In northern Haiti, where more than 500,000 people live across the metropolitan area of Cap-Haïtien, rapid urban growth, limited municipal resources, and increasing climate risks have placed enormous pressure on local infrastructure. Flooding, deteriorated roads, and limited basic services have long affected daily life for communities across the region.
Through the Municipal Development and Urban Resilience Project (MDUR), implemented with financial support from the World Bank and with Component 2 led by the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), five municipalities, Limonade, Quartier Morin, Plaine du Nord, Acul du Nord, and Milot, are strengthening local governance while investing in infrastructure that directly improves daily life.
The results are tangible. Across these municipalities, 18 streets have been rehabilitated, improving 3,196 meters of roadway and more than 21,800 square meters of road surface, including 15,382 square meters paved with hydraulic concrete. Drainage systems were also strengthened with the construction and rehabilitation of canals and stormwater infrastructure, helping communities better manage flooding during heavy rains. Public spaces were revitalized through the development of 16 green areas, while new lighting improves safety and accessibility in public areas.
Beyond infrastructure, the project has also created economic opportunity. A total of 1,828 jobs were generated during construction, including 311 held by women, producing more than 25,000 days of paid work and injecting income into local households. In total, 3,802 people benefited directly, while nearly 19,725 residents now have improved access to safer roads, better drainage, and more reliable urban services.
For residents like Rose Marie from Plaine du Nord, the changes are clear. “Now when it rains, the water flows,” she says. “There’s no more mud, no more jumping around trying to find a path. When it rains now, we don’t worry.”
By strengthening infrastructure and municipal capacities at the same time, the project is helping communities build safer neighborhoods, stronger local institutions, and greater resilience for the future.