IDB approves US$43.9 million grant to support vulnerable youth in Haiti

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved a US$43.9 million grant to expand support for more than 200,000 vulnerable people in Haiti between the ages of 15 and 35, with a focus on young returnees and those not in education, employment, or training (NEET).

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The programme aims to reduce the risk of violence and social exclusion by creating jobs and pathways to reintegration. According to the IDB, it combines paid community work with on-the-job training, digital literacy, and entrepreneurship support.

“It also helps returnees reintegrate through vocational programs, creates safe spaces for youth, and expands access to mental health and gender-based violence services—key tools to help youth regain stability and out of violence,” the IDB said.

Approximately 8,600 youths are expected to participate in the Cash-for-Work Plus modality, engaging in small-scale infrastructure projects, while an estimated 10,000 returnees will benefit from reintegration support, including vocational and entrepreneurship training.

The IDB said that 10 multipurpose youth centers will be rehabilitated and activated across the country, offering digital literacy, socioemotional training, and recreational activities to an estimated 114,000 youth. In addition, some 70,000 young people will gain access to healthcare screenings, mental health services, and support for survivors of gender-based violence.

The project will also strengthen the capacity of Haiti’s Social and Economic Assistance Fund (FAES) through training in project management, procurement, monitoring, and evaluation. It supports the implementation of Haiti’s National Social Protection and Social Promotion Policy (PNPPS) in coordination with state and non-state stakeholders.