This week, the Ministry of the Environment's (MOE) Climate Change Directorate held a validation workshop for Haiti's Green Climate Fund (GCF) Country Program. The objective of this meeting was to present the finalized strategic document, gather stakeholder feedback, review priority projects and financing strategies, and conduct a collective validation process prior to its submission to the GCF.

The workshop was held in the presence of Joseph Emmanuel Philippe, Director General of the MOE, who officially opened the workshop. The workshop was also attended by numerous representatives from sectoral institutions (Ministry of Education, Ministry of Public Works, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Institute of Science, Technology, and Advanced Studies of Haiti (ISTEAH), civil society organizations, the private sector, and academia.

On behalf of the Directorate General of the Ministry of Environment, Economist-Engineer Hugo Coles launched the discussions by highlighting the difficult context marked by a prolonged economic recession and the country's increased vulnerability to climate impacts. He emphasized the importance of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which provides for an unconditional reduction of 6.23% in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and a conditional reduction of 25.5% through 35 measures, provided adequate technical and financial support is provided.

According to the document presented, approximately USD 665 million is needed to achieve the unconditional target and USD 4.05 billion for the conditional target.

Coles also reiterated that the national mitigation strategy targets, in particular :

• Increasing the share of renewable energy in electricity production;

• Modernizing energy infrastructure;

• Promoting improved cookstoves and electric mobility;

• Improving industrial processes.

He emphasized the urgency of adaptation needs, which particularly concern agriculture, water, coastal areas, health, and vital infrastructure, and require investments estimated at USD 13 billion.

Marion Denantes, consultant on the Country Program, presented the six main stages of the development process :

1. Analysis of the strategic framework and climate financing opportunities;

2. Stakeholder engagement and consultation;

3. Validation of the project pipeline prioritization methodology;

4. Assessment of national capacities;

5. Refinement of climate projects for the pipeline;

6. Final validation of the Country Program.

She emphasized that each stage is based on a multisectoral analysis and defined criteria (climate, institutional, economic, environmental, and social benefits). For her, this validation gives the Country Program the legitimacy to commit Haiti to the GCF.

Ms. Gerty Pierre, Director of the Climate Change Directorate (DCC), reiterated the importance of this step, emphasizing that the Country Program represents a decisive step in mobilizing substantial climate financing for resilience and sustainable development in Haiti.

By bringing together public institutions, academic stakeholders, NGOs, civil society, and the private sector, the workshop helped develop a shared understanding of the document, integrate the recommendations made, and consolidate a national consensus before its submission to the Green Climate Fund.

Download the Nationally Determined Contribution (Revision 1, PDF in French, 62 pages, 31 MB) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/CDN-Revisee-Haiti-2022.pdf

HL/ HaitiLibre