The World Bank Group's Board of Directors has endorsed a new strategic partnership for Haiti, focusing on the period from 2025 to 2029. This strategy aims to establish a foundation for economic and social recovery when conditions are favorable, while also mitigating risks related to human capital, infrastructure, and institutional capacity.
Haiti is currently facing significant challenges due to political instability, conflict, violence, and governance issues. The country's development is further hindered by gang violence and other shocks affecting its political and economic environment.
The strategy includes approximately US$320 million in grant financing intended to build resilience among Haiti's most vulnerable populations. It will focus on strengthening economic governance, creating employment opportunities, maintaining essential institutional capacity for basic services, and preserving human capital to increase resilience against natural disasters and shocks.
"Haiti needs to increase the resilience of critical state institutions, systems, and capacities in the short term while establishing foundations for longer-term transformational reforms. The new Country Partnership Framework will be instrumental in helping the country meet these objectives," said Alfred Metellus, Haiti’s Minister of Economy and Finance.
The World Bank Group plans to support an enabling business environment for the private sector and facilitate investments that can drive economic growth. The International Finance Corporation will emphasize inclusion, economic growth, productivity, and sustainability to aid the private sector in job preservation and creation.
“Despite increasing uncertainty and volatility, the World Bank Group continues our on-the-ground support to Haiti. We will focus on investments in high poverty areas and those with limited access to basic services,” said Anne-Lucie Lefebvre, World Bank Country Manager for Haiti. “The World Bank will support resilience-building for the poor and vulnerable while strengthening the foundations for growth.”
Implementation of this strategy will involve a flexible model that adapts to circumstances with a territorial approach and capacity improvements amid fragility. The strategy was developed through comprehensive analysis of Haiti's development challenges and consultations with various stakeholders including government entities, civil society organizations, private sector participants, and development partners.
Additionally, the Board approved a US$60 million grant for the Haiti Strengthening Public Financial Management Project. This project aims to enhance government capacity in public revenue mobilization and financial management by improving budget management oversight; strengthening external control institutions; and increasing customs operations' efficiency for revenue mobilization.