On 11 June 2012, the Republic of Haiti joined the SUN Movement with a letter of commitment from Madam Sophia Martelly, the First Lady of the Republic of Haiti. At the time, Haiti had established a national strategic framework to fight hunger and malnutrition, known as ABA GRANGOU. The framework was launched by the President Michel Martelly and involves nine ministries and multiple stakeholder groups. The national-level Commission for the Fight Against Hunger and Malnutrition (COLFAM) is responsible for the strategic direction of the ABA GRANGOU and is chaired by the First Lady. The National Coordination Unit of ABA GRANGOU (UNAG) is responsible for execution and coordination of the activities set out in this national framework. Emergencies are recurrent in Haiti, often jeopardizing potential gains in the fight against malnutrition. Because of this, Haiti is looking for ways to ensure that emergency response and preparedness are fully integrated into their approach to tackling malnutrition.
Haiti
Progress
Nutrition situation
21.9%
Under Five Stunting
3.7%
Under Five Wasting
3.4%
Under Five Overweight
39.9%
0-5 Months Exclusive Breastfeeding
46.2%
Woman Anaemia 15-49 years
28.6%
Adolescent Overweight Male
23.1%
Adolescent Overweight Female
34.2%
Adult Overweight Male
32.1%
Adult Overweight Female
18.6%
Adult Obesity Male
28.1%
Adult Obesity Female
8.6%
Adult Diabetes Male
8.8%
Adult Diabetes Female
Strategic objectives
- Bringing people together
- Coherent policy and legal framework
- Aligning programs around a Common Results Framework
- Financial tracking and resource mobilization
In the wake of the abolition of the National Commission for Hunger and Malnutrition in 2014, political instability, and recurring climate hazards, hunger and malnutrition are no longer seen as high on the political agenda. As a result, technical groups in the food and nutrition security sectors have been left to deal with these matters. Nevertheless, the Government is finalising a draft bill and a National Food and Nutrition Sovereignty and Security Policy, which include plans for a multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder nutrition system at the political and technical levels. Civil society, the private sector and academia are willing to support the Government, with better coordination and adequate structures.
Last updated: November 2017
2015
In parallel, there are government-led coordination groups: the Nutrition Technical Committee (CTN) and a Food and Nutritional Security Technical Group (GTSAN) involving representatives of the Government, donors and various key stakeholders. A national research platform has been created with the support of Harvest Plus, bringing together three ministries (agriculture, sustainable development and national education). The Ministry of Public Health and the Population is expected to be associated with it.
Over a dozen meetings have been arranged with members of civil society. The network of health and nutrition journalists of WHO and UNICEF, launched with Brazil’s support, is still active. The REACH mechanism, introduced at the start of 2015, is also currently in the process of defining its scope for intervention.
Last updated: October 2015
Haiti has a number of nutrition-related laws. Recent initiatives include a draft bill and a new National Food and Nutrition Sovereignty and Security Policy, both currently being drafted by the Economic and Social Development Council – an independent body linked to the Office of the Prime Minister. There have been calls to set up a permanent technical body to monitor and evaluate progress towards sector-specific strategic objectives, on the basis that such a move would promote the development and review of an enabling political and legal framework for nutrition, operationalise the framework, and harmonise existing strategies.
Last updated: November 2017
2015
The Economic and Social Development Council (CDES), which is answerable to the President’s Office, is currently writing a document on the National Policy for Food and Nutritional Sovereignty and Security. A law on food fortification was voted on by the Senate in 2014-2015 and is due to be approved by the members of parliament.
Last updated: October 2015
Haiti has a series of sector-specific strategies and programmes, including the Ministry of Health National Nutrition Plan (2013-2018), the Ministry of Education National School Canteens Plan, and the Ministry of Social Affairs’ Korê Lavi programme. The National Food Security Commission is working with various sectors to update its National Food and Nutrition Security Plan (2016-2025). However, the central and decentralised levels are not implementing or monitoring these plans and programmes in a coordinated manner. Haiti needs to develop a strategic plan to operationalise its National Food and Nutrition Sovereignty and Security Policy.
Last updated: November 2017
2015
An agricultural recovery plan drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture is the Government’s main development focus, but the promotion of local food products and their importance for good nutrition could be reflected better in the programme on purchasing local agricultural products. The concept of “public health agriculture” has been advanced in a number of projects.
In May 2015, the Ministry of Public Health and the Population prioritised iodised salt production, with the support of USAID and via UNICEF, and this is now available in 10 health departments.
A task force involving the Ministry of National Education, Canada and the World Bank is working on a School Canteens Policy, which will incorporate the lessons learned from the evaluation under way, conducted by PAM, on school meals. This assessment concerns school canteens, micronutrient supplements and capacity building. In parallel, a programme, headed up and supported by the office of the First Lady and the Ministry of Public Health and the Population, has been launched to improve sanitation in schools.
Lastly, a new project for social protection aiming to reduce food insecurity and poverty, with a strong emphasis on nutrition, has been promoted by a consortium of CARE, PAM and ACF (funding by USAID).
Last updated: October 2015
Nutrition-related sector-specific plans are not systematically costed, and there is no single institution tasked with monitoring specialist funding. As such, the country has no holistic view of funding needs, or of how funds are allocated and used. Public investment in nutrition varies from one Government to the next – as priorities change – and no funds have been allocated to the Ministry of Health nutrition-specific budget line for the period in question. Cost estimates will be produced for the strategic plan to operationalise the National Food and Nutrition Sovereignty and Security Policy. Government and donor advocacy will need to form part of resource mobilisation, and Haiti’s Cost of Hunger study could be updated to support these efforts.
Last updated: November 2017
2015
Last updated: October 2015
SUN Government Focal Point
Joseline Marhone Pierre
Director of Nutrition Ministry of Health and Population
Donor Convenor
- EU
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Tackling severe hunger in Haiti with the support of the European Union