The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has just launched an interactive map-based site to communicate the investments that have been made in Haiti, along with the results. The IDB has invested $1.98 billion on infrastructure in the country since the 2010 earthquake in such sectors as transportation, communication, urban construction, electricity infrastructure, water management, and sanitation and waste systems. The map details these projects across the country, with corresponding economic and social outcomes.
Much of the effort focused on poor infrastructure and inefficiencies that have hampered economic development due to the high costs associated with poor connectivity. The countries roads and ports were in particularly bad shape, resulting is some of the highest costs to do business in the Caribbean.
Among the projects completed are:
- 2 bridges built over the Lascahobas and Bayeux Rivers
- 250 hectares fenced for Caracol Industrial Park
- 14.4 kilometers of roads rehabilitated between Limbé and Le Borgne
- 4.2 kilometers of roads rehabilitated between RN6 and Ferrier
- 6 kilometers of paved roads with drainage infrastructure built in Jacmel
- 1 interior road built in Port-au-Prince’s port
- 1 new airport terminal built in Jacmel
- 7 sea docks built on the southeastern coast
- 5.5 kilometers of covered drainage canals in Gonaïves
- 12.5 kilometers of water pipes laid in Gonaïves
- 1.25 million cubic meters of garbage removed from Port-au-Prince streets
- 7.5 kilometers of wiring for water pumping stations in Cap Haïten
The interactive map displays these projects and investments in a way that users can drill down to understand countrywide as well as neighborhood-level impacts. There are data layers for roads, schools, temporary camps, drinking water, infant mortality, and hospitals. With this detail, users can explore different parameters as well as the connections and impacts. Accompanying stories relate details about each project that then can be further explored via the map.
While much work remains in the country, this detailed accounting of investments and outcomes provides hope as well as a quantified view into international outreach.
