Sandra Paulemon, the Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, accompanied by her Chief of Staff, Paul Ruddy Mentor, met with Madame Marie-Christine Stephenson, the Executive Secretary of the Interministerial Committee for Territorial Planning (CIAT), as part of a working session dedicated to strengthening institutional coordination in terms of planning and regional development.

At the start of this meeting, Minister Paulemon reaffirmed her administration's desire to strengthen synergies between the MPCE and the CIAT, in order to better structure public land use planning policies and ensure coherent implementation of national development priorities.

The discussions made it possible to take stock of the main priorities of CIAT, the projects currently underway, the challenges facing the institution as well as the needs identified to enable it to fully exercise its mandate. Particular attention was paid to the National Territorial Development Plan, its level of progress as well as the actions necessary for its updating and implementation.

The Minister and the Executive Secretary of CIAT discussed the National Master Plan for Territorial Development, its articulation with public policies and its alignment with the priorities of the National Economic, Social and Territorial Stabilization and Recovery Program (PNSREST). They examined the Master Plans of the main cities (Port-au-Prince, Cap-Haitien, Les Cayes, Gonaïves, Jérémie, Hinche, etc...), their progress and urban planning needs.

The working session also focused on the identification of regional development poles, economic corridors as well as industrial, agricultural, tourist and logistics zones likely to support national economic growth, promote job creation and reduce territorial disparities. Issues related to land management, land occupation, urban development, the fight against anarchic urbanization as well as land security were also addressed.

The two parties discussed the planning of strategic infrastructure (roads, ports, airports, energy, water, sanitation, social infrastructure) according to a territorial approach. They agreed on the need to strengthen the resilience of territories to natural risks, climate change, floods, landslides and earthquakes through better planning.

The issue of internally displaced persons also occupied an important place in the discussions. The two institutions discussed territorial solutions likely to support reconstruction, the creation of new housing centers and the development of new growth zones meeting the needs of the populations concerned. The MPCE and the CIAT discussed mapping tools, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), territorial databases as well as spatial monitoring mechanisms developed by the institution, in order to improve decision-making and monitoring of public policies.

The Executive Secretary of CIAT presented a map of the cities to the Minister. This presentation made it possible to identify municipalities that already have development plans, urban plans or Communal Development Plans (PCD), as well as those that do not yet benefit from any instrument.

During the meeting, the two parties also discussed the creation of a portfolio of structuring projects ready to be submitted to technical and financial partners, as well as the strengthening of decentralization through better support for local authorities and the development of municipal and departmental development plans.

The two parties agreed to establish a permanent framework for collaboration between the MPCE and the CIAT through the creation of a technical committee, the designation of focal points, the regular organization of coordination meetings and the sharing of strategic data.

HL/ HaitiLibre