle Jacques, a Haitian entrepreneur doing well in the Tabarre business district of metropolitan Port-au-Prince. “I am proud of what I have achieved in my 30-year career. My company now employs 14 people and I have opened a new branch in a provincial town.” Marielle obtained a loan from a commercial bank to open two stores and develop her business. She obtained this loan with the support of an IFC advisory program designed to help financial institutions provide access to financing for small and medium enterprises. Better lighting for better living Only 30% of Haitians across the country have access to electricity, and only 11% in rural areas. Our support is designed to improve access to electricity and the quality of the public grid, while promoting the use of renewable energies. Expansion of access to electricity for 410,000 users, through the rehabilitation of four power distribution circuits in Port-au-Prince, the electrical infrastructure in the cities of Cayes and Jeremie, and the hydropower plant in Drouet (Artibonite) Expansion of access to electricity for over 500 schools in rural areas Installation of over 1,000 solar street lights in priority urban areas Government support for the roll out of the “Energy” Unit to better monitor the activities of companies operating Holding his ball, young Pierre Ansy declares: “We now have solar street in this sector lights, so we can play at night.” A total of 30 street lights have been installed. Pierre says that players come from neighborhoods all around. They even got permission to block off the road to organize a basketball championship. INVESTING IN HUMAN CAPITAL Attending school and learning The net primary school attendance rate in Haiti grew from an average of 54% in 2000 to 84% in 2017. On average Haitian children attend 11.4 years of school by age 18, which is equivalent of 6.3 years in real terms. A child born today will be only 45% as productive as an adult than a child who would have had full education and health. The World Bank and its partners support schooling for children and quality education in Haiti, through: The distribution of school Support to 61 public basic schools textbooks and kits to over 23,000 and 61 community-managed children in the Grand Sud region public schools in the Sud, of Haiti Grand’Anse, Sud-Est, and Nippes departments Grants for the enrollment of 9,500 pupils in 43 non-public schools in The construction and “The Education for All program has helped me go far. Without it, I don’t know where I would the Sud, Grand’Anse, Sud-Est, and rehabilitation of 91 schools be. I want to be a nurse so that if a member Nippes departments or semi-permanent structures, of my family gets sick I can take care of them. following the passage of Hurricane To make this happen, I need to finish my The provision of hot meals and Matthew in October 2016 education. I need to study hard to move up to snacks served to over 23,000 the next grade,” says Jessica Prudent. Jessica children in public basic schools in The distribution of over 18,000 lives in one of the poorest districts of Port-au- Prince and is among those who managed to the Sud, Grand’Anse, Sud-Est, and school kits and items of furniture complete primary school at the normal age. Nippes departments to schools affected by Hurricane Matthew Better health care Notwithstanding the improvements in certain health indicators, such as longer life expectancy and the 50% reduction in the infant and maternal mortality rate between 1990 and 2015, Haiti continues to face many challenges in the area of health. Infant and maternal mortality remains four to five times higher than the rate for the Latin America and Caribbean region as a whole. Our support is designed to improve access to maternal health for mothers and children under five, and to strengthen cholera prevention, by: Increasing the vaccination coverage rate for 50% of “When I called my children under five living in the Nord-Est, Centre, aunt to tell her about Nord-Ouest, and Sud departments my pregnancy, she immediately advised me to come to this hospital Financing all routine vaccinations across the country for my checkups. At first I between 2016 and 2017, as well as the special wasn’t sure because I was diphtheria vaccination campaign between 2017 and afraid I wouldn’t be able 2018 to afford the medical fees. When I got here, I was surprised to see that Providing for at least four prenatal care visits for the cost was affordable. I 40% of women in the Nord-Est, Centre, Nord-Ouest, was also very impressed and Sud departments by the welcome and quality of the service,” Cholera prevention training for close to 4 million says Choumane Hilaire. people and 6,000 health and hygiene workers, which contributed to a significant reduction in cholera cases. PROMOTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL HAITIANS Guaranteeing access to drinking water Over 10.5 million Haitians lack permanent access to drinking water, with 4.6 million having no access at all. Furthermore, 8 million Haitians, particularly those living in rural areas, have no access to toilets. Waterborne diseases caused by poor hygiene or sanitation kill more children under five than HIV, malaria, and measles combined. The World Bank is committed to improving access to water and sanitation services by: Providing expanded and improved access to drinking water for 314,000 users through the construction, Jean-Michel lives in a rural community close to the rehabilitation, and extension of drinking water supply border town of Hinche. systems His entire family and their neighbors use water from Emergency intervention in six communes to prevent a natural stream located the resurgence of waterborne diseases, including some thirty minutes cholera away from their home: “Fetching water was a real chore. We were exposed Rehabilitation of health and water supply equipment to all kinds of waterborne in over 60 schools and some thirty refurbished markets illnesses.” Thanks to a World Bank-financed Support to the Direction Nationale de l’Eau Potable program, he now has access to clean water at et de l’Assainissement (National Drinking Water and home, a development that has greatly improved his quality of life. This Sanitation Department DINEPA) for the preparation of program has led to a major reduction in the incidence of water diarrhea a national strategy on the management of drinking cases that were so prevalent in this region. water supply and sanitation services. STRENTHENING RESILIENCE Resilient mobility A 2015 study showed that less than 40% of the rural Haitian population had access to all-weather roads. Furthermore, the country’s infrastructure is highly exposed to climate hazards and climate change, and is, therefore, very vulnerable. In this context, the World Bank supports the Government through an investment program designed to enhance the resilience of the road network and improve connectivity. The initiatives include: The rehabilitation of 8 km of road linking the historic Cap- Haïtien city center and Labadie The construction of the Ladigue bridge in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, thereby reconnecting over 2 million Haitians in the Nippes, Sud, and Grand’Anse departments The restoration of