New funding from Japan enables WFP to assist vulnerable families in Haiti while boosting local economy

The Government of Japan made an important contribution of US$ 2.04 million to WFP’s overall efforts to fight hunger in Haiti. The most recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report shows more than 4.3 million people – nearly half of the total population – are experiencing Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or higher levels of food insecurity in Haiti.

Voucher distributions will be targeted to geographical areas experiencing Emergency (IPC Phase 4) levels of food insecurity, including highly vulnerable pockets in Port-au-Prince. This targeting may be modified to adapt to shifting needs.

Households will be selected to participate in the project according to an analysis of vulnerability which will consider factors such as female-headed households, households made up of elderly people or people with disabilities, and households with young children.

The vouchers, which have a cash value US$ 24 per person per month, can be exchanged at selected vendors for food commodities. Vouchers are intended to help families partially fulfil their monthly household nutritional needs, supplementing other household means to fill a gap which may otherwise exist.

“Using commodity vouchers and cash-based transfers provides recipients the dignity of choosing which food products are best suited to their families’ needs, while at the same time supporting the local entrepreneurs who are supplying them. This is part of a wider WFP effort in Haiti to deliver food aid in a way which promotes local production and bolsters the national economy,” said Jean-Martin Bauer, Representative and Country Director of WFP in Haiti.

"WFP is one of our key partners in realizing the concept of Human Security that Japan has long promoted in its diplomacy. We hope that WFP utilizes its logistical capacity so that this contribution will enable the vulnerable people in Haiti to obtain the means to buy the food they need while bolstering the local economy. Given the undeniable relationship between conflict and hunger, and faced with the current situation in Haiti, it is essential to support Haiti’s efforts to achieve durable peace. Based on the notion of the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus, Japan continues to accompany the efforts of the Government of Haiti in the humanitarian and development fields, in cooperation with international organizations,” said Yuji Kubo, Ambassador of Japan to Haiti.

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Japanese cooperation in Haiti is based on four priority areas, namely (1) Improving the health and hygiene situation, (2) Promoting education, (3) Enhancing agriculture and food security, (4) Responding to risks of natural disasters and climate change with the basic policy of improving fundamental social services to strengthen the basic social system.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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