Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at the Karibe Hotel, as part of the imminent launch of the "Project for the Productive Inclusion of People with Disabilities" (ProPiPed), developed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MAST), through the Office of the Secretary of State for the Integration of People with Disabilities (BSEIPH), Génard Joseph, the Secretary of State for the Integration of People with Disabilities, accompanied by members of his cabinet and executives of the Project Management Unit of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (UGPMAST) held an important meeting with representatives of the World Bank.

During this meeting, the various components of the project, which extends over a period of 42 months, were examined in detail to ensure optimal understanding before its implementation.

This meeting marks an essential step in the implementation process of the ProPiPed project, which aims to promote the economic inclusion of people with disabilities in Haiti. It provides specific interventions to help people with disabilities living in poverty achieve greater autonomy and socio-economic resilience.

This project complements other existing initiatives and aligns with the objectives of the Haiti Country Partnership Framework, as well as the World Bank's strategy for countries affected by fragility, violence and conflict. On the other hand, the project aims to improve the situation of people with disabilities in Haiti by providing them with economic opportunities and strengthening institutional capacities for more effective and sustainable inclusion.

The development objective of the project is to improve the economic and productive inclusion of vulnerable adults with special needs in the selected project areas: the department of Grande Anse and the capital Port-au-Prince.

The project will enable selected beneficiaries to access a productive inclusion program specifically designed for people with disabilities. Productive economic inclusion programs target the most vulnerable groups and typically include a combination of cash or in-kind transfers, skills training, coaching, access to finance, and linkages to market support. Participants in the proposed project will benefit from a multi-pronged set of interventions and services designed to help people living in poverty and with disabilities achieve greater socio-economic autonomy and resilience.

The project will also provide technical assistance to the Office of the Secretary of State for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities and Disability Organizations (OPHs) to promote the economic inclusion of persons with disabilities. The project will strengthen the capacity of the BSEIPH to play a greater role in enforcing existing legislation on the employment of persons with disabilities and in supporting persons with disabilities’ access to productive self-employment opportunities.

HL/ S/ HaitiLibre