Urban planning System of Haiti

According to Haiti’s Constitution, politico-administrative division should be divided among its three main local and regional authorities (collectivités territoriales), once the decentralisation is implemented these will be composed of the Departments (départements), Municipalities (communes), and Community wards (sections communales). However, there are two additional levels, arrondissement and quartier, which still exist and in some cases are more functional than the new administrative divisions. There are have been several attempts at creating and implementing plans with different geographic and thematic scopes, most created with financial and technical assistance from international donors, but they have neither been endorsed nor institutionalised in the bylaws and regulations. In practice, these have not functioned as proper frameworks for spatial and social development but rather only as inspiration for a few interventions.

Haiti is currently finalizing its National Spatial Planning Scheme (SNAT) (horizon 2045) and its National Adaptation Plan (PNA). The SNAT will determine the fundamental orientations in terms of economic, social and cultural development, land-use planning and the environment. It will specify the short, medium and long-term objectives for implementing these guidelines, and identify the priority projects to be implemented in each sector. The NAP will be the frame of reference for all national public policies aimed at addressing the adverse impacts of climate change by 2030.