Tuesday Javier Niño Perez, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) in Haiti, Sophie de Caen the Senior Director of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a convention to support elections in Haiti. Through this agreement, the EU allocates € 5 million in mutual fund managed by UNDP, and which is also fed by other donors.

In his speech, Ambassador Javier Niño Perez declared "[...] Today, the EU, in partnership with UNDP, materialize his promise to be alongside the country and to support it in this election process and beyond, in its dynamics of democratic consolidation.

"This collaboration also aims to ensure national ownership of the organization of elections and to contribute to government efforts to ensure respect for the Haitian of right to vote, freedom of expression and human rights," added the Senior Director of UNDP Sophie de Caen.

Haiti needs $45 million (budget estimated by UNDP) for the organization of elections (two thirds of the Senate, Parliament and local authorities), whose 42 million for the electoral process [whose , among others : the registration of 6,000,000 voters, buying 42 million ballots, the installation of more than 1,800 polling centers, 13,500 polling stations and the deployment of 50,000 employees in the country].

So far, donors have already contributed to mutual funds up to $30 millions (Haiti : 10 millions ; U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) : 6.5 millions ; le Canada 5 millions ; UE 5 millions ; Brazil : 1 million.] Mexico, will provide a technical contribution and UNDP is in negotiations with Japan.

Recall that the CTCEP had estimated the cost of elections (1/3 of the Senate and local authorities) to $43 million.

HL/ HaitiLibre