Republic of Haiti

Haiti is country in the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. Haiti is suffering from poverty, famine, and natural disasters such as earthquakes, storms, droughts more than any other country in the Caribbean.

Haiti has one of the highest levels of food insecurity in the world. Nearly 4.4 million Haitians, which is half the population, need immediate food assistance, and among these, 1.2 million suffer from severe hunger.  The impact of the global economic slowdown and interruptions in trade have been devastating for this island country that depends heavily on imports. Many needs are in short supply, and prices for food items have surged. Families who depend on agriculture, trade, and the informal economy to survive have experienced significant pressure. This episode of the global crisis has brought Haiti on the verge of a never-ending food catastrophe, with a rise in the number of very young children suffering from severe malnutrition (World Food Programme, n.d.). The findings below demonstrate the types of interventions that have been adopted to alleviate hunger, undernutrition, and strengthen agriculture in Haiti.

GOVERNMENT POLICIES & INITIATIVES  

The National Nutrition Policy (Politique Nationale de Nutrition/PNN 2012)

Improve the nutrition and health status of the population and of vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, lactating women, and children under five years of age.

National Climate Change Policy (Politique Nationale de Lutte contre les Changements Climatiques/PNCC 2017)

Reduce Haiti’s vulnerability to climate change by adopting and implementing appropriate adaptation and mitigation measures.

 Agricultural Development Policy (2010–2025)

Satisfy the food needs of the population and contribute to the social and economic development of the country. 

The policy includes specific long-term goals such as reducing reliance on food imports and meeting the national demand for food predominantly through domestic production, creating employment opportunities in rural areas to curb migration to the cities, increasing the contribution of the agricultural sector to foreign currency earnings, and reducing environmental vulnerability.

The Food Security and Nutrition Program (launched in 2019) - A collaboration between the Government of Haiti and the European Union

This program aims to sustainably improve the food security and nutrition of the most vulnerable populations and develop their resilience and capacity to resist and overcome shocks and crises. 

The Nutrition Strategic Plan (2013–2018)

Efforts were made to improve the health and nutritional status of the population, including vulnerable groups, by prioritizing the following areas: preventing malnutrition, addressing nutrition-related diseases, protecting nutrition in case of emergencies, improving information systems for nutrition, improving intersectoral and inter-ministerial coordination, and providing applied research and training in the field of nutrition (Global Hunger Index, 2019).

 

• A maternal and child health and nutrition program implemented in the Central Plateau of Haiti provided preventative health services and food assistance to pregnant and lactating women and children and behavior change communication to mothers (including child feeding and care practices to prevent undernutrition)

• Monthly food rations for children and behavior change communication to mothers of young children were provided either on a preventative basis (targeted to all children aged 6–23 months) or recuperative basis (targeted to children aged 6–59 months who were determined to be already undernourished) 

• Treatments for anemia in 9–24-month-old children. The children in one group were given an iron-fortified wheat-soy blend ration, whereas the children in the other group were given the same ration plus a supply of micronutrient sprinkles, which are sachets containing powdered micronutrients that can be added to ordinary meals (Global Hunger Index, 2019).

 

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES TOWARDS REDUCING HUNGER 

COVID-19 IMPACT REDUCTION ASSISTANCE 

Action Against Hunger launched a one-year food security project in Jean Rabel funded by the Swedish Development and International Cooperation Agency (SIDA) to support the Haitian community. Local government officials and community leaders collaborated on the initiative.

The project aims to address both emergency needs and to build resilience and capacity in the communities by providing,

• Cash transfers (including food vouchers for local products) to 1,320 households who are most vulnerable to hunger including those without steady incomes or means of producing food at home.

• Seeds, tools, and adapted technical training for 35 small-scale farmers to help them deal with the consequences of climate change and to improve availability of local food in local markets.

• Capacity-building support for a local association to support and improve their capacity, strengthen local leadership, and inspire positive change.

 

• Agroecology education to children in eight schools, so children can learn farming and sustainable practices to foster a brighter future (Nelly Mitja, 2020).