Oxfam's work in Haiti in depth

In Haiti, Oxfam's focus is on disaster preparedness, gender equality, sustainable livelihoods, and helping people have a say in the decisions that affect them.

The context

The Republic of Haiti is a Creole- and French-speaking Caribbean country. It occupies the western third of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago. The Dominican Republic occupies the other two thirds of the island.

Haiti has a population of 8.3 million, 65% of which live in rural areas. Three quarters of the total population lives on less than US$2 per day.  More than half of the Haitian population is under 18 years old.  The majority of the population does not have access to basic social services, clean water, waste management, healthcare and formal education.  Life expectancy is 53 years and the HIV and AIDS prevalence rate is 5%  - the second highest in the world after sub-Saharan Africa. 

As in other parts of the world, women in Haiti are the hardest hit by poverty having generally had less access to education, health and economic opportunities than their male counterparts. Sub-standard wages, minimal training, lack of medical benefits and employment uncertainty all contribute to keeping women in poverty. The rate of extreme poverty among households where the man is the primary wage earner is 53% compared to 58% where the primary wage earner is a woman.

Haiti has a level of deforestation of 97%. Two-thirds of Haiti's population depends on agriculture to make a living and the level of extreme poverty for those living in rural areas stands at 80%.

Haiti has been plagued by political unrest for most of its history. The situation is conducive to violent conflicts, such as the 2004 unrest which saw several weeks of fighting culminating in the existing regime being overthrown.

Rising levels of poverty mean people are more vulnerable to disasters. In Haiti, such disasters are increasing in both frequency and intensity. Climate change, environmental degradation – such as deforestation – and the movement of an increasing number of people to urban areas combine to create a lethal recipe for disaster. 

In 2008, over 165,000 families (an estimated 820,000 people) were affected by a series of hurricanes that hit Haiti. More than 1,000 people lost their lives and more than 110,000 were damaged or destroyed.  Events like these – which in 2008 cost Haiti an estimated 15% of its GDP - exacerbate poverty levels in Haiti.

In January 2010 Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake. Find out more about Oxfam’s earthquake response.

How is Oxfam helping?

Oxfam has been working in Haiti since 1978. We respond to emergencies as and when they arise. This is complemented by our longer-term ongoing development work.

In Oxfam’s ‘National Change Strategy’ for Haiti 2008-2013, we have committed to developing synergy between government and other key actors in the country in order to ensure rapid and effective responses to disasters. Our work also aims to promote a co-ordinated network of humanitarian organisations able to respond in Haiti.

Since 2003, Oxfam, has also  been working on disaster risk reduction (DRR).  Our aim is to reduce both urban and rural communities' vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters. This  is being achieved through training, awareness-raising, and mitigation activities.  Floods and hurricanes are made worse by extreme deforestation across the country.

Oxfam has committed to advocate for the allocation of resources towards the protection and regeneration of the environment.  We also support small and medium-scale producers to substain their livellihoods using strategies which will reinforce their production capacities and their food security. This work is particluarly aimed at those living in the remote areas of the north, central and south-east regions.

Following disasters, projects may include short term actions such as restocking the livestock of the poorest farmers and implementing public employment schemes (‘cash-for-work’ initiatives). Longer-term work includes helping to set up and/or support networks or co-operatives – primarily in the areas of milk, rice, coffee – and enabling producers to sell their produce a decent price. Oxfam also trains small scale producers in marketing methods so they can sell their products on the national markets in competition with imports as well as on the international market as rather than relying on middlemen who profit from the growers' labour.

Oxfam's work in Haiti also aims to strengthen civil society’s advocacy capacity, supporting people to lobbying for economic justice  increased and secure access to public services, such as education, drinking water, electricity and health.

Oxfam Haiti’s programme also aims to promote citizenship and consolidation of political and civil and women’s rights.

 

Last updated: December 2009