Sandra Paulemon, Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, met in Washington, D.C., with a delegation from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), led by Amy E. Pope, the organization's Director General, accompanied by Michele Sison, Director of the IOM's global office in Washington, and Laura D'Elsa, Senior Advisor on Multilateral Partnerships.

Faced with a situation characterized by increased internal displacement, growing pressure from forced returns, and the weakening of host communities, the Minister commended IOM's continued commitment to Haiti. She advocated for cooperation grounded in a clear vision, guided by the Government's priorities. The Minister emphasized the need for better coordination of interventions and their alignment with the priorities defined within the framework of the National Pact for Stability and the Organization of Elections, particularly with regard to the economic and social recovery component.

The discussions addressed several concrete priorities, including the care of internally displaced persons, the reception and support of returning migrants, particularly in border areas, and the strengthening of migration management.

Minister Paulemon drew attention to the fact that many actions have been concentrated in Port-au-Prince, while the strategic border areas remain insufficiently addressed. She emphasized the strategic importance of these territories.

She also highlighted the opportunities offered by better integration between the diaspora and the development of border areas, considered strategic spaces for investment, trade, and value creation. She mentioned the possibility of implementing pilot initiatives to support small and medium-sized enterprises run by the diaspora, to revitalize cross-border markets, and to structure local value chains, particularly in the agriculture, trade, and logistics sectors.

In this context, the Minister emphasized the importance of integrating these initiatives into national pipelines, aligning them with the Ministry's planning tools and mobilizing international partners to ensure funding, coherence, and scalability.

Furthermore, discussions also focused on prospects for cooperation with the Dominican Republic, particularly regarding return management, protection of vulnerable individuals, and coordination at border crossings. The Minister stressed that enhanced collaboration in these areas can strengthen both the humanitarian response and migration governance.

Finally, Sandra Paulemon reaffirmed the Government's commitment to strengthening this partnership with the IOM in a spirit of trust and shared responsibility.

HL/ HaitiLibre