On Thursday, May 14, 2026, the official launch ceremony for the Project to Improve Food Security through Sustainable Agriculture, Local Economic Development, and Healthy Diets (EFOSE) took place.

As a reminder, a US$23.6 million grant agreement over seven years was signed on March 11, 2025, between Haiti and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the EFOSE project.

Specifically, the project will focus on increasing and diversifying incomes and local production of nutritious food to address recurring climate and economic shocks. Implemented over seven years (2025-2032), EFOSE aims to reduce poverty and food insecurity in the Southeast Department, a region where 45% of the population is currently affected by this scourge. This project will reach more than 16 communal sections in the Southeast Department. This represents 1,534.3 square kilometers for a total of 24,664 households.

This project, which aims to contribute to poverty reduction and the improvement of food and nutritional security, targets 16 communal sections in the municipalities of Jacmel (Montagne La Voûte, Lavaneau, La Montagne, Bas Cap-Rouge); Cayes-Jacmel (Ravine Normande, Gaillard, Haut Cap-Rouge), Marigot (Corail-Soult), Grande Rivière (Fesles, Macary, Fond-Jean-Noël, Savane du Bois), and Belle-Anse (Baie d’Orange, Mabriole, Calumette, Corail Lamothe).

Project Development Objectives :

The project aims to increase and diversify household incomes and local production of nutritious food, prioritizing approaches that are resilient to climate and economic shocks.

Project Components :

Component 1 :

Strengthening the resilience of territories, their governance, environment, and infrastructure. Component 1 aims to improve the environment conducive to inclusive and resilient local food systems through two sub-components with two main outcomes: (i) increased empowerment and participation of households in decision-making and (ii) improved access to drinking water and agricultural water and an improved climate.

Component 2 :

This component comprises two (2) main interconnected sub-components : Sub-component 2.1 will invest in local production and nutrition training to increase production through the adoption of climate-resilient agriculture and improved nutrition practices, while Sub-component 2.2 will invest in value chain infrastructure and services for supported production systems, thereby increasing employment, food availability, and nutritional diversity.

Emergency and Disaster Response Component :

This component can be activated in the event of an occurrence resulting in major impacts on the lives and livelihoods of the target groups. The most likely emergency likely to trigger such a situation includes:

(i) A major destructive weather event or natural disaster destroying the livelihoods or residences of the target population (hurricane). or a major earthquake);

(ii) Major pest and disease outbreaks affecting crops/livestock and threatening livelihoods;

(iii) A major health or food insecurity crisis requiring immediate assistance;

(iv) Major civil unrest resulting in the destruction of productive infrastructure and the assets of the targeted population and institutions. A causal link between the crisis and/or the eligible emergency must exist to trigger the component. Therefore, the emergency must be linked to an event that has caused, or is likely to cause imminently, a major negative environmental, economic, and/or social impact.

HL/ S/ HaitiLibre