IOM Haiti, with support from local and international experts, is
today hosting a one-day workshop to discuss the links between
migration, development and poverty reduction.

Over the past decades, political instability and lack of
economic opportunities have forced Haitians to migrate to
Caribbean, North American and European countries in search of
employment and a better future for their families. The remittances
sent home by these migrants to their families in Haiti amount to
USD 1.65 billion, according to the Inter-American Development
Bank’s Multilateral Investment Fund Remittances –
one-third of Haiti’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Haiti suffers from widespread unemployment and underemployment,
with more than two-thirds of the working-age population out of
work. Remittances from the diaspora of about 2 million Haitians
represent a vital source of income for the families in Haiti who
use the money to cover their daily living expenses, such as food,
education, and housing; and to respond to emergencies such as
funeral expenses. Families receive remittances through formal
channels (money transfers) and informal channels (hand
delivery).

Today’s meeting is being held in conjunction with the
Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation, the Ministry of
Haitians Living Abroad, and the Technical Secretariat Responsible
for the Strategy Document for Poverty Reduction. The workshop is
bringing together local partners, financial institutions and
international experts working on migration and development issues
and remittances to share their experience and lessons learned on
the use of remittances for development.

The meeting is also providing a forum for participants to
discuss the current national policy on migration and to explore
possibilities to channel remittances towards more development and
poverty reduction projects in Haiti.

For more information, please contact:

Frislain Isidor

IOM Port-au-Prince

Tel. +509 244 1218 ext. 118

E-mail: "mailto:fisidor@iom.int">fisidor@iom.int