26-05-2025 | di COOPI

Haiti with COOPI: prevent, protect, resist

“Building local and community capacity for early warning, preparedness and rapid response to multiple and interdependent risks in Haiti” is the new initiative launched in the Artibonite department by COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale, with the support of the European Union (ECHO). The project responds to one of the most complex humanitarian emergencies in the Americas. In a region where insecurity driven by armed groups overlaps with extreme climate vulnerability, the goal is to equip communities to anticipate and manage compound crises, from floods and earthquakes to forced displacement and epidemics.

The project unfolds in a dramatically challenging context: according to the INFORM Risk Index, Haiti is among the most vulnerable countries in the world. In 2024 alone, over 700,000 people have been displaced due to armed violence. In Artibonite, food security is severely compromised, with numerous households experiencing emergency-level needs, as defined by the World Health Organization’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. The intervention focuses on the municipalities of Gonaïves, Gros Morne, and Ennery and aligns with Haiti’s National Risk and Disaster Management Plan (PNGRD 2019–2030). It aims to foster strong, community-led responses through the establishment and reinforcement of Local Civil Protection Committees (CLPC), Local Emergency Operations Centers (COUL), Municipal Committees (CCPC), and Local Unit Organization Committees (COUC). These structures will be trained, equipped and directly involved in emergency response management.

More than 300,000 people will be covered by newly established and functional early warning systems. Additionally, 2,450 individuals will participate in drills, simulations and hands-on activities designed to enhance collective response capacities. The project also involves updating contingency plans in collaboration with Civil Protection and local authorities, taking into account complex scenarios and a broad range of environmental, health and protection risks, with particular attention to historically marginalized groups. Youth, often excluded from decision-making processes and vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups, will play a central role, serving as brigadiers and key actors in disaster preparedness and response. Active scout volunteers in Gros Morne and Ennery will mobilize hundreds of young people through training sessions, awareness campaigns, thematic events, and cultural initiatives to promote social cohesion. Women, persons with disabilities, the elderly and children are at the heart of COOPI’s protection strategies: tailored emergency kits, inclusive training modules and support for local organizations will help ensure no one is left behind. Women will be encouraged to take on leadership roles in the CLPC and COUL structures, promoting greater female representation in community decision-making processes.

The project also features a built-in Crisis Modifier, which can be activated in the event of sudden emergencies such as cyclones, epidemics or mass displacement. This mechanism allows COOPI to respond rapidly with the distribution of essential supplies, logistical support and swift mobilization of local systems. The action extends to schools, health centers and small businesses. In 20 of the most vulnerable schools, teachers and administrators will receive crisis management training and be provided with first aid kits and mitigation tools. Ten urban and rural health centers will be supported in developing emergency plans and managing public health crises. Meanwhile, twenty local businesses will receive assistance in creating Business Continuity Plans to minimize operational disruptions in the event of disaster, thus strengthening the region’s economic resilience.

Through this initiative, COOPI is investing in long-term, community-driven solutions. The organization promotes a response model that starts from the ground up, listening to real needs, supporting the development of local expertise and reinforcing what is most valuable in crisis-affected areas: the ability to resist, recover and rebuild.

With this project, COOPI reaffirms its commitment to Haiti. Active in the country since 2010, COOPI has implemented numerous projects focused on disaster risk reduction, cholera and drought response, displacement camp management, housing rehabilitation, and food security, always with the aim of reducing vulnerability and strengthening the resilience of Haitian communities.