Haiti

DFID’s overarching goal in the Caribbean is to assist the region to achieve sustainable reductions in poverty in line with the Millennium Development Goals. This effort will operate within and support the framework of poverty reduction and growth promotion policies and instruments embodied in the treaties and communiqués of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM together with the policy frameworks provided by the CARICOM Secretariat, such as the Regional Strategic Framework for HIV and AIDS.

Haiti has a massive development challenge. It is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with an estimated annual GNP per capita of only US$438, making it the country with by far the largest number of poor people in the Caribbean.

Haiti has a very long history of political instability and poor governance, causing significant social unrest, crime and violence. Public accountability is weak and corruption is rife. There are threats to the stability of neighbouring islands associated with the potential collapse of the Haitian state.

Acute poverty has fuelled the country’s AIDS epidemic and already there is major concern about Haitians moving to other Caribbean countries exacerbating HIV and AIDS and other social challenges. In this context DFID is exploring ways by which we might work with other members of the regional and international community to add value to their efforts to help the process of stabilising and developing Haiti.

Last updated: 29 July 2004