• President - Michel MARTELLY
• Prime Minister - Garry CONILLE
• Min. of Agriculture and Rural Development - Joanas GUE
• Min. of Commerce & Industry - Marie Josee GARNIER
• Min. of Culture & Communication - Olsen JEAN-JULIE
• Min. of the Economy & Finance - Daniel DORSAINVIL
• Min. of Environment - Jean Marie  Claude GERMAIN
• Min. of Foreign Affairs  - Laurent LAMOTHE
• Min. of Haitians Living Abroad -  Charles MANGAT
• Min. of Interior and Territorial Collectivities - Paul Antoine BIEN-AIME
• Min. of Justice & Public Security - Jean Joseph EXUME
• Min. of National Education & Professional Training - Joel Desrosiers JEAN-PIERRE
• Min. of Planning & External Cooperation - Jean-Max BELLERIVE
• Min. of Public Health and Population - Alex LARSEN
• Min. of Public Works, Transport & Communications - Gerald JEAN-BAPTISTE
• Min. of Social Affairs & Labor - Gabrielle Previlon BAUDIN
• Min. of Tourism - Patrick DELATOUR
• Min. of Women's Affairs and Rights - Patrick DELATOUR
• Min. of Youth, Sports and Civil Action - Evans LESCOUFLAIR
• Min. of State to the Prime Minister, Liason to the Parliament -Joseph JASMIN
• Ambassador to the US Raymond JOSEPH
• Permanent Representative to the UN, New York - Leo MERORES

Public Holidays: Independence Day (01 January); Founding Fathers Day (02 January); Agriculture and Labour Day (01 May); Flag and University Day (18 May); Commemoration of the Battle of Vertieres Day (18 November); Christmas Day (25 December), Boxing Day (26 December)

Action plan for national recovery and development of Haiti: Immediate Key Initiatives for the Future. March 2010

The priorities of the Action Plan for National Recovery and Development are responding to the urgent situation immediately, relaunching economic, governmental, and social activity, reducing Haiti’s vulnerability to natural disasters, and putting Haiti back on the road to development.

The plan is divided into two phases. The first is in the immediate future, which lasts 18 months, covers the end of the emergency period and includes preparation for projects to generate genuine renewal. The second stage has a time horizon of ten years, allowing it to take into account three programming cycles of the National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction.
Source: Government of the Republic of Haiti

Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2007-2008

General trends:
According to ECLAC's flagship report, Haiti’s economy posted a GDP growth rate of 3.2% in 2007, with a fiscal deficit equivalent to 1.6% of GDP. However, the institutional crisis that engulfed the country as a result of the disturbances in April 2008, whose immediate political outcome was the removal of the prime minister and his cabinet, compromised some of the economic expectations for fiscal year 2008.  Source: ECLAC

Haiti: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. March 2008

The two major phases in the measures to be adopted to reduce poverty and stimulate growth in Haiti in the coming decades are:

First Phase: 2007-2009
This phase corresponds to the 2007/08 – 2009/10 period, covering the three years of implementation of economic and financial commitments made under the IMF’s PRGF, namely: (i) maintaining the current macroeconomic framework built around sound management of the economy with prudent fiscal and monetary policies in order to reduce significantly major internal and external economic imbalances; and (ii) modernizing agriculture and stepping up efforts to modernize transport infrastructure, improve the supply of electricity, and develop telecommunications services. However, the promotion of greater social equity through education and health will prove to be key to reducing poverty and inequality during this period.

Second Phase: 2010-2015
The main focus of this phase will be to strive for accelerated growth and greater control over social development. Consequently, the emphasis during this phase will be on reducing both monetary and human poverty. The macroeconomic framework will be reoriented in such a way as to make it more attractive to those economic sectors whose potential could be more easily exploited, such as the highly promising areas of the agricultural sector, agro-industry, tourism and the textile subsectors of the manufacturing industry, which will benefit if they are accorded
priority. During this second phase of the economic and social development strategy, the focus of the Central Bank should no longer be mainly on lowering inflation; it should also target growth and job creation.
Source: International Monetary Fund

