Presentation made during yesterday’s (Mar 26) Ask World Bank Caribbean webinar on Haiti. And  link to the recorded session.

Outline

Haiti in crisis: Looking forward…

…and creating solutions: WBG Response

• Lessons learned

• Country partnership strategy

• Rapid Crisis Impact Assessment

Haiti’s crisis is multidimensional

Shocks: Over the past decade, a series of shocks (politicalcrises, escalating social violence, successive earthquakes, hurricanes, and disease outbreaks) and vulnerabilities (weak institutions, widespread corruption, and extreme inequality)

Violence: Since 2021, a significant surge in violence committed by armed gangs, as well as conflicts between gangs and the police.

o Centered on Port-au-Prince o Government loss of control of key infrastructure

Violence remains focused in Port-au-Prince (for now)

While violence remains concentrated in PAP, Artibonite has

increasingly become a focal point for gang activity.

Secondary cities (Cap-Haitien, Gonaives) are increasingly

experiencing violence.

Gangs rely on extortion as their main “business model,”

making control over main roads connecting the north and

south a priority.

Security crisis led to significant economic losses

Lost Economic Growth: Significant decline in

economic activity, particularly due to looting and

transport disruptions. Production level 39% below

the level for 2024 as forecast before the crisis in

2018, equivalent to US$9.7 billion in output loss.

Regions affected: Other economic activity (e.g.

nighttime lights) indicators confirm that Port-au-

Prince and Artibonite are the most affected.

Social impacts are devastating

Poverty: 36.4% of people living in extreme poverty in 2024 in Port-au-Prince (less than 2.15 USD/day PPP 2017), compared to 29.9% in 2020.

Food security: 50% of the assessed population, or nearly 5 million people, are in a situation of acute food insecurity, an increase of more than 600,000 people since August 2023.

Access to services: Of the 93 health facilities assessed in Port-au-Prince, 42% are partially functional, 37% are fully functional and 18% are not functional.

Despite challenges, Haiti remains resilient

Political: Political factions agreed to establish a Transitional Government in April 2024 and prepare for elections.

Security: During 2024 the United Nations Security Council authorized the deployment of the Muti-national Security

Support Mission to support the Haitian National Police to reestablish security.

Economic: Despite serious disruptions, the private sector retains some resilience; macroeconomic environment stable amid sustained support from the international community.

Photo credit: The Star/Kenya

Establishing the analytical foundation for recovery

Recognizing that improvements in infrastructure and services must accompany progress in the political process, the government requested support for a ‘rapid crisis impact assessment’ (RCIA).

Launched in June and completed in October

Led by the Ministry of Finance

Collaboration between four partner institutions (WBG, IADB, EU and UN)

Supporting the transition process

For the Port-au-Prince and Artibonite regions

Content:

o Impact assessment

o Investment Plan

o Institutional arrangements for the implementation of the investment plan

The WB facilitates donor and partner coordination

Grouped into four Axes:

Axis 1: Economic recovery & diversification

Axis 2: Rehabilitation of Infrastructure

Axis 3: Access to basic services

Axis 4: Rule of law and security

Most of the resources are needed for infrastructure rehabilitation, while security and social services require about a third of the resources.

Donor roundtable for improving donor coordination, efficiency and raising of funds

Merci