Food security and enhanced resilience for vulnerable communities affected by the earthquake in Nippes, Haiti
Nippes, West| Haïti
Project context
The “Climate Protection and Climate Adaptation through Mangrove Restoration” project is an initiative of AHAAMES and Malteser International Americas designed to address the urgent threat of the disappearance of two (2) mangrove ecosystems in Haiti resulting from their accelerated degradation: the Baradères-Cayemites Complex (CBC), a marine protected area (MPA) administered by the National Agency for Protected Areas (ANAP), covering 890 km² across 2 departments and 6 communes or municipalities (Petit-Trou, Baradères, and Grand Boucan in the Nippes department, and Corail, Pestel, and Cayemites in Grand’Anse); and a remnant mangrove forest located in Village des Rapatriés, in the municipality of Cité Soleil, northwest of Port-au-Prince, in the West Department. This project is being carried out with funding from German Development Cooperation (BMZ) over a four-year period, from 2021 to 2024.
Project objective
This project was intended to help reverse the ongoing degradation of the two (2) ecosystems (within the CBC, the intervention focused on a portion spanning two of the three municipalities, namely Petit-Trou and Baradères) through technical collaboration between AHAAMES, ANAP, and a Colombian NGO, ABIUDEA, as part of a South-South cooperation initiative. The project aims to reduce human pressure on mangrove ecosystems by developing and/or strengthening alternative income-generating activities for the benefit of social groups that exploit the mangroves, supporting the creation of favorable conditions for natural regeneration and the active restoration of forest clearings, and to strengthen the capacity and expertise of AHAAMES, ANAP, and Haitian experts and institutions working in mangrove areas through the exchange of techniques and knowledge via workshops, technical missions, and thematic training sessions.
Specific project objectives
The project is being implemented in Haiti and Colombia. The project’s objectives and expected results in Haiti are as follows:
1) The income of 705 beneficiary households is increased by 20% through the creation of alternative income opportunities;
2) The restoration of 40 ha of mangroves helps safeguard the natural resources that serve as sources of income for the target group.
Results and Deliverables
Result 1: Sustainable economic alternatives are created and/or strengthened for communities living on the edges of mangrove forests in Nippes and Cité Soleil (Haiti).
– Income-generating measures/activities are identified and implemented for 705 households;
Result 2: 50 ha of mangroves are restored in Nippes and Cité Soleil (Haiti).
– 1 sustainable restoration plan for 40 ha of mangrove forest (40 in Nippes, 0 in Cité Soleil) is developed and implemented;
– 2 local mangrove committees (2 in Nippes, 0 in Cité Soleil) are established and trained;
– 60% of the population demonstrates a significant change in their knowledge and attitudes toward the importance of mangroves;
Outcome 3: Best practices (new knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned) for the protection and management of mangroves in Nippes and Cité Soleil (Haiti) are identified through the joint efforts of expert groups and enhance the quality and sustainability of the intervention.
– 1 national platform for knowledge exchange on mangroves is established;
– 1 compendium on experiences and best practices regarding the protection and management of mangroves in Haiti is prepared and published to make this knowledge accessible;
Outcome 4: Capacity building for the local partner organization AHAAMES in Haiti contributes to the project’s sustainability.
– AHAAMES’ expertise in the areas of income-generating activities, mangrove management, climate change adaptation, gender mainstreaming, and multi-level approaches is developed.
Institutions/Actors/Roles
Implementing Organizations: Haitian Association for Agricultural, Medical, Educational, and Social Assistance (AHAAMES)
Partners: Malteser International Americas, local authorities
Location: Haiti, Nippes Department, Petit-Trou-de-Nippes commune (3rd communal section, Lièvre), Baradères commune, and L’Asile commune.
Project duration: 48 months