Haiti: Selected Issues and Statistical Appendix.  August 9, 2007

The Selected Issues paper accompanying the 2007 Article IV staff report covers three topics that are central to Haiti’s challenge of further consolidating economic stability and converting the incipient recovery into a sustainable economic expansion. The first chapter analyzes Haiti’s external competitiveness.
The second chapter discusses avenues for further developing Haiti’s monetary policy framework, to help consolidate a stable low-inflation environment and support deepening domestic financial markets.
The concluding chapter focuses on options to increase domestic revenues as a means of funding priority expenditures.  Source: International Monetary Fund

Haiti: Options and Opportunities for Inclusive Growth

Country Economic Memorandum
June 1, 2006

The Haitian population has demonstrated resilience and creativity in the face of severe challenges. Marred by political instability, economic mismanagement and exogenous shocks, Haiti has suffered negative economic growth in three decades of the last forty years. Even when economic growth has taken place, it has not been sustained. Haiti’s pattern of socio-economic development has also been characterized by marked inequalities in access to productive assets and public services, the result of exclusionary policies and ineffective public institutions. The resulting widespread poverty has meant that less of the gains from growth, when this has materialized, have been shared by the poor. In turn, the inability of poor Haitians to exploit growth-promoting opportunities for investment in physical and human capital has created a vicious circle of weak economic growth and persistent poverty and inequality.
source:World Bank

Economic Performance of 2006

Sources: Haiti Country Profile 2006, Haiti's Economic Challenge

After being ranked as the poorest and most corrupt country in the world, few positive remarks could be stated about Haiti. Nevertheless, the country posted a marginal real growth of 1.8%, where sectors such as, services (52%) and agriculture (28%) contribute the most to GDP respectively. Though services might have been the most sustainable or consistent benefactor to the value of GDP since the 90’s, the agricultural sector provides employment for over 66% of Haiti’s labour force. Industry and manufacturing provides a small, yet meaningful 10% employment to the labour force, where commodities such as, beverages, refined sugar, and detergent lead output in this sector.

POVERTY

Given its long history of political upheaval, where immense concentration of incomes cause 80% of the population to live below the poverty line, Haiti has a cumbersome development task which lies ahead. Furthermore, the index of economic freed puts Haiti’s economy as 52.2% free. Since starting a business in Haiti takes four times longer than the world average, business freedom and freedom from corruption proved to be the major weaknesses (in terms of economic freedom). Presently, services are the main sector for permanent positions, yet most labourers in Haiti assume temporary employment. The majority of these transient jobs come from subsistence farming and agriculture (two-thirds of population), and if 63% of the land is too steep by agronomic standards for agricultural production, it surely indicates that there must be prevalence of under-employment due to uncertainty of agricultural output.

To make matters worst, loans from commercial banks are virtually unattainable, since most banks lack stability (in 2000 ‘cooperatives’ planned by President Aristide for banking crumbled, and Haitians lost more than US$200 million in savings). Apparently, hope for skilled professionals in the future is also slim, since Haiti is extremely low in terms of education standards, as only 53% of the population is literate. Though school attendance may have rose from 20% in 1994 to 64% in 2000, the country still lacks from qualified professionals and educational supplies.

Haiti: Fresh Support for Rebuilding Homes, Lives.

Port-au-Prince, September 9, 2011 – A few months ago Jeanne Bousiko was counting
 her blessings after being told that her house had been spared from the destruction
 of the January 2010 earthquake, and that it was safe for her family to live there......
source: Worldbank

GROWTH AND POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY PAPER (2008-2010): Making a Qualitative Leap Forward

The paper is broken down into five parts. The first provides an assessment of poverty and inequality on the basis of the data gathered from the most recent surveys. The second outlines the vision of state and non-state actors as well as the challenges to be met by 2015. The third essentially summarizes the major areas of work decided upon by the Government of Haiti at the July 25, 2006 International Conference, which have been reorganized into three pillars: growth vectors, human development, and democratic governance supported by targeted and cross-cutting strategic areas of intervention. The fourth pertains to the macroeconomic framework and policies. Lastly, the fifth covers the financing, implementation, and monitoring of the DSNCRP.
Source: World Bank. 2007

The State of Latin American and Caribbean Children 2008 report: Child Survival

The report outlines broad priorities that are required to accelerate progress on child and maternal health in general, and to reduce inequality in health-care provision and health outcomes in particular. Although the region is well on track to meet Millennium Development Goal 4, which seeks to reduce
the under-five mortality rate by two thirds between 1990 and 2006, and other health-related MDGs, it is clear that many communities and groups – differentiated by income, ethnicity, gender and geographic location in particular – are at risk of remaining excluded from essential quality primary healthcare services.

