From crisis to continuity: Strengthening the resilience of water, sanitation, and hygiene services in rural Haiti

Think Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. Picture its poorest communities. Now think about access to the most basic need: clean water.

The situation is dire. Only 43% of Haitians in rural areas have access to it, compared to 90% in the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean. The poorest communities are hit the hardest, with only 28% having access to basic clean water, compared to 95% of the richest.

This stark inequality stems from decades of underfunding, inadequate infrastructure, and an overall lack of resilience of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in the face of disasters. Integrating disaster prevention, preparedness, and response measures into sectoral planning and infrastructure management is critical to ensure the continuity of WASH services and increase the sector’s capacity to absorb, adapt, and recover from shocks while maintaining service delivery. This includes mitigating system disturbances like financial constraints, socioeconomic challenges, disasters, and climate change, and recovering quickly when disruptions occur.

To improve the understanding of natural hazards and climate projections on the sector, assess vulnerabilities, and offer actionable solutions, a technical note was produced based on three spatial studies of water points identified by the National Directorate for Water and Sanitation (DINEPA). Using satellite data, the studies revealed that nearly 94% of water points across Haiti are in hazard-prone areas. Specifically, 32% in drought zones, 34% in flood-prone areas, and 28% in seismic risk zones. When catastrophic events occur in these areas, populations relying on these water points face challenges, including limited access to potable water, increased health risks, food insecurity, social and economic disruptions, and displacement. This underscores the urgent need for disaster preparedness, resilience-building measures, and investment in sustainable water infrastructure to mitigate future catastrophic impacts on vulnerable populations.

Recommendations were developed to improve the resilience of Haiti’s WASH sector. These cover areas such as governance, infrastructure, water resource management, operational and technical capacity, coordination with key WASH stakeholders, and communication with the Civil Protection. These recommendations will contribute to improved access for the targeted population and support the resilience of the $80 million project—Decentralized Sustainable and Resilient Rural Water and Sanitation Project, funded by the World Bank, with technical and institutional support from the Global Water Security and Sanitation Partnership, and implemented by DINEPA.

A Focus on Resilience

The project recognizes that simply building new water systems is not enough. They need to be designed to withstand the impacts of droughts, floods, and earthquakes. To achieve this, the project is

• Mapping risk: Using satellite data, it is identifying areas most vulnerable to natural hazards, allowing for targeted interventions.
• Developing contingency plans: The project is supporting the development of contingency plans for rural piped water systems, ensuring that communities can continue to access water even during emergencies.
• Investing in sustainable infrastructure: The project provides incentives for communities to build resilient and sustainable water systems, ensuring long-term access to clean water.

This project is already making a difference. Contingency plans for 25 rural piped water systems, serving approximately 125,000 people, have been developed. The goal is to have 150 plans in place within the next five years, which would ensure clean water access for an estimated 750,000 people. This is a crucial step towards strengthening the resilience of Haiti's rural communities and safeguarding access to clean water, even in the face of extreme weather events. 

“Planning for contingencies is crucial. By integrating this innovative planning tool into the governance of our rural piped water systems, we ensure that communities remain resilient in the face of disruptions. These plans not only safeguard water access during emergencies but also enhance the long-term sustainability of our infrastructure,” said Engineer Pierre Bernardin Poisson, Director of DINEPA’s regional office for the North department.

From alarming access disparities to vulnerabilities posed by natural hazards, many challenges remain. The path to resilience is long, but with the right investments and a collaborative approach, Haiti can weather the storms, adapt to change, and build a brighter future where every drop of water counts.