Fortifying Access to Data & Economic Management in Haiti

The Government of Haiti recently concluded the World Bank-financed Improving Haiti's Public Financial Management and Statistical Information Project (in its French acronym PAGeFIS). Launched in 2017, the project faced various challenges throughout its implementation, particularly due to the country's unstable political, security and social environment. Nonetheless, thanks to strong commitment from the government and support from development partners such as the InterAmerican Development Bank, the project succeeded in building the groundwork for improved financial management and enhanced evidence-based decision making.

Enhanced Public finance management systems

Seven years after launch, impactful project achievements are being touted by the government. These include reinforcement of information systems, restructuring of technological infrastructure and the establishment of a dedicated private cloud which supported remote work. The project has also delivered a robust contingency plan for risk mitigation and established a Cybersecurity Operating Center, which is critical for safeguarding the financial system against digital threats.

Among the most relevant achievements, is the development of an Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) across 31 public administrative entities interoperable with key financial institutions systems such as the Haiti Central Bank, Customs Administration, Public treasury and Tax Administration. This milestone represents a major step forward, marking a new era in enhancing efficiency and transparency in public finance management within the country.

"In a period marked by uncertainty and challenges related to the crisis, these concrete results have had a direct and positive impact on the continuity of administrative services. The maintenance of essential state operations, despite the circumstances, demonstrates the relevance and immeasurable value of the technical and financial assistance provided by the World Bank", said Haiti's Minister of Economy and Finance.

The Information System enables the processing of accurate financial data, reducing errors, improving the reliability of fiscal reports and making processes within financial departments more efficient. Additionally, automated scheduling of report generation makes financial statements readily available for stakeholders in a timely and accessible manner. This enhancement provides an essential resource for improved monitoring and evaluation, and more accountable public resource management.

Building on these achievements, the government demonstrated its commitment to sustained progress by launching the $60 million Strengthening Public Financial Management Project (PREGEFIP), aimed at consolidating and expanding upon these gains.

PREGEFIP will also strengthen economic governance and institutional capacity for service delivery, which are particularly critical in the current context. Key goals include strengthening government capacity and transparency in budget management and increasing both the capacity and efficiency of Customs operations for improved revenue mobilization. Regarding the IFMIS, the new project will support its effective roll-out and utilization by all government spending entities.

Adaptive data collection approaches

The census, financed by the PAGeFIS, was hit hard by insecurity in three out of the ten departments of the country, the COVID-19 pandemic, and some other logistical, equipment, and administrative challenges. These circumstances resulted in repeated delays and eventually cancellation. Nonetheless, the execution of a pilot census facilitated the elaboration of a cartography for the enumeration and an alternative approach to the census, modeled estimates were developed and implemented. While not as granular, this approach avails critical population estimates, disaggregated by gender and age.

"Despite the full census component being dropped, the retained preparatory groundwork such as the establishment of a central server to hold census data and capacity building for the National Statistical Institution and modeled population data could provide value in future for planning and coordination, particularly in disaster-prone areas thereby", said Anne-Lucie Lefebvre, World Bank Haiti Country Manager. "This would in turn support the country's effort to accurately assess demographic realities, allocate resources efficiently, and enhance development and disaster risk planning."

Now, the government is more experienced in conducting a census at scale under appropriate conditions. The Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics (IHSI) is better equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge for planning and resource allocation, as well as more frequent population updates. These modeled estimates supplement traditional census data especially for hard-to-reach areas which are valuable in the prevailing country context for enhanced evidence-based decision making.

"This innovation marks a shift from operational failure to cognitive success-a sign that data can survive a crisis and even thrive because of it", said Guy Serge Pompilus, Coordinator of the Technical Secretariat at the IHSI. "This modeling has strategic value. It informs the Haitian National System of Public Statistics and Information Technology (SyNSIP) discussions and sets the stage for tomorrow's hybrid census. By building this model, IHSI laid the first foundation of its digital sovereignty: local expertise, supported by modern infrastructure and open to regional cooperation"