According to the 2008 report, the Caribbean island nation of Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, and more than half of the population lives on less than one dollar per day. A history of violence and political instability has weakened health systems, hampering delivery of basic services and humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable. A considerable proportion of the population, primarily in rural areas lacks access to basic health-care.

Close to Home: The Development Impact of Remittances in Latin America. October 2006.
The World Bank is devoting significant attention to the topic of remittances and is stepping up efforts to better understand how migration and remittances can contribute to poverty reduction.
Close to Home: The Development Impact of Remittances in Latin America, a report in the Regional Studies Series of the Office of the Chief Economist for Latin America, is a further effort in this direction and should be viewed as an integral part of the Bank’s program on migration and remittances.

The report analyzes the characteristics of households that are remittance recipients and how these characteristics affect the poverty-reducing impact of observed remittances flows. It also devotes significant attention to the macroeconomic impact of these flows, and explores policies and interventions aimed at enhancing the development impact of remittances in the region. On the whole, the main messages that emerge from Close to Home are quite positive. Even though the estimated impact is moderate in most cases and country heterogeneity is very significant, higher remittances inflows tend to be associated with lower poverty levels and with improvements in human capital indicators (education and health) of the recipient countries. Remittances also seem to contribute to higher growth and investment rates and lower output volatility. Against this background, remittances are to be welcomed and actions that lower the cost of remitting and therefore attract additional flows should be encouraged.

International Narcotics Control Strategy Report for 2006

Illicit Drugs Shipped Through Caribbean Nations to U.S., Europe
The report cites Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Jamaica as major transit points. As a result of their geographic location, many nations of the Caribbean are utilized as transit countries to shift cocaine, marijuana and other illicit drugs from South America to the United States, Europe and elsewhere, according to the U.S. State Department's International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) for 2006.
Source:U.S. Department of State

2005 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (Western Hemisphere)

All men and women desire and deserve to live in dignity and liberty. As President Bush said: "The advance of freedom is the great story of our time." Promoting human rights and democracy is a worldwide phenomenon and there is a growing global discussion of democracy and the universal values protected by democratic governance.

By defending and advancing human rights and democratic principles, we keep faith with our country’s most cherished values and lay the foundation for lasting peace. Fulfilling the promise of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and building vibrant democracies worldwide will take generations, but it is work of the utmost urgency that cannot be delayed.
Source:US Dept. of State

Haiti gives IDB mandate to promote major education reform

PORT-AU-PRINCE – Haitian President René Préval today gave the Inter-American Development Bank a mandate to work with Haiti's Ministry of Education and National Education Commission to prepare a major reform of the Haitian education system.
Source: IADB

Our Goal: Education for All in Haiti

An effort to provide universal schooling for all Haitian children has exceeded goals set for its first year and is on track for even further growth in the coming school year.

 Despite impressive progress in the first year, the education sector still faces major obstacles.  For example, building new schools for the estimated 250,000 to 500,000 children who are not yet enrolled in school presents a major challenge. Although lots must be done to solve Haiti’s problems in the sector, the Education for All project is already helping to solve many of these problems and  bringing the country a few steps closer toward meeting the goal of universal primary education by 2015.
Source: World Bank 2007

A Global Report REDUCING DISASTER RISK: A CHALLENGE FOR DEVELOPMENT 2004
The Report addresses four key questions: - How are disaster risks and human vulnerability to natural hazards distributed globally between countries ? - What are the development factors and underlying processes that configure development? - H ow can appropriate development policy and practice contribute to the reduction of disaster risks? - How can disaster risk assessment be enhanced in order to inform development policy and practice?

