On Thursday, April 30, 2026, Sandra Paulemon, Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, held an important meeting with a delegation from the Governance Unit of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), led by Ms. Djenanne Félix Désir, Head of the Governance Unit, and Juviny Jacques, Coordinator of projects funded by the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).

During the discussions, three key projects funded by the PBF were presented to the Minister.

First Project :

The first project, entitled "Towards Stakeholder Engagement for Reducing Community Violence in At-Risk Neighborhoods" directly addresses security, one of the Haitian government’s major priorities, alongside economic and social recovery and the organization of elections.

Second Project :

The second project focuses on strengthening community-based recovery mechanisms and peace processes, specifically targeting youth and women in at-risk areas. It aims to prevent and reduce armed violence.

Third Project :

The third project, currently being implemented, aims to support national initiatives to strengthen state authority, with the goal of improving relations between the state and citizens and fostering the development of lasting peace in Haiti.

These interventions cover several strategic areas, including Martissant, Bel-Air, Solino, and Carrefour-Feuilles in the West Department, as well as territories in the Artibonite and North Departments, using approaches adapted to local realities.

In the Artibonite Department, interventions are geared towards economic support, particularly in agriculture, to bolster livelihoods and strengthen community resilience.

In the West Department, efforts are primarily focused on supporting stabilization following police operations by the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H) and the Gang Repression Force (GRF).

In the North, particular attention is also being paid to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with the aim of creating sustainable economic alternatives and making joining armed groups less attractive to young people.

Furthermore, specific programs are being implemented to support women victims of violence in neighborhoods such as Solino, Bel-Air, and Martissant.

Minister Paulemon emphasized the need to develop these projects into an integrated territorial strategy. She reiterated that the sustainable stabilization of territories relies on a combination of security, social, and economic actions, with visible results in the short term.

She also placed particular emphasis on creating safe community spaces and strengthening support mechanisms for the most vulnerable populations, especially women and youth. Furthermore, she emphasized the importance of territorial targeting, calling for interventions concentrated in highly vulnerable areas, with a strengthened presence of stakeholders and continuity of action, in order to produce a real impact on reducing violence.

The Minister advocated for better structuring of interventions to avoid their fragmentation and ensure their alignment with national priorities, particularly security, economic and social recovery, and the organization of elections.

HL/ HaitiLibre