As a result of exposure to multiple risks, the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance in the country has increased from 2.6 million in 2019 to 4.9 million in 2022 (43% of the population), an increase of 11% over 2021. Efforts are required to promote inter-institutional and multi-stakeholder policy development and implementation, particularly concerning social protection and access to basic social services.

In 2020, only 5.8% of the population was covered by at least one social protection benefit, a modest 3.2% of the vulnerable population was receiving social assistance cash benefits and unemployed persons did not receive unemployment cash benefit. Investing in social protection systems enhances resilience to shocks (Target 1.5) facilitates access to essential services like water, health and education (SDGs 2, 3, 4) and contributes to reducing inequalities (Targets 10.1, 10.7). By considering a gender approach in the elaboration of these systems, greater gender equality can also be achieved (Target 5.4).

Women’s participation in decision-making remains very low. In 2020, the proportion of seats held by women in the national parliament was 2.54%. Creating a strategy to promote the effective participation of women in the political, public and economic spheres could act as an enabler for a profound social and institutional transformation, contributing to the prevention of gender-based violence and the reduction of gender inequalities and discrimination (Targets 5.1, 5.4), while promoting the empowerment of women and girls (Target 5.c).

A strengthening of women’s participation in economic and political life also reinforces productivity increases in the economy (Target 8.2) and decent job creation (Target 8.3). However, to achieve progress in this area, it is paramount to develop strong and transparent institutions that value meritocracy over clientelism, and to fight the current wide-spread impunity by combatting corruption.

In 2022, the unemployment rate was 14,8% and out of an active population of 7 million only 44% are employed. Women and young people are more highly affected, with 73.3% and 70% being inactive, respectively. An estimated 2.6 million people are in informal employment, lacking access to employment benefits.

However, Haiti has various economic channels that could bring about decent employment, in turn accelerating a transition to inclusive and sustainable economic growth. In order to reduce inequalities and leave no one behind it will be necessary to invest in opportunities that address Target 8.5, which in turn can contribute to the materializing of a more resilient and inclusive economic model favourable to livelihood creation and the retention of young people and women (Target 8.6). Increasing employment and decent work also entails an increase in well-being through food security shelter, and also access to key services such as education (Targets 4.1, 4.4) and medical care (Targets 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3).

Decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation would also promote sustainable consumption and production within the public and private sectors (Targets 2.5, 8.4), potentially lowering levels of domestic material consumption, which stood at 24 mn tonnes in 2019. 

Population density in Haiti grew consistently in the last years, reaching 410 people per km² of land area in 2020 with 49% of the urban population living in slums. Slums are one of the most extremes forms of deprivation and contribute to the persistence of poverty and exclusion. Poor urban planning and lack of infrastructure and financing undermine the situation of the population, which faces vulnerable living situations in cities that are largely controlled or under the influence of often violent gangs.

Investing in affordable housing will have a direct impact on reducing multidimensional poverty (Targets 1.3 – 1.5), promoting healthy lives (Targets 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.9), as well as enhancing inclusive and sustainable urbanization (Target 11.3).

The lack of adequate and safe housing for most of the population increases their vulnerability to suffering from increasingly frequent, unpredictable and intense climate-related disasters. This is particularly devastating in the region of Haiti’s location, prone to hurricanes, floods, droughts and earthquakes. These realities underline the imperative of investing in more efficient climate change management and adaptation systems (Target 1.5), while developing the ability to adapt and respond to natural hazards (Targets 1.5, 11.b).

Given Haiti’s complicated context of political instability, recurring insecurity and economic uncertainty, strengthening governance through the attainment of SDG 16 serves as a quasi-precondition to achieving progress in all areas of development. As of January 2023, there are no longer any democratically elected national representatives, the democracy index has deteriorated for its fourth straight year, falling 16 places in 2022 compared to the previous year (Economist Intelligence Unit, 2023). Socio-political and institutional instability have exacerbated structural challenges to the rule of law, including accountability, access to justice and procedural transparency. Governmental initiatives aimed at rebuilding trust with the population and reestablishing the social contract have been insufficient at best.

Advancing on effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels will be necessary to rebuild trust in the State and in public institutions, as well as enabling the environment needed to pursue the path for sustainable development (Target 1.3), reduce levels of poverty (Target 1.2) and ensure access to safe, nutritious food (Target 2.1).

With the immediate priority in Haiti being the reestablishment of security levels and strengthened governance, the restoration of trust not only between the population and the government, but also among the population, will need to be a key area of intervention. Efforts to increase social cohesion will prove crucial in achieving durable peace and stability Haiti requires to effectively leave the current fragility cycle in which the country is caught. Only by ensuring responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making processes at all levels through the inclusion of civil society and other forms of communal organizations will Haiti be able to establish a secure and democratic society.

Greater participation of the population in socio-economic activities and political decision-making at the local, national and regional level is a major pathway in ensuring inclusive growth, as more diverse representation can lead to higher distributional policies and increased access to basic needs through public services to the most vulnerable segments of the population.