The UN General Assembly is in full swing. This means many meetings of international partners and an opportunty for donor countries to make announcements with respect to development assistance. The situation in Haiti was a particular priority for Canada.
Prime Minister Trudeau, alongside the Prime Minister of Haiti, Garry Conille, convened a High-Level Meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti to strengthen efforts to restore democracy, security, and stability in Haiti. The Prime Minister highlighted ongoing work to respond to the humanitarian needs of the Haitian people and Canada’s continued support of the Multinational Security Support mission in the country. He emphasized the criticality of Haitian-led solutions to the conflict. He announced over $16 million to support the transitional government’s election preparedness, increase humanitarian aid, reduce gang violence, and expand access to justice for women and youth detainees while supporting their reintegration into society. These measures will make a meaningful difference in helping Haiti address its immediate needs and create a better, more prosperous future for its people.
Details of the Canadian support for Haiti that was annouced at the UN meetings is as follows:
Supporting the humanitarian response and the restoration of security and stability in Haiti
Project: Observatory on Violence and Resilience in Haiti
Partners: Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime
Funding: $4 million over three years
Countries: Haiti
This project aims to strengthen the capacity and resilience of civil society organizations, expert analysts, and decision-makers in Haiti. It will facilitate the provision of Haitian expertise and help bridge local civil society and international engagement to support Haitian-led solutions. Canada’s funding will help create the Observatory on Violence and Resilience in Haiti, which will serve as a fundamental forum for research and analysis and civil society empowerment. It will also provide crucial support to local leaders in establishing and coordinating a Haiti Resilience Fund Hub, support the creation of a Haiti Network of Experts, and bridge ground-level activities and international and multilateral engagement. $715,000 of funding for this project is part of Canada’s $100 million investment to support the Haitian National Police.Project: Humanitarian food assistance
Partners: The World Food Programme
Funding: $2.5 million for this year
Countries: Haiti
This project helps reduce acute malnutrition and emergency food insecurity in Haiti, including for vulnerable women and girls. Project activities include distributing food and cash assistance, providing supplementary feeding for children under the age of five years old, providing logistical support, and enabling access to the most remote and challenging locations.Project: Soutien et renforcement des nouvelles autorités de transition en Haïti
Partners: UN Development Program
Funding: $2 million over two years
Countries: Haiti
This project will support the transition process in Haiti and the mandates of the interim government and the Transitional Presidential Council. It will contribute to the delivery of concrete actions toward economic recovery, access to social services for the Haitian people, reconstruction of essential infrastructure, and organization of free and fair elections. It also aims to increase the participation of women, and other traditionally marginalized civil society groups, in the decision-making process of key government programs for the future of Haiti.Project: Life-Saving Protection intervention in Haiti
Partners: Plan Canada
Funding: $2 million over two years
Countries: Haiti
This project provides life-saving protection, sexual and gender-based violence services, along with water and sanitation services, to targeted populations in Haiti. It helps train local service providers on key child protection topics and establishes child protection services, such as safe spaces. It also aims to raise awareness on sexual and gender-based violence, and prevention and response practices within communities.Project: Rebuilding the Future for Haiti’s Minors and Women Offenders at Risk of Reoffending
Partners: Terre des Hommes Italie
Funding: $1.9 million over two years
Countries: Haiti
Canada is committed to supporting vulnerable youth and women that are affected by the deficiencies in Haiti’s justice and prison system and to promote their successful reintegration into society. This project supports efforts to reduce the risk of juvenile delinquency, increase access to justice for women and youth detainees, and encourage their reintegration into society through the provision of legal assistance and training for at-risk youth. Canada’s support complements the work of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti to carry out their mandate to improve prison conditions for inmates.Project: Humanitarian Sexual and Reproductive Assistance in Haiti
Partners: UN Population Fund
Funding: $1.5 million over two years
Countries: Haiti
In response to the alarming rise of sexual violence reports in Haiti, this project will support the delivery of life-saving sexual and reproductive health assistance, obstetric and newborn care, contraception, menstrual hygiene management, and clinical and psychosocial care for survivors of sexual violence.Project: Nutrition intervention for children and pregnant and lactating people in Haiti
Partners: UN Children’s Fund
Funding: $1.5 million for this year
Countries: Haiti
This project helps provide life-saving health and nutrition intervention for children and pregnant and lactating people in Haiti, including ready-to-use therapeutic food to treat severe malnutrition and child wasting, community-based health care services to identify and treat malnutrition, and complementary activities help improve nutritional outcomes.Project: Support to people affected by violence in Haiti
Partners: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Funding: $550,000 for this year
Countries: Haiti
This project helps protect and assist people in Haiti affected by armed conflict and other forms of violence. Through this project, the ICRC is helping provide life-saving assistance and engaging in confidential bilateral dialogue with key stakeholders, including weapon bearers. It also serves as a neutral intermediary role in the negotiations for humanitarian access, particularly in gang-controlled areas.Project: Support to a more coordinated and localized humanitarian response in Haiti
Partners: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Funding: $500,000 for this year
Countries: Haiti
The OCHA Country-based Pooled Fund (CBPF) aims to ensure that life-saving assistance reaches those who need it most in Haiti by delivering timely, flexible, and needs-based humanitarian support. This project supports local humanitarian organizations in Haiti to provide urgent assistance, including food, water and sanitation, and emergency health services to those affected by the crisis.Project: Coordination of the Humanitarian Response in Haiti
Partners: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
Funding: $100,000 for this year
Countries: Haiti
This project helps support a more coordinated and effective humanitarian response to the crisis in Haiti, including supporting the assessment and prioritization of humanitarian needs and strategic planning.Source: PMO Press Release
See related press release and story.
Haiti PM says nation far from winning gang war as UN deadline looms (yahoo.com)
For the complete set of UN assistance announcements made by Canada at the UN see the following press release.