Eric Stromayer, the Chargé d'Affaires of the United States Embassy in Haiti, announces the launch in Haiti by Cities Alliance of the "Together Let's Change the City" (LAVIL) program with the aim of stimulating the provision of municipal services and the local development with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID-Haiti).

For the moment, LAVIL concerns the municipalities of Cap Haïtien and Les Cayes, with the possibility of extension to other municipalities.

Cities Alliance introduces the LAVIL program which aims to develop relationships with central government and municipalities to help unlock resources for public services. Faced with growing economic, social and political challenges, Haitian local authorities are struggling to provide vital services to their citizens. "LAVIL offers Haitians hope and opportunity to prosper through strengthening the capacity of municipalities to improve living conditions and create sustainable conditions for all," said Eric Stromayer.

Maram Talaat, Acting Director of the USAID/Haiti mission, highlighted "the LAVIL project will help selected local governments provide better services to their constituents and create municipal management models for economic growth and social development."

Public procurement will be a key priority. Improved management and infrastructure are expected to boost livelihoods, job creation and municipal revenues. "In Cap-Haïtien, one of our main challenges is to increase tax revenues to finance local needs, which amount to 1.5 billion gourdes for approximately 200 initiatives in the Communal Development Plan. We expect significant support from LAVIL for this essential tax mobilization," says Nelson Deshomme, communications director of the municipal administration of Cap-Haitien. A comprehensive waste management system will also be an essential component of the program. Effective waste management preserves the environment and public health and plays a central role in preserving the oceans, protecting marine life and supporting the growth of blue economy sectors.

LAVIL takes a flexible approach to prioritize local needs and solutions. Laura Lima, global programs manager for Cities Alliance, says that "LAVIL is an important step towards sustainable urban development in Haiti. Cities Alliance and its partners are committed to building resilience and strengthening communities from within."

"The LAVIL program brings hope to the municipality of Les Cayes, by addressing the challenges linked to local revenues and urban planning. By working closely with the authorities, we expect the program to boost the local economy by improving municipal services. Its potential expansion to other cities offers a unique opportunity to replicate the success and create a lasting national impact," said Claire Daphné France, Mayor of Les Cayes.

HL/ HaitiLibre