The need
Haiti is among the countries most exposed to natural hazards in the world: earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and droughts. This exposure is compounded by vulnerability driven by environmental degradation, unplanned urbanisation and economic precarity. The same communities are struck again and again, and each disaster further erodes their capacity to recover. Preparing before the crisis — rather than only responding to it — is one of the most effective humanitarian investments there is.
Our approach
HASDI defines and steers its programmes from France; local Haitian partner organisations carry out implementation. We prioritise community preparedness: participatory risk assessments, local contingency plans, public awareness, and relaying early warning systems. Because our partners live and work in the communities concerned, preparedness measures are designed with residents rather than for them. We align our work with Haiti's civil protection structures and mainstream disaster risk reduction across our other areas of intervention.
How we intervene
Partnership agreements define for each project the objectives, the preparedness activities supported — training, simulation exercises, small equipment —, the budget and the accountability requirements. Monitoring combines remote management with field visits when conditions allow, and each hurricane season triggers a review of preparedness arrangements with our partners.
The standards we apply
Our work is guided by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, by the Sphere Handbook and by the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS).
Stand with us
HASDI is building its first programmes with its Haitian partners. Your support makes this work possible.