Haiti’s poverty is massive and deep, with over half the population (54%) of 8.2 million people living in extreme poverty, subsisting on less than $1 a day. A further 76% of the population lives on less than $2 a day. Poverty and hunger are even more widespread among the rural population. To reach Haiti’s goal of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger by 2015, its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would have to grow 3.5% per year, a goal Haiti is not considered likely to achieve. In the past 40 years, Haiti’s per capita real GDP has declined by 30%. Economic growth, even if greater than population growth, is not expected to be enough to reduce Haiti’s endemic poverty.
The new government and international donors are shifting from a short-term program to carry Haiti through a transition period to a long-term program to help reduce poverty in Haiti. Haiti and its multilateral and bilateral donors developed an international aid strategy, known as the Interim Cooperation Framework (ICF), to address Haiti’s short-term needs following the collapse of the government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in February 2004. The ICF places priority needs and projects into four broad “axes”: political governance and national dialogue; economic governance and institutional development; economic recovery; and access to basic services. International donors pledged $1.2 billion from 2004 to 2006, and $750 million more through September 2007.
The Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) for the years 2007-2009 calls for actions to be taken within a macroeconomic framework focusing on three goals: maintain macroeconomic stability; target actions to reduce poverty; and create conditions conducive to continuous and sustainable growth driven by private initiative. International donors are assisting Haiti in developing a long-term Poverty Reduction Plan to build on and succeed the Interim Cooperation Framework (ICF). An important part of this strategy is developing the final plan through a participatory process, with the goals of ensuring that the interests of Haiti’s most disadvantaged population are taken into account and that democratic and governance processes are strengthened.
The PRS is to be completed by July 2007, and implemented beginning in October 2007. The U.S. Agency for International Development’s 2007-2009 programs are based on the objectives, strategy, and monitoring indicators established under the ICF. Some critics say that the PRS process does not allow adequate country input, uses limited development analysis, and should include discussion of alternative policies and other aspects of development policy. Enormous political, technical, and institutional challenges must be overcome before Poverty Reduction objectives can be achieved.
The current situation in Haiti is characterized by widespread poverty and limited access to basic services. According to the Interim Cooperation Framework (ICF), the priority needs of Haiti include political governance and national dialogue, economic governance and institutional development, economic recovery, and access to basic services. The ICF places these needs into four broad “axes” and outlines specific objectives and indicators for each. The Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) for the years 2007-2009 builds on the ICF and focuses on three goals: maintain macroeconomic stability; target actions to reduce poverty; and create conditions conducive to continuous and sustainable growth driven by private initiative.
The statistical overview of conditions of poverty in Haiti highlights the challenges posed by current conditions. The report presents data on various indicators, including police and penitentiary institutions, economic stability, access to basic services, and health and nutrition. The data illustrate the extent of poverty and limited access to basic services in Haiti, and highlight the need for sustained efforts to address these challenges. The report also presents data on the size of the police force, penitentiary institutions, and access to basic services, including water, sanitation, health, nutrition, and education.