The World Bank has approved a new project aimed at improving rural accessibility and road connectivity in Haiti’s South and North departments. The initiative will focus on key road segments, including National Road 2 between Les Cayes, Saint-Louis du Sud, and Port de Saint-Louis du Sud, as well as Departmental Road 41 from Ouanaminthe towards the Dominican Republic border.
Raphael Hosty, Haiti's Minister of Public Works, Transportation, and Communications, stated: “The Haiti Resilient Corridors Project aims to support the decentralization of the country’s logistics and supply chain through the development of key road corridors for the national economy. The initiative seeks to establish suitable, integrated, and well-maintained transport infrastructure to foster territorial development. The project will facilitate connections between the populations served and basic social services, including health, education, and livelihoods. We want to thank our partners, including the World Bank, which is providing fundamental support in the construction and rehabilitation of primary and secondary infrastructure to revitalize the local economy.”
Anne-Lucie Lefebvre, World Bank Country Manager for Haiti, said: “Haiti’s exposure to natural hazards, coupled with vulnerable infrastructure, and a high level of environmental degradation constitute fragility drivers that can deepen poverty in the country. Investment in road infrastructure is fundamental to build resilience, generate sustainable jobs and maximize access to basic services.”
Haiti regularly faces flooding, landslides, and storm surges due to intense rainfall events and hurricanes. These conditions often isolate entire regions during rainy seasons. In addition to these challenges for public transport users generally, women are particularly at risk of harassment or assault when using compromised transport systems during bad weather.
The $80 million Haiti Resilient Corridors Project will restore critical bridges such as La Digue, Côte-de-Fer, and Mahot while upgrading culverts vital for rural communities’ accessibility. It also aims to improve connecting rural roads with an emphasis on building a resilient network capable of withstanding climate-related hazards.
Part of the funding will be used by Haiti’s Ministry of Public Works for emergency response capacity by replenishing emergency bridge stocks. Rehabilitation efforts will focus on cities with low rural accessibility—specifically targeting areas within South department as well as Nippes, Grand’Anse, and Sud-est—upgrading 100 kilometers of tertiary roads at critical locations.
Nearly 2.9 million people are expected to benefit from improved transport access due to this project. Implementation is projected to generate about 300,000 days of direct employment locally. The initiative includes measures supporting women’s participation through training programs related to heavy machinery operation and road maintenance skills; it also funds capacity-building activities for ministry personnel as well as staff from construction companies.
Funding comes from the International Development Association (IDA), which provides grants or low-interest loans aimed at fostering economic growth in developing countries while reducing inequality.
Further details about this project can be found at www.worldbank.org/caribbean.