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HAITI TACKLES COMPLIANCE RISK MANAGEMENT IN POST-EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY EFFORTS

Strengthening Disaster Risk Management after the 2010 Earthquake

In the aftermath of the devastating January 2010 earthquake that killed an estimated 220,000 people and displaced 1.5 million, Haiti’s government and international community recognized the urgent need to strengthen the country’s disaster risk management (DRM) system. The World Bank-led Disaster Risk Management and Reconstruction project aimed to improve Haiti’s DRM capacity and enhance the resilience of critical transport infrastructure.

Project Objectives

  • Build local capacity in disaster risk management
  • Promote shared knowledge and coordination between the DRM and transport sectors
  • Support emergency preparedness and response

Achievements

  • Trained over 1,500 beneficiaries in disaster risk management, including officials from key ministries such as Health and Education
  • Established a National DRM System, which has been instrumental in responding to subsequent disasters, including Hurricane Matthew in 2016
  • Developed an earth observation knowledge base, risk assessments, communication systems, and early warning systems

Impact

  • Enabled rapid evacuations and damage assessments, saving lives and reducing losses
  • Provides valuable data and knowledge for policymakers, developers, and beneficiaries seeking to mitigate disaster risks

Ongoing Efforts

  • Strengthening key activities and systems developed under the project in the urban, DRM, and transport sectors
  • Utilizing the data and knowledge base developed with the project’s support to inform policy and decision-making

Lessons Learned

  • The importance of investing in compliance risk management in post-disaster recovery efforts
  • The need for countries like Haiti to build resilience against future disasters

Conclusion

The success of the Disaster Risk Management and Reconstruction project serves as a testament to the importance of investing in compliance risk management in post-disaster recovery efforts, enabling countries like Haiti to build resilience against future disasters.