Launched in April 2019, the project to "strengthen the Solid Waste Management system in Haiti", funded by the Government of Japan and executed by the UNDP in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment (MDE) and the communes of Jérémie, Ouanaminthe and Mirebalais, aims in particular to provide technical assistance to the MDE for a sustainable strategy of Solid Waste Management (SWM) in Haiti and the reinforcement of the internal capacities of the municipalities in its intervention areas.

This inclusive project works with all stakeholders in the SWM sector in Haiti to reflect on major issues related to solid waste management at national and local level.

The SWM project intends to provide direct support to the municipalities of Jérémie, Ouanaminthe and Mirebalais in terms of capacity building, provision of materials and equipment and establishment of solid waste management infrastructures. It is in this sense that it is planned to support the establishment of an eco-site in Jérémie and a recycling center in Ouanaminthe as well as the conduct of studies prior to the establishment of an infrastructure from GDS to Mirebalais. One of the biggest challenges facing the project, however, is the availability of land that meets standards, added to the recurrence of land issues.

In addition, the text competition organized within the framework of this project, aimed to encourage young people to contribute to thinking about their immediate environment and to sensitize communities on good practices in waste management was won by Miss Dask-Angel Dejoie, First winner in Secondary 4 at the Collège de l'Étoile de Ounaminthe, in competition with 131 finalists from 22 schools.

In his speech at the award ceremony which brought together around 1,500 students, representatives of the Ministry of the Environment; the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training through the office of the Ouanaminthe school district; of the Ouanaminthe Town Hall, personalities and notable of the city and members of the organized civil society of the commune the first Laureate declared "We are witnessing an unprecedented proliferation of litter in Ouanaminthe, due in particular to a chaotic management of waste. This is not without impact on our health and our environment. Thanks to this competition, I was able to contribute to the dialogue on solid waste management and make my voice heard."

Dorine Jean Paul, Head of the Resilience Unit at UNDP, speaking to all the finalists, was delighted with the interest shown by the young people in the activities of the SWM project and particularly in their participation in the contest "Your commitment to this project gives us hope and shows your awareness of the need for better waste management in your communities [...] I am proud of you as potential spokespersons for the environmental cause in both your communities and your respective families."

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30141-haiti-politic-two-electrification-and-waste-management-projects-funded-by-japan.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23702-haiti-japan-$-8m-for-solid-waste-management.html

HL/ HaitiLibre