The Disaster Risk Index (DRI),which is presented as the centrepiece of this Report, is a first step in addressing these questions.The DRI provides the first global assessment of disaster risk factors through a c o u n t ry - b y - c o u n t ry comparison of human vulnerability and exposure to three critical natural hazards :earthquake, tropical cycl ones and flooding, and the identification of development factors that contribute to risk. Volcanic eruption is important internationally, but lacks sufficient data for analysis at this time (see Technical Annex).

Similarly, the development of a drought DRI revealed a series of unresolved methodological and conceptual challenges, which imply that its results do not yet have the required degree of confidence. Nevertheless, the e x p l o ra t i on of these ch a llenges in itself prov i d e s important insights into drought risk and vulnerability and is presented in the Report as a work in progress. Reliance on internationally available data and the use of human deaths as a proxy for disaster losses meant that certain types of disasters were excluded from the model. An example of this is fire, which can cause widespread damage with few deaths.
Source:UNDP

Solid Waste Management

Nutrition

Haiti: sowing the seeds for better nutrition

Haiti” and “food” and “nutrition” are words not usually seen together as part of an optimistic statement, rather the opposite. But as we commemorate World Food Day I believe there is a lot that Haiti can bring to the table to find a sustainable solution to its stubborn malnutrition problem.  This may sound like the world’s best kept secret, but it is partly the result of people, including ourselves sometimes, focusing on Haiti’s ailments rather than its progress.
source: Worldbank

HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean: Issues and Options

Caribbean Countries Face Ominous Threat of AIDS: Haiti has highest incidence outside of Africa.
Source: The World Bank

Selected statistics indicators for HAITI
UN Statistics Division for HAITI
Caribbean Social Statistics Database
Caribbean Trade Statistical Database

Haiti’s New Prime Minister Emphasizes the Need for Jobs

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti October 5 2011 — In Haiti, the Americas’ poorest state, the top
priority of the incoming prime minister is no different from that of the leader
of the world’s richest economy, the United States, just a two-hour flight away.

“Jobs, jobs, jobs,” the new prime minister, Garry Conille, said in an interview hours after the Haitian Senate ratified him as the new head of the government. He was nominated by President Michel Martelly.
source: NY Times Americas

Visiting UN Goodwill Ambassador promotes reforestation in Haiti

PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti -- The legendary track and field athlete and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador Carl Lewis on Tuesday concluded a two-day visit to Haiti to witness reforestation efforts aimed at helping the Caribbean country to protect itself against flash floods and mudslides as the annual hurricane season begins.

source: Caribbean Net News

Haiti: UN human rights expert urges presidential candidates to fight impunity

24 February 2011 – The United Nations independent expert on human rights in Haiti,  Michel Forst, today urged candidates in the country’s upcoming presidential run-off election to spearhead the fight against impunity and champion greater respect of human rights.
source: UN News Centre

Haiti to get US$200M from IDB for agriculture

June 7 2010 - The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is to invest US$200M in Haiti’s agriculture by way of grants over five years to improve land titling and  irrigation as well as  boost agricultural production and increase  market access for farmers.
source: Stabroek News

Haiti proposes extending term of president

Thursday, May 6, 2010 - Haiti's government has proposed extending the term of President Rene Preval by three months in the event the quake-devastated country cannot conduct elections planned for later this year.
Source: Caribbean Net News

Ban to push for further investment in Haiti to widen ‘break-out opportunity’

30 March 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said that he will be asking donors to go beyond traditional assistance and invest in Haiti, at a time he called a crucial turning point for the impoverished Caribbean nation.
source: UN News Centre

Ban, Clinton urge economic changes for Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Reuters): UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and former US President Bill Clinton on Tuesday unveiled a string of social and economic changes they said were needed for Haiti to pull itself out of poverty. source: Caribbeannet News

Coming to the rescue of Haiti

Tuesday 27 January 2009
HAITI, as the poorest nation in the Caribbean-Latin America region, is attracting increasing support to secure cancellation of its estimated US$1.5 billion.  Source: Barbados Nation News