Since the pullback of the international assistance mission in 2017 followed by the assassination of its president in 2021, Haiti has suffered from a crisis of governance that has opened the space for criminal — but politically aligned — gangs to take over much of the country. USIP offers technical and secretariat support to national dialogue processes that will lead to a functional transitional government and guide the country to elections. It also works with experts to develop innovative security planning for Haiti that takes account of the tepid international support for the current crisis.

Earthquakes, drought, hurricanes: Haiti’s geographical location and low response capacity make the country particularly vulnerable to climate change and frequent natural disasters, including earthquakes, droughts and hurricanes. Climate change is contributing to an increase in the frequency of disasters, with consequences lasting over time, in addition to a pre-existing situation of extreme poverty.

The country is experiencing a deep political and security crisis. President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in July 2021 and the temporary government is not unanimously accepted by the population. Poverty and corruption in the country have led to an escalation of violence. In Haiti, nearly 4.3 million people are food insecure, more than 300,000 children are unable to access functional schools, and more than 800,000 people were affected by the 7.9 magnitude earthquake on August 14, 2021.