Switzerland's activities in Haiti are focused on local governance, agriculture and food security, as well as employment and economic development. The aim is to contribute to a more just society and improve the living conditions of impoverished communities.
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Haiti is the poorest country in Latin America, with around 60% of the population living below the national poverty line (USD 2.41 per day, 2012). Almost a quarter of the population is affected by food shortages or suffers from hunger. The country is frequently struck by natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes and droughts. A major earthquake claimed 230,000 lives in 2010 and in 2016 Hurricane Matthew left a trail of devastation in the south of the country. Haiti has therefore depended again and again on emergency aid and humanitarian assistance for reconstruction efforts. In addition, longer-term development aid plays a central role in poverty reduction and in the promotion of sustainable economic and social development.
Swiss Bilateral ODA | 2022 mill. CHF |
2023 mill. CHF |
2024 * mill. CHF |
---|---|---|---|
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) | |||
Bilateral development cooperation | 15.06 | 7.08 | 5.00 |
Humanitarian aid | 8.56 | 9.57 | 7.84 |
State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) | |||
Economic Cooperation and Development | - | - | - |
Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD) | |||
Conflict transformation and human rights | - | - | - |
Total SDC/SECO/PHRD | 23.62 | 16.65 | 12.84 |
Other Federal Offices | |||
Other FDFA Divisions (ASAF, AIO, aso) | - | - | .. |
Network of FDFA representations abroad | 1.60 | - | .. |
State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) | - | - | .. |
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) | 0.01 | 0.05 | .. |
MeteoSwiss | - | - | - |
Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) | - | - | - |
Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) | - | - | .. |
Federal Statistical Office (FSO) | - | - | - |
Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) | - | - | - |
State Secretariat for International Finance (SIF) | - | - | - |
Total other Federal Offices | 1.61 | 0.05 | - |
Cantons and municipalities | 1.00 | .. | .. |
Total | 26.23 | 16.70 | 12.84 |
Data status at 02.04.2024
* planned; total based on available data
.. = figures not available | – = nil or amount < 5'000 CHF
Local governance and good governance
Switzerland is assisting Haiti's government and local communes in improving basic services in rural areas, through infrastructure and training. It is thereby supporting the Haitian government's decentralisation policy. For example, Switzerland is further extending drinking water and sanitation services in cooperation with local communities. This improves women's and children's health in particular and prevents the spread of epidemics such as cholera. Switzerland is also working to ensure that women and disadvantaged groups are involved in decision-making and local planning processes.
Between 2014 and 2017, over 25,000 people gained access to clean drinking water. Thirty commune committees, made up of 45% of women on average, have been operating and maintaining these systems since then.
Switzerland is also assisting communes in carrying out risk assessments and implementing protective measures against natural hazards. This includes, for example, the reconstruction of disaster-proof housing and community emergency shelters. Switzerland also trains professionals to improve their practical skills and raise public awareness of basic earthquake- and hurricane-proof construction techniques. Twelve schools were built and over 1,000 bricklayers trained between 2014 and 2017.
Disaster risk reduction, emergency relief, reconstruction and protection
Agriculture and food security
Switzerland provides support for smallholder farmers to enable them to plant new varieties, increase their crop yields and better store and market their produce. This not only improves food security among rural families, but also benefits all Haitians, who are able to buy affordable, locally grown food.
In cooperation with Canada, Switzerland supported the establishment of an agricultural credit system in all ten of the country's departments, which benefited over 14,500 farmers (28% of whom were women) between 2014 and 2017. Thanks to promoting microfinance institutions, the volume of agricultural loans rose by 30% nationwide.
To ensure that the progress achieved to date is sustained, Switzerland also provides farmers with support that is specifically targeted at increasing their resilience to natural hazards. Switzerland is also helping to reinforce the capacity of the state to cope with natural disasters and provides targeted emergency and food aid where needed.
Employment and economic development
Switzerland supports vocational education and training in Haiti, in particular in the construction sector, which is growing rapidly and plays an important role in poverty reduction. Switzerland works to ensure that people working in small businesses have access to high-quality vocational schools and can take advantage of opportunities for further training. In this context, Switzerland builds on the strengths of the Swiss vocational education and training system and its experience in the earthquake-proof reconstruction of homes and schools.
History of cooperation
While numerous Swiss aid agencies and charitable organisations have been active in Haiti since the 1950s, the Swiss Confederation began to provide assistance to the country in the late 1990s. Following the devastating earthquake in 2010 and Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Switzerland stepped up its humanitarian efforts. Since then it has supported reconstruction efforts and the strengthening of disaster risk reduction. Since 2013, Switzerland has also been involved in longer-term development programmes in Haiti to help bring about a lasting improvement in living conditions, poverty reduction and the strengthening of local governments. In accordance with Switzerland's cooperation strategy for the 2018–21 period, particular emphasis is placed on the links between humanitarian aid and development cooperation.
Links
Documents
Current projects
Appui au Country Based Pooled Fund (CBPF) Haiti
22.11.2024
- 28.02.2026
Pour adresser les besoins humanitaires significatifs et croissants, la Suisse apporte un soutien financier de 940'000 CHF au nouveau Country Based Pooled Fund (CBPF) pour Haïti. Le CBPF sélectionne et finance des projets sur la base de la stratégie d’allocation pour adresser les besoins humanitaires identifiés en s’assurant que les thèmes transversaux, comme le genre, la localisation, la centralité de la protection, seront au centre du processus d’allocation des fonds aux projets.
