Haiti: Sandra Paulemont Calls for Fairer Development Financing at the UN, Strengthens International Cooperation

Haiti

Haiti’s Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, Sandra Paulemont, has stepped up her international engagements in recent days, calling for reforms in development financing and stronger partnerships in support of Haiti amid ongoing national vulnerabilities.

A Call at the United Nations

Speaking on April 20, 2026, at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York City, during the 2026 Forum of the Economic and Social Council on Financing for Development, the minister outlined a concerning assessment of Haiti’s situation.

She highlighted that 5.7 million people are facing food insecurity, including 1.9 million in emergency conditions, underscoring the depth of the humanitarian crisis.

In this context, Paulemont emphasized development financing as a key lever for stability and long-term transformation.

Representing the government led by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, she reaffirmed Haiti’s alignment with the positions of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Group of 77, and China.

She called for a “more ambitious” reform of global economic governance, noting that fragile states remain the most exposed to shocks while being underrepresented in decision-making processes. The minister stressed the need for international cooperation focused on sustainable reconstruction and resilience, rather than short-term aid.

Strengthening Partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank

On the sidelines of the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington, D.C., Paulemont met with Daniel Best, president of the Caribbean Development Bank.

Discussions focused on Haiti’s priorities, including security, economic and social recovery, and the organization of elections in line with the ongoing national pact.

The bank indicated that it currently manages a portfolio of approximately $200 million in Haiti, including $50 million in new commitments. It reaffirmed its willingness to strengthen support, particularly in economic, social, and environmental resilience, as well as in agriculture and energy.

For her part, Paulemont advocated for increased access to concessional financing, targeted budget support, and faster disbursement mechanisms, while emphasizing the importance of strengthening institutional capacity. Both parties agreed to continue discussions in May to define future projects and funding.

Academic Achievement

Alongside her diplomatic activities, the minister announced that she successfully defended a doctoral thesis in public policy on April 14 at Liberty University. Her research focuses on the impact of governance reforms on socio-political stability and poverty reduction in fragile states, with a comparative analysis between Haiti and Colombia.

A Strategy Focused on Aid Coordination

These initiatives are part of a broader government strategy aimed at improving coordination of international aid and aligning partner interventions with national priorities. Haitian authorities seek to mobilize financial and technical resources to address the current crisis while laying the foundations for sustainable development.

In her remarks, the minister reiterated a central message: Haiti is not asking for compassion, but for structured cooperation capable of transforming fragility into resilience.

 Ronald André