News

IN HAITI, SCHOOL FEEDING AND NUTRITION IMPROVES ACCESS TO EDUCATION

For Haitian children, nutrition is as important as learning how to read and write. In a country where over two million people cannot cover their basic food needs, a school that doesn’t offer free food is likely to fail, according to Kerby Jules, a government official.

In the last school year, over 140,000 children have received a snack and a balanced hot meal every school day, thanks to the government’s school feeding program financed by the Haiti Reconstruction Fund and supported by the Global Partnership for Education, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Embassy of Canada, and the World Bank.

These meals provide 1,200 calories daily. The program also includes Vitamin A and deworming treatments for students, as well as training for the cooks to prepare the food in hygienic conditions.

The effects of the program can already be seen in some schools – students are more likely to come to school every days, and children and parents alike are happy for the daily hot meal received. Watch and listen to their testimonies.( Text and video : World Bank)

 

NO OBJECTION ON THE CARACOL ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURES PROJECT FOR US$15 MILLION

 

Dear Steering Committee members,

 

Decision . No objection was registered from voting members at c.o.b on Monday, January 18th, 2016 and, as provided by the HRF Operations Manual,  the HRF Steering Committee decided to allocate an amount of US$15,346,534 from HRF resources to co-finance  additional buildings and infrastructure at CARACOL Industrial Park within the framework of the "Productive Infrastructure Program III" with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as Partner Entity..

 

Sincerely,

Mamadou Deme, HRF Administrator

DECISION TO APPROVE US$1 MILLION HRF ALLOCATION TO THE HAITIAN ELECTIONS

 

Dear Steering Committee members,

 

Decision . No objection was received at c.o.b today (Wednesday, November 25, 2015) and, as provided by the HRF Operations Manual,  the HRF Steering Committee decided to allocate an amount equivalent to US$1 million to partially fund the 2015 Haitian Elections with the United Nations (UN) as Partner Entity.

 

Sincerely,

 

Mamadou Deme, HRF Administrator

APPROVAL OF THE SEEDS (0.7 MILLION) AND DAIRY PRODUCTION (1.3 MILLION) PROJECTS

 

Dear Steering Committee members,

 

Decision . Since, no objection was registered from voting members at c.o.b on Friday, February 26th, 2016, the HRF Steering Committee has decided to allocate an amount of US$2 million from HRF resources to fund the following projects: (i) Seeds Production, for US$0.7 million; and (ii) Dairy Production, for 1.3 million with the UN Agencies as Partner Entity.

 

Sincerely,

US$38.6 MILLION FOR BUDGET SUPPORT FROM HAITI RECONSTRUCTION FUND.

Port-au-Prince, May 28th, 2014.The Steering Committee of the Haiti Reconstruction Fund (HRF), chaired by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Marie-Carmelle Jean-Marie, confirmed funding totaling US$38.6 million for budget support.  When these new allocations are finalized, the HRF will have provided a total of nearly US$74 million in budget support to the Government of Haiti since its creation in 2010, thus helping the government to balance its budget and pursue its reconstruction agenda.

In addition, the HRF also identified energy, agriculture, health, and professional training projects in different stages of development for a total of US$56 million. This funding can be allocated when final project documents are available.

Included in this amount is US$40 million that was originally reserved for a hydropower dam on the Artibonite River at the request of the Brazilian government. The Steering Committee agreed to reallocate these funds to finance projects in the fields of vocational training, agriculture and health which are areas recognized as priorities for the Haitian government.

 Mrs. Marie- Carmelle Jean -Marie, Minister of the Economy and Finance, President of the Fund stated: "Budget support from the HRF enables us to finance the government deficit anticipated for the end of June and thus to balance the major economic and financial accounts of our program with the IMF ".

With almost all of HRF’s available funds allocated or reserved, and changing government priorities from reconstruction to development, the Steering Committee deliberated on the future of the Fund.

The Haitian government proposed that the Haiti Reconstruction Fund be reoriented towards economic construction in order to invest in private sector development and job creation. It was decided to start an evaluation of the HRF before the end of 2014 as well as a feasibility study of this proposed change in purpose.

“The mandate of the HRF has been reconstruction,”said Mr. Josef Leitmann, the Head of the HRF Secretariat. “Now, the HRF can focus on other priority areas that the Government is in the process of determining, in consultation with its partners." Meanwhile, the HRF will be required to reduce its activities to enable effective use of available resources for the development of Haiti.