Programme de Protection et Promotion Sociale Réactive aux Chocs (PROMES)
01.08.2024
- 31.07.2027
PROMES vise à renforcer la résilience de la population vulnérable d’Haiti. Une contribution de la Suisse au Programme Alimentaire Mondial permet de déployer un filet de protection sociale déjà testé et développé conjointement avec les autorités locales dans un nouveau département. En appuyant une ONG locale, le programme va consolider les résultats de la phase 1 dans le Sud-Est. Au niveau local dans le Sud, PROMES permettra d’améliorer les capacités de relèvement financier rapide en cas de catastrophes.
2024 Additional Allocation to World Food Programme (WFP) Country Strategic Plan Haiti
01.01.2024
- 31.12.2024
Against historic levels of food security due to conflicts, climate change and COVID-19, Switzerland supports annually operations of the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide humanitarian and development assistance. Haiti has one of the world’s highest levels of chronic food insecurity. Currently, 50% of the population, or close to 5 million people, are food insecure. With additional funding, SDC reinforces WFP’s response to support the Government in developing sustainable solutions to hunger and malnutrition.
Add. Contribution to ICRC Operations in Haiti 2024
01.01.2024
- 31.12.2024
SDC funding to ICRC operations allows the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to respond proactively and to provide immediate protection and assistance for people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. In line with the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles, Switzerland recognizes the necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in humanitarian crises.
REGLEAU - Renforcement de la gouvernance locale de l’eau et de l’assainissement
01.04.2023
- 31.07.2025
Ce projet vise à renforcer les capacités de six communes d’Haïti afin qu'elles puissent fournir des services d'eau potable et d'assainissement résilients aus risques et catastrophes à la population. En vue de la fin de la coopération bilatérale de la Suisse en Haïti, la phase II consolide et met à l'échelle les acquis de la première phase et intègre des approches du projet direct humanitaire « Réduction des Risques de Catastrophes Naturelles ».
2023 Annual Allocation to WFP Country Strategic Plans - Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2023
Against historic levels of food security due to conflicts, climate change and COVID-19, Switzerland supports annually in 28 SDC priority countries operations of the World Food Programme to provide humanitarian and development assistance. It funds indistinctively Country Strategic Plans, incorporating all WFP programmes or projects, based on affected population needs and potential synergies with other local partners, especially national governments and civil society.
Allocation of SDC Funding (Asia, Latin America and Caribbean Division) in 2023 to ICRC Operations in Central America, Colombia, Venezuela, Haiti
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2023
SDC funding to ICRC operations allows the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to respond proactively and to provide immediate protection and assistance for people affected by armed conflict and other situations of violence. In line with the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) principles, Switzerland recognizes the necessity of predictable and flexible funding to respond to changing needs in humanitarian crises.
2023 Additional Allocation to WFP Country Strategic Plans BGD, Haiti
01.01.2023
- 31.12.2023
Against historic levels of food security due to conflicts, climate change and COVID-19, Switzerland supports annually in 28 SDC priority countries operations of the World Food Programme (WFP) to provide humanitarian and development assistance. It funds indistinctively Country Strategic Plans, incorporating all WFP programmes or projects, based on affected population needs and potential synergies with other local partners, especially national governments and civil society.
Projet de développement et de renforcement en gouvernance communautaire et en entreprenariat social
01.09.2022
- 30.09.2025
Ce projet cofinancé par la DDC et l'ONG suisse HEKS/EPER apportera un soutien aux acteurs travaillant pour les cantines scolaires dans la Grand'Anse (sud d'Haïti). En nourrissant les écolier-ère-s des familles pauvres de manière régulière et équilibrée, le projet contribue à atténuer l'insécurité alimentaire des populations vulnérables. De plus, des opportunités économiques sont crées pour les productrices et producteurs agricoles sur place.
Projet d’appui à la reconstruction de l’habitat avec formation dans le Sud (PARHAFS)
01.04.2022
- 30.06.2025
Le projet vise à renforcer la résilience des habitants du sud d'Haïti, région régulièrement frappée par de violents phénomènes naturels - le dernier en date étant le puissant séisme d'août 21. Le projet travaillera en étroite collaboration avec les institutions nationales, les collectivités locales et les associations de femmes afin de renforcer la résilience des communautés, en premier lieu en construisant des maisons avec la participation des propriétaires. En collaboration avec les populations exposées et la protection civile locale, des abris collectifs anticycloniques seront aussi construits, offrant aux personnes une possibilité de protection en cas de conditions météorologiques adverses. L'objectif est de reproduire ce modèle au niveau national.
Programme d’Appui à la Production Agricole en Haïti (PAPAH), Phase II
01.08.2019
- 31.12.2024
La phase 2 du Programme d’Appui à la Production Agricole en Haïti vise à renforcer le système national de financement et d’assurance agricoles en Haïti, porté par les institutions publiques et privées et régulé par la Banque de la République d’Haïti. La contribution suisse servira de levier pour mieux structurer et orienter des investissements d’environ USD 340 millions au profit des exploitations dans les chaines de valeur agricoles; dans le Sud et la Grand-Anse, en synergie avec les programmes du portefeuille Suisse, le développement de produits financiers spécifiques servira environ 20 000 exploitations agricoles.
A toolbox for sustainable self-reliance
06.09.2017
- 31.03.2022
Haiti has been repeatedly devastated by earthquakes and hurricanes in recent years. SDC engineers are now working with those affected to build more stable houses from local materials. Five hundred new homes are to be built by 2021.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Haiti |
Climate change and environment Humanitarian Assistance & DRR Vocational training Governance nothemedefined
Disaster risk reduction DRR
Humanitarian efficiency
Vocational training
Public sector policy
|
06.09.2017 - 31.03.2022 |
CHF 4’509’500 |