Before the Storm: How Haiti is Protecting Lives and Livelihoods through Resilient Infrastructure

Masons working at the multifunctional abri of Plaine du Nord are fully motivated. On June 1st - the Atlantic hurricane season will officially open. Although the US National Hurricane center predicts fewer storms this hurricane season, this period presents a major concern for the Caribbean until it ends in November.

For a country like Haiti, where 96 % of the population is exposed to at least one meteorological or geological disaster, a minor storm can generate major impacts on lives, livelihoods and infrastructure.

"Whenever a flood occurs, people living downtown and in some rural communities of Plaine du Nord are in a high level of anxiety as the risk of flooding and losing everything, including their life, is very high", said Samuel, one of the masons working on the construction site of the multifunctional safe haven.

In the last decade, Haiti has been hit by two majors hydrometeorological and geological disasters. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew killed 546 people, more than 175,500 people sought refuge in shelters, and about 1.4 million people required immediate humanitarian assistance. For communities in the departments of Sud, Grand'Anse, Nippes, Nord, and Nord-Ouest, this time of year has historically meant sudden evacuation, homes torn apart by wind, and a desperate search for a safe place to shelter.

More Than a Shelter

To address the urgent need of shelter, the World Bank is supporting the Government of Haiti in building 20 multifunctional safe havens in targeted regions of the country. "The purpose-built structure is designed to serve communities both in times of calm and in times of crisis", said Michael Merisier, project coordinator at the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities. "We plan to construct new safe havens across five departments. In addition, five schools in the Nippes department have already been successfully rehabilitated and are operational as emergency shelters".

Constructed on existing school sites, these facilities function as gymnasiums, homework spaces, community halls, and multipurpose meeting spaces on ordinary days, woven into the daily life of the neighborhoods they serve. When a hurricane or other hazard threatens, they transform into resilient emergency shelters capable of accommodating several hundred people.

Each of these 20 structures covers approximately 500 square meters, providing two square meters per person and a capacity of around 225 individuals. They are equipped with sanitation facilities, changing rooms, and amenities specifically designed to meet the needs of women and girls. A gender-responsive design is at the heart of this initiative: women represent 35 percent of shelter management committee members, and 30 percent of the designated focal points are women. Beyond their physical dimensions, these structures are engineered to withstand both cyclonic winds and seismic shocks, built to last through Haiti's compounding hazards.

"Thanks to a grant from the World Bank's International Development Association, a new generation of resilient community infrastructure across Haiti's most exposed regions is being introduced", said Anne-Lucie Lefebvre, World Bank country manager for Haiti. "As the 2026 hurricane season begins, the multifunctional safe havens are more than infrastructure; they reflect a shared commitment to protecting lives, preserving dignity, and strengthening Haiti's resilience through collective preparedness".

Toward more Resilient Communities

Beyond providing shelter, the government has now generated meaningful economic activity in some of Haiti's most underserved communities. Approximately 2,800 construction workers have been trained in improved local construction techniques. "The training provided us with skills directly applicable to building climate- and earthquake-resistant structures," said Samuel.

Today, an additional 140 rural houses designed to withstand cyclones and earthquakes have been built as part of the project's emergency response component, which constitute a financial first responder, standing ready to unlock resources immediately after a disaster, directly addressing the Caribbean's acute vulnerability to hurricanes, earthquakes, and other climate shocks. These investments in local labor and skills combined with the several skilled jobs created in the construction sector through seven Haitian construction firms that are building the safe havens, represent a contribution to livelihoods at a time when Haiti's economy has contracted for five consecutive years.

Despite operating in an extremely challenging context marked by insecurity, inflation, exchange rate volatility, and major logistical disruptions, the project has continued to advance through the resilience and adaptability of partners. Their sustained commitment has allowed construction to move forward despite conditions that could have stalled the initiative entirely.