On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, Albert R. Ramdin, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Japanese Ambassador to Haiti, Kazuhiko Nishiuchi, signed a cooperation agreement at the headquarters of the National Identification Office (ONI), in the presence of Haitian Minister of Justice and Public Security Patrick Pélissier, Minister of Foreign Affairs Raina Forbin, and ONI Director General Reynold Guerrier.

This agreement, made possible by a US$3 million contribution from Japan, aims to update Haiti's electoral lists by ensuring the continuity of citizen registration and the production and issuance of National Identification Cards (CINs). It will also reduce the number of citizens waiting for identification documents, expand mobile registration services to remote and vulnerable communities, and strengthen coordination between the ONI and the Provisional Electoral Council.

The funding will enable the acquisition of 350,000 blank biometric identification cards; the continued deployment of ONI mobile units; the implementation of public awareness campaigns on legal identity and the electoral process; the improvement of joint ONI and electoral authority facilities; transportation assistance; and the provision of other operational needs. The initiative will strengthen institutional capacity and public service delivery, improve access to electricity and the internet in decentralized offices, and expand access to identification services for underserved populations throughout Haiti.

"Japan and the OAS share a simple conviction: Haiti’s long-term stability must be built from the inside by Haitians, one citizen, one identity, one vote at a time. Japan has articulated this principle consistently in its diplomatic engagement on Haiti and its support for providing Haitians with national identification cards clearly demonstrates that this vision is being translated into action. This agreement further underscores the OAS’s steadfast support for Haiti and its efforts to advance Haitian-led initiatives that promote the country’s stability and development," said Secretary General Ramdin.

"Through this project, Japan is pleased to support Haiti’s efforts to strengthen legal identity, improve access to essential public services and enhance the operational capacity of national institutions. By working with the OAS and Haitian authorities, we aim to ensure that citizens, particularly those in remote and vulnerable communities, can obtain the identification documents they need to participate fully in society and exercise their rights," said Ambassador Kazuhiko Nishiuchi.

This agreement establishes the framework for Japanese financial cooperation, which will be implemented by the OAS to support Haiti’s economic and social development.

HL/ HaitiLibre