Haiti

Haiti is facing a major multi-dimensional crisis driven by gang violence and a deteriorating security situation. It is the poorest country in the Americas and has a long history of political instability, corruption and violence. Haiti has one of the greatest inequality rates in the region. Financial insecurity is compounded by social polarization and weak state institutions. 

We have been supporting Haiti since 1975 by helping to lay the foundation for long-term peace and development with support for research that promotes civic engagement, tackles poverty, increases food security and ensures a better future for children and youth. In close collaboration with Haitian diaspora experts and members, we are supporting critical research to help the country rebuild and prosper.

Building Haiti’s resilience at a time of crisis  

IDRC supports civil society efforts and the development of locally led solutions to rebuild democratic governance and enhance citizen engagement in the country. This includes generating a deeper understanding of the role that key civil society actors can play and opening spaces for policy engagement to promote the emergence of a democratic state in Haiti. 

Growing food, improving livelihoods 

Despite a climate and topography well-suited to the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, access to healthy, affordable food has long been a challenge in Haiti. With our funding, local organizations taught 1,100 Port-au-Prince residents how to grow food in small spaces. The outcome is impressive: improved diets and health, greater concern for the environment, reduced spending on food, increased self-esteem and stronger neighbourhood bonds. 

We also supported applied research in agriculture and food security with the creation of a national research consortium. The consortium acts as a knowledge centre and explores communication mechanisms that effectively share research results with local populations, key institutions and market actors. 

Investing in Haiti’s future 

Haiti has one of the highest child mortality rates in the Americas — and one of the lowest inoculation rates. A five-year multi-funder initiative brought Haitian researchers, decision-makers and international collaborators together to improve vaccination rates. Researchers found that a number of factors influenced higher rates of vaccination, including greater parental awareness, increasing resources to offer improved services and involving religious and community leaders in the dissemination of information about vaccination campaigns. With these findings, Haiti implemented new vaccination strategies to improve immunization coverage. 

Women and youth are also the focus of a multi-country research initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean. Research is examining whether social protection policies can foster economic empowerment when vulnerable women and youth use financial services such as deposits, credit and micro-insurance.