Caribbean Development Bank Strengthens Haiti’s Efforts to Improve Access to Sanitation Services

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – On July 16, 2015, the Caribbean Development Bank’s Board of Directors approved USD211,000 in financing to help strengthen Haiti’s technical capacity to improve its population’s access to sanitation services. The funding, provided through the Bank’s Special Fund Resources, will contribute to the Governance and Sanitation Training Programme, which is to be run from September to December 2015.

During the 12-week period, 35 nominated technical and management level professionals responsible for sanitation in Haiti will take an e-learning course in Governance and Sanitation, presented by The UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).  The programme will be rolled out in collaboration with the National Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation (DINEPA), which is responsible for reforming the water and sanitation sector in Haiti.

The UNITAR learning material will help participants understand the economics, pricing and financing of the sanitation sector, how to finance sanitation improvements in poor communities, and the impact of climate change on sanitation.

“Currently, there are limited short-term learning programmes which aim to increase understanding of sanitation services. This project is an opportunity to help raise sanitation standards in Haiti by transferring critical sector-specific knowledge to participants,” said Edward Greene, Division Chief, Technical Cooperation Division at CDB. “Upon completion, this cohort will be equipped with the tools they need to plan projects and review investments that could help increase access to improved sanitation facilities in Haiti.” he said.

Participants who successfully complete the e-learning course component of the programme will attend a five-day workshop, during which they will examine topics such as using geographic information systems for sanitation planning and programming; sanitation in the Caribbean; using wastewater as a source of income; and gender issues including examining the different roles women and men play, in relation to sanitation in the household and in communities.

In Haiti, only 24 percent of the population has access to basic or improved sanitation facilities —considerably below the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of 75 percent coverage and the Caribbean MDG target of 84 percent.

The project strengthens efforts by the Government of Haiti to improve access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation for Haitians. Poor sanitation services are evidenced by the spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases throughout the island.

The Governance and Sanitation Training Programme aligns with CDB’s poverty reduction goal and the eighth cycle of the Special Development Fund for Haiti, which includes a focus on capacity-building, gender and climate change.