Following approval by the World Bank’s Executive Board on March 4, 2025, the Haiti Strengthening Public Financial Management Project was launched by the Government of Haiti on July 14th, 2025. The project aims to boost government capacity and transparency in public revenue mobilization and financial management.
This 60 $US million grant from the World Bank’s International Development Association aims to strengthen economic governance and institutional capacity for service delivery, which are particularly critical in the current context. Key goals include strengthening government capacity for budget management and increasing both the capacity and efficiency of Customs operations for improved revenue mobilization.
During the hybrid ceremony, Haiti’s Minister of Finance, who also serves as Chairman of the project Steering and Coordination Committee, noted that the initiative will provide direct benefits to government institutions by enabling improved revenue collection and public financial management systems. Taxpayers and businesses are expected to experience greater efficiency in customs administration, while the general population will benefit from increased transparency and more informed fiscal policy decisions.
“Haiti has one of the lowest tax burdens in the region, limiting the ability of successive governments to finance public services and invest in development. Through this project, we aim to create spaces for collaboration between the government and citizens to consolidate and strengthen progress in public financial management reforms and increase citizens' trust in the government”, said Alfred Metellus, Haiti’s Minister of Finance.
The introduction of Performance-Based Conditions in certain areas of the project constitutes an innovative approach intended to boost the achievement of relevant objectives. This measure provides an incentive for implementing reforms, including the preparation and implementation of the results-based budget, as well as supporting the direct financing of government’s institutional capacity for sustainable outcomes. The project also includes efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability by enhancing the capacity of oversight institutions such as the Supreme Audit Institution, the Inspectorate General of Finances and the Anti-Corruption Agency.
Consolidating the gains of PAGEFIS
The new project succeeds the Improving Haiti’s Public Financial Management and Statistical Information Project (PAGEFIS), which was launched in 2017 and concluded on June 30, 2025. “The idea of PREGEFIP is to consolidate the gains of the precedent project, to go further in the operationalization of the budgetary reform, in particular results-based budgeting in addition to new areas such as support for the mobilization of internal resources (customs) and the strengthening of national statistical capacity”, said Anne-Lucie Lefebvre, World Bank Country Manager for Haiti.
Through PAGEFIS, the World Bank collaborated with the Inter-American Development Bank to improve governance and public sector management in Haiti to strengthen the foundations and increase the resilience of state institutions. This ongoing collaboration has promoted more effective wage and public expenditure management and has supported the establishment of an Integrated Public Financial Management System (IFMIS) for better budget management and improved reporting.
PAGEFIS leaves a significant legacy in the form of a functional IFMIS, which lays the foundations for more efficient public resources management as well as more effective oversight bodies (Supreme Audit Institution - CSCCA, Procurement regulatory body - CNMP, Inspectorate General of Finances - IGF, Anti-Corruption Agency - ULCC, OSC), with enhanced capacities to ensure greater accountability and transparency in the use of public resources through improved quality of their work and disclosure of the corresponding results.
Additionally, this partnership is strengthening the Ministry of Economy and Finance’s digital infrastructure by enhancing connectivity, energy capabilities, and cloud solutions, while also improving public service delivery through digital identity solutions and digital transformation initiatives across government.
“These complementary efforts helped to leverage resources and knowledge more effectively to strengthen Haiti's institutional framework, and improve public service efficiency ", Anne-Lucie concluded.
