Hasan Tuluy, the World Bank's new Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), will begin next Wednesday a two-day visit to Haiti, his first official visit to the LAC region since he took office on January 1st. "This is my first official trip and it reflects the priority we give Haiti. I am looking forward to see firsthand how two years after the devastating earthquake reconstruction is gaining momentum with tangible results on the ground," Tuluy said, "In spite of the many challenges, a lot has been achieved through the joint efforts of Haitians and intern ational partners. The World Bank Group remains fully committed to Haiti's reconstruction and will remain engaged with significant human and financial resources."

After having met this Monday, the Prime Minister, Dr. Garry Conille in Washington, Mr Tuluy will meet during his visit to Port-au-Prince, Mr. André Lemercier Georges, Minister of Economy and Finance, with whom he will discuss the Government's priorities and how the Bank can best continue to support the country's reconstruction and longer-term development efforts. Tuluy will also meet representatives from the public and the private sectors to exchange views on Haiti's growth opportunities and development challenges.

On Wednesday, Tuluy and Jacques Hubert Daniel Rousseau, Minister of Public Works, Transport, Energy and Communications, will meet at the Office of Building Assessments which was created after the 2010 earthquake, with financial and technical support from the World Bank. Then Tuluy will also visit the Pétionville Club Camp [managed by American actor Sean Penn].

The Bank's Neighborhood Rehabilitation and Housing Reconstruction Program is contributing to the relocation of thousands of Haitians to permanent housing, many from this camp. The US$95 million program will provide housing for 85,000 people, upgrade neighborhoods and basic services to benefit 300,000 people, and help families move out of camps by providing rental subsidies.

On Friday, the Vice President will see a primary school that received tuition waivers and school feeding financed by IDAs. Since the earthquake the Bank has funded 210,000 tuition waivers and school meals for 75,000 children every day. Access to schools for poor children aged 6-12 is now being expanded and equity and quality will be enhanced in the sector over the next 3 years through a second Education for All Project. It will benefit a total of 175,000 Haitian children.

The World Bank also provides support on disaster risk management, agriculture and private sector development, under the 2012 World Bank Interim Strategy for Haiti which programs US$255 million in grants from the International Development Association's (IDA) Crisis Response Window.

S/ HaitiLibre