the road linking Port-au-Prince to Jacmel, thereby enabling half a million Haitians living in the country’s Sud-Est region to stay connected to the capital Many of my friends had to move to Cap because of the road. The Stabilization of the Marigot-Jacmel and Port-Salut-Les journey was too arduous. And they were almost always late. Before Anglais main roads the road was repaired, the journey took over an hour. The road was in an extremely poor state. It was rocky; travelers would often fall The reconstruction of the Chalon, Dolin, Fauché, La Thème, ill. Now, with the new road, the journey lasts only 20 to 25 minutes,” and Boucan Carré bridges and rehabilitation of 100 small says Merline Pierre, resident of Labadie and a 10th grade student bridges and culverts in Cap-Haïtien. Reducing the travel time has improved living conditions. This road is gradually becoming a lifeline for the local communities, thanks to the new dynamic that it brings to the village. The protection and repair of over 20 major civil engineering structures. Strengthening risk The future of cities management urban areas have undergone rapid development over the past two decades, but with virtually no regulation or urban planning. Many city dwellers are living in poverty and suffer from unemployment and limited access to public services. The Bank’s support has been targeted at promoting the reconstruction of poor neighborhoods and community-driven urban development, with the result that: 50,000 people have been able to move out of temporary settlements to safe housing, thanks to a rent subsidy system More than 200,000 people have benefited from improved infrastructure in neighborhoods affected by the earthquake, including road expansion, better street “We are only just recovering from the devastating effects of lighting, and strengthening of embankments Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. The roof of our house was blown off. I had to run with my wife and four children to take shelter in a school,” recalls Mamanne, a 48 year-old fisherman. For Financing of over 400 community projects, including the past six years, the Haitian Government has been conducting solar street lights that provide access to electricity regular simulation drills to evaluate the disaster response capacity for around 120,000 people; water treatment and of the civil protection services. “The simulation drills allow us to distribution sites; and over 100 income-generating better understand the emergency procedures to be followed in the initiatives. event of a climate catastrophe,” explains Mamanne. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew claimed over 500 lives in Haiti and caused material damage of $1.9 billion, equivalent to 22% of the country’s GDP. Such climate-induced disasters have disastrous consequences for economic growth, budgetary stability, and infrastructure. According to experts, the temperature rise in the Caribbean region could, over the coming years, increase the likelihood of extreme rainfall events and flash flooding. Currently, almost 95% of Haitians live with the threat of a climate-induced catastrophe. The World Bank provides support to strengthen climate resilience and to enable the country to better respond to disasters, through: The conduct of a more thorough analysis of natural “After the earthquake, we attended many training sessions on hazards and improved management of public resources the techniques best suited to risk-prone construction projects. in post-disaster situations through data collection and This helped me to gain confidence when working on building the publication of geospatial maps rehabilitation and reconstruction, particularly in a complex such as this that houses so many families,” said Edner. Thanks to the training provided under the PREKAD-PRODEPUR project, Edner Support to establish over 140 commune-level worked as a mason to build and rehabilitate housing units, as a protection committees and build their capacity in result of which tens of thousands of families affected by the 2010 emergency planning and management. earthquake were able to return to more secure homes. PROMOTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL HAITIANS Supporting good governance The statistics currently being used in Haiti are no longer a true reflection of the country’s socio-demographic reality. The last census was conducted in 2003. This lack of reliable information is an obstacle to the promotion of good governance in the country. Access to reliable data will make it easier to evaluate development projects, draft good legislation, and determine the areas to be targeted for national and international investments. The World Bank supports Haiti’s census campaigns and its efforts to strengthen the effectiveness and transparency of the country’s public services. It does so by: Supplying the Government with a solid analytical basis to support the development of national policies that are based on well-founded diagnostic analyses Building the technical and institutional capacities of ministries and government institutions Publications The Systematic Country Diagnostic: “Haiti: The report entitled “Haitian Cities: Opportunities for All” identifies the Actions for Today with an Eye on main opportunities and constraints to Tomorrow” notes that Haiti is the third more rapid, sustainable, and inclusive most urbanized country in Latin America growth in the country. The report indicates and the Caribbean, after Trinidad and that faster economic growth alone will Tobago and Mexico. Nevertheless, contrary not be enough to improve the living to the usual tendency associated with standards of the majority of Haitians, and the phenomenon of urbanization, the proposes key priorities for building a new rapid growth of cities has not been paired social contract between the Haitian State with economic growth. To address the and its citizens. “Every candidate, every challenges, this Urbanization Review businessman, every voter must have a copy makes a number of recommendations of this World Bank report on Haiti and read based on the three dimensions of it,” said Frantz Duval, Editor-in-Chief of the urban development, namely planning, newspaper “Le Nouvelliste.” connecting, and financing. The report “Better Spending, Better The report “Better Spending, Better Care: A Look at Haiti’s Health Services,” Haiti’s first Public Expenditure Financing,” emphasizes that public Review in almost 30 years, examines the investment in the health sector needs to country’s public finances over the past be increased and expenditure needs to decade and proposes options to improve be better allocated to promote improved the effectiveness of public spending in access to health care for all Haitians. The lifting people out of poverty. The report report proposes a number of options to emphasizes that to forge ahead and reduce ensure “better spending better care” and poverty, the main challenge facing Haiti provide better health coverage for the is to improve the effectiveness of public poorest Haitians. spending. World Bank Office in Haiti: 7 rue Ogé, Petionville +509 2812 2200 www.banquemondiale.org/haiti Text: Christelle Chapoy and Peleg Charles Photo credit: Peleg Charles, World Bank