In addition, the Steering Committee welcomed Mr. Mamadou Deme, to replace Mr. Leitmann as Head of the HRF Secretariat starting 1 June 2014.

$44.7 MILLION APPROVED FOR ENERGY, EDUCATION AND GENERAL BUDGET SUPPORT BY THE HAITI RECONSTRUCTION FUND.

Port-au-Prince, September 13, 2013.75,000 children will benefit from one hot meal a day, and hundreds of thousands of citizens will have access to better electricity supply following the approval of four projects today by the Steering Committee of the Haiti Reconstruction Fund (HRF). The Steering Committee, under the presidency of the Minister of Economy and Finance, Minister Wilson Laleau, approved US$44.7 million in financing for projects in the energy and education sectors and for general budget support. These projects are aligned with priorities of the development policy of the Haitian Government.

 

Joe Leitmann, Manager of the Fund: “We are very happy that the Steering Committee has allocated US$44.7 million, about half of the remaining resources in the Fund, to support key areas such as energy and education for economic and social development. A part of these funds will also help the Government to finish their fiscal year.”

 

 

The first project is US$16 million for the rehabilitation of the 115 kV transmission line between Péligre and Port-au-Prince through which EDH will ensure the transport of electricity from the Péligre hydroelectric power plant to the Port-au-Prince network, including the cities of Mirebalais and Hinche.   

 « The government is committed to the energy sector because we know that energy is central for job creation and, for the people’s well-being; it is one of our top priorities. » Minister Wilson Laleau declared.

 

The US$15 million for school feeding aims to reduce the food deficiency of 75,000 elementary-school children in the Departments of the West, the Center, the South and Artibonite.

 

The US$3.7 million in co-financing by the HRF to support the project “Support of the Implementation of the Education Plan and Reform in Haiti, will support this project launched in August 2012, also financed by IDB and other partners.

 

The general budget support operation, for US$10 million, should support the Government’s objective to reduce poverty over the long-term.   

 

The Steering Committee also debated the future of the Haiti Reconstruction Fund and agreed through consensus that the HRF should continue to function as a platform for development financing for Haiti. This decision will be submitted for approval by the Government at the next Council of Ministers meeting.

 

The Minister of Economy and Finance was satisfied with the debates and hopes that the aid allocated by the Fund to the different sectors would lead to their autonomy.

 

 

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF HRF QUARTERLY BULLETIN No6

- HRF Financial Reserve increased to USD 99.78 million with additional USD 32.28 million for budget support (p.2)
- HRF supports private sector development, particularly small and medium businesses (p.3)
- Neighborhood Reconstruction Project relocates more than 10,000 people from « Parc Jean Marie Vincent » and « Pétion Ville club » camps (p.5)
- 16/6 Project has economic and social impact on communities (p.5)
- Disaster Risk Reduction in the South Department Project closes (p.5)
- HRF continues to play a significant role in Reconstruction Financing (p.4)

Please click here to read the full  Quarterly update

$28 MILLION RESERVED BY HRF TO SUPPORT RECONSTRUCTION THROUGH HAITIAN BUDGET

Port-au-Prince, February,  22, 2013 - $28 million was reserved yesterday by the Steering Committee of the Haiti Reconstruction Fund (HRF) to support reconstruction through the Government’s budget.  The chairperson of the meeting, Finance Minister Marie Carmelle Jean-Marie, pledged that the budget support would be used to finance the Government’s priority reconstruction projects.  An additional $3.5 million was reserved to support investment in the education sector.

The Council of Ministers had previously requested that the HRF finance five priority investments:

•              Rehabilitation of the electricity transmission line from Peligre to Port-au-Prince

•              Construction of a radio-chemotherapy center

•              Urbanization of the Canaan-Jerusalem settlement

•              Operation of the new Mirebalais hospital

•              A job creation program

These priorities would now be financed directly through the Government budget rather than indirectly through the United Nations or the Inter-American Development Bank.

Finance Minister Jean-Marie noted, “I believe that the HRF resources for budget support would be well-used to finance the Government’s priorities for reconstruction.”  In a previous decision, the HRF Steering Committee had already reserved $20 million for budget support, bringing the total available to the Government’s budget to $48 million.

The Steering Committee also addressed the future of the fund.  The HRF Manager, Josef Leitmann, noted that “the Fund could a) mobilize new contributions, b) continue with business-as-usual or c) reduce its activities to a minimum but remain open through 2017.”  The consensus was that the HRF serves a useful purpose and should remain active in support of Haiti’s recovery and development.

