Haiti
Since the pullback of the international assistance mission in 2017 followed by the assassination of its president in 2021, Haiti has suffered from a crisis of governance that has opened the space for criminal — but politically aligned — gangs to take over much of the country. USIP offers technical and secretariat support to national dialogue processes that will lead to a functional transitional government and guide the country to elections. It also works with experts to develop innovative security planning for Haiti that takes account of the tepid international support for the current crisis.
Read more about the current crisis in Haiti
Featured Publications
Georges Fauriol on the Ouster of Haiti’s Interim Prime Minister
In firing the country’s interim prime minister, Haiti’s transition presidential council “generated a fair amount of concern” over whether the country could stabilize governance to meet the timeline for elections in early 2026, says USIP’s Georges Fauriol, adding: “The outlook doesn’t look all that positive.”
La transition en Haïti ne peut réussir sans le leadership des femmes
Malgré l’instabilité politique et les bouleversements sociaux les plus graves de son histoire au cours de la dernière décennie, Haïti a désormais l’occasion d’aller de l’avant. La sélection d’un Premier ministre efficace par un Conseil présidentiel de transition offre au pays une chance de rétablir la sécurité et d’organiser des élections pour la première fois depuis 2016. Mais pour que les progrès soient durables, il faudra un mélange de leadership transitoire et de leadership transformationnel. Et cela signifie mobiliser et respecter le rôle essentiel des femmes, qui sont actuellement sous-représentées à tous les niveaux de gouvernement et d’influence.
Haiti’s Transition Can’t Succeed Without Women’s Leadership
Despite facing some of the worst political instability and social upheaval in its history over the last decade, Haiti now has an opportunity to move forward. The selection of an effective prime minister by a Transitional Presidential Council offers the country a chance to restore security and hold elections for the first time since 2016. But for any progress to last, there will need to be a mix of transitional and transformational leadership. And that means mobilizing and respecting the essential role of women, who are currently underrepresented at all levels of government and influence.
Current Projects
Haitian Citizen Engagement
USIP’s Haitian Citizen Engagement Project ensures that marginalized communities, particularly in rural Southern Haiti, have a voice in the country’s political transition.
Crisis in Haiti
Analysis of Haiti’s deepening crisis, its implications for regional peace and security, and policy options for the United States to consider.
Peacemaking in a Turbulent World: Lessons from Intrastate and Interstate Conflicts
Peacemaking in a Turbulent World answers the following central question: What lessons for effective management of intrastate conflicts emerged from the post-Cold War period that are relevant for managing contemporary conflicts which include intrastate, internationalized (featuring direct engagement by outside powers), and interstate conflicts?