NEW FUNDINGS TO TREAT CANCER AND STABILIZE ELECTRICITY NETWORK

Port-au-Prince, February 6, 2013 - At the request of the Government of Haiti, the Haiti Reconstruction Fund (HRF) had provisionally put aside US$18 million for two projects that will have a direct and sustainable impact on the living conditions of Haitian citizens. These projects will help reduce the cancer mortality rate in Haiti and help stabilize 32 percent of the electricity supply  in Port-au-Prince.  The final approval and subsequent transfer of funds are subject to submission of final project documents.  

During its ninth meeting here today, the Haiti Reconstruction Fund Steering Committee (HRF), under the chairmanship of the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mrs. Marie Carmelle Jean Marie, decided to reserve US$10 million for a project  to builda National Center for Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy and Nuclear Medicine in Port-au-Prince.

“This is a complementary financing, we have already received US$30 million,” explained the Minister. “The HRF allows us to finance orphan projects for which we don’t have any other source of funding.” Haiti’s cervical cancer mortality rate is 58 out of 100,000 people.  This Center, the first of its kind in Haiti, will revolutionize access to chemotherapy and nuclear medicine. It will be the first health project financed by HRF.

The second project, the US$8 million rehabilitation of a 115kV transmission line between Peligre and Port-au-Prince (EDH) will ensure the reliability of the Peligre hydroelectric power plant, which, with its 54 MW, represents 32 percent of energy produced on the Port-au-Prince grid, including the cities of Mirebalais and Hinche. This transmission line is more than 45 years old.

The Government is working on the modernization of the Port-au-Prince distribution grid on one hand and on the rehabilitation of the Peligre power plant on the other,” explained Camille Cange, electro mechanic Engineer at EDH. “The line is vital for the transport of energy from Peligre to Port-au-Prince. It is useless to repair distribution channels and the power plant if energy can’t be transported from one point to another. Without the energy of the Péligre power plant, some power plants in Port-au-Prince cannot work.”    

This meeting is the first to be held following the adoption of new procedures that make the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation (MPCE) the counterpart of the HRF. Project proposals are reviewed by the MPCE, and then submitted to the Council of Ministers for approval following consultation with the Prime Minister. “These new procedures ensure the leadership of the Government and financing of its priorities,” said Mr. Yves Robert Jean, Director General, MPCE. It’s also the first Steering Committee Meeting hosted by the Haitian Government.

At the next HRF Steering Committee Meeting, to be held on February 20th, three other projects will be reviewed: the operational planning and implementation of an urban planning project to serve the growing sector of Canaan Jerusalem (US$ 15 million), Public Health Care Services and training support  in the Central Department through strengthening of clinical, community and pedagogical activities at the University Hospital of Mirebalais (US$ 8 million), and, a Job Creation Program in seven communes of West and South Departments (US$ 10 million).

Considering the funds reserved at today’s Steering Committee meeting, the HRF will have allocated US$292 million of its US$396 million for 19 projects benefiting Haiti’s reconstruction. “The HRF is ready to answer additional financing requests. We look forward to working with the Government to mobilize and liberate resources,” concluded Josef Leitmann, HRF Manager.

A NEW FRAMEWORK FOR THE COORDINATION OF EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE IN SUPPORT OF HAITI'S DEVELOPMENT

Port-au-Prince,  26 November 2012_ The President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe today presided over a meeting of the Haitian government, the international community and Haitian stakeholder organizations to endorse a new framework for the coordination of external assistance in support of Haiti's development ( Cadre de Coopération de l'Aide Externe au Développement [CAED]). 

The CAED will, in part, take on the role previously played by the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission (IHRC) in monitoring, coordinating and rationalizing aid flows for both reconstruction and longer-term development.  The CAED will be managed by the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation with the participation of the international community as well as the sectoral and thematic coordination tables to ensure that aid supports Haiti's development plans and policies.

"In order to guarantee a sound governance of the management of external assistance, we will follow the following principles:
1) The leadership of the government with the participation of the international community;
2) Strengthening institutional capacity and human resources; and,
3) A guarantee of mutual accountability of results, development plans respecting Haitian
The CAED is like a refinery that receives the gross aid flows and uses them to produce refined results and tools. " said Prime Minister Lamothe.

Josef Leitmann, the HRF Manager hopes " that the CAED can play a role to support the process of prioritizing funding requests to the HRF which still has $119 million to be allocated." He also proposed that the HRF serve as a source of funding for the proper functioning of the CAED.