(2023-Q1) Haïti : DIEM - Données en situations d'urgence, Bulletin de suivi, Cycle 3 (mars 2023)

Haiti DIEM – Data in Emergencies Monitoring brief, round 3 Results and recommendations March 2023 Data collection 15 November to 24 December 2022 Key highlights  Many households experienced large food consumption deficits, and over half of all households consumed only one or two food groups in the previous day (female-headed households reported larger deficits than male-headed households). Most respondents reportedly engaged in some form of depleting coping strategy to prevent larger gaps.  Of all departments, Grand’Anse and Nord-Ouest were the departments with the worst food security outcomes concerning both dietary diversity score and hunger score. These were also the departments who reported a need for assistance most frequently.  Almost half of the households used emergency coping mechanisms, and a third of all households resorted to begging. Approximately 68 percent of households reduced their health expenditure to cope, 31 percent stopped sending their children to school and 35 percent sold their productive assets – compromising their adaptive capacity and future production.  Over two thirds of crop producers experienced production difficulties, mostly due to lack of rainfall or irrigation. Crop producers were the household group that experienced higher food insecurity when compared to livestock producers or non-agricultural households.  Approximately 64 percent of livestock producers reported production difficulties, with a majority attributing these difficulties to livestock disease or death. Nearly a quarter of respondents had difficulty purchasing feed.  The most frequently reported shocks were illness/death of family members, not being able to do work as usual and violence and insecurity/conflict – which was reflective of the insecure situation in Haiti.  Ninety-five percent of all households reported a need for assistance in the short term, mainly in the form of cash transfers.  These findings suggest that immediate cash transfers and/or food distribution, as well as distribution of agricultural inputs, are necessary in the short term to mitigate dire food insecurity. In the long term, efforts should focus on addressing production difficulties, such as lack of irrigation and livestock disease/death. 1 Methodology The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) conducted a household survey in Haiti through the Data in Emergencies Monitoring (DIEM) system to monitor agricultural livelihoods and food security. This third-round survey reached 2 053 households representative at the department level.1 The survey targeted all ten departments of Haiti: Artibonite, Centre, Grand’Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est and Ouest. The households were selected through random digital dialing. Interviews for this round were conducted using computer-assisted telephone interviews. Nearly 99 percent of the interviews were conducted between 24 November and 24 December 2022. The remaining 1 percent were collected on 15 November 2022 during the enumerators’ training. A total of 14 strata were created from the 10 departments to increase rural respondents and increase the representation of some livelihood zones, in particular Artibonite HT04 (rice, plantains) and Ouest HT05 (banana plains of Arcahaie).2 Data were weighted at administrative level 1 using education weights to correct for potential bias introduced towards urban and wealthier households due to the use of phone interviews. Base weights using populations counts were created for the 14 strata to distinguish different population sizes and wealth for livelihood zones within the same department. Livelihood zones HT01, HT07 and HT08 were constructed following data collection using administrative level 3 information enabling a more disaggregated analysis. Livelihood zone HT01 consisted of 73 households in Nord-Ouest, whereas HT07 and HT08 consisted of 128 and 145 households, respectively, in Grand’Anse and Sud departments. Of these zones, HT01 (dry coastal maize and charcoal) in Nord-Ouest reported income drops more frequently, followed by HT07 (south beans, bananas and petty trade) and HT08 (southwestern coast maize, manioc and bush products). However, the number of observations was often too low to be representative at livelihood zone level. Figure 1. Countries with established DIEM-Monitoring Systems Source of data: FAO. 2022. DIEM-Monitoring. In: FAO Data in Emergencies Hub. Rome. Cited 3 October 2022. data-in-emergencies.fao.org Source of map: United Nations. 2022. Map of the World. Cited 3 October 2022. un.org/geospatial/content/map-world The final boundary between the Sudan and South Sudan has not yet been determined. Final status of the Abyei area is not yet determined. The dotted line represents, approximately, the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir agreed upon by India and Pakistan. The final status of Jammu and Kashmir has not yet been agreed upon by the parties. 2 About DIEM-Monitoring FAO established the DIEM-Monitoring System to collect, analyse and disseminate data on shocks and livelihoods in countries prone to multiple shocks. DIEM-Monitoring aims to inform decision-making by providing regularly updated information on how different shocks are affecting the livelihoods and food security of agricultural populations. At the core of the DIEM-Monitoring System are country-level dashboards. Readers are encouraged to explore these dashboards to gain more insight into the context of Haiti and other countries.  Learn more at data-in-emergencies.fao.org/pages/monitoring Income and shocks Approximately 56 percent of surveyed households reported a drop in the main source of income in the three months preceding the survey. Of those, about 33 percent used begging as a coping strategy and over 75 percent used credit. Livestock producers reported income drops most frequently, yet they had better food security outcomes than crop producers with income drops. Livestock producers (including those engaged in crop activities) had the highest percentage of any household group in selling productive assets. This may suggest that livestock producers have more assets to sell and therefore may engage in other coping strategies before reducing food consumption. Households in Nord-Ouest and Sud reported significant income drops (having much less than they would have had in a normal year) most frequently. Those with no main income who were using debt or savings scored lower on food security indicators such as the household hunger scale (HHS). Households where the main source of income was not from agricultural related sources had the best HHS scores. Crop producers were the most affected group. Fewer households than expected reported high food or fuel price shocks given the very high inflation affecting the country. However, other responses were indicative of the impact of high prices in other ways, such as marketing, transportation and input costs. Overall, 11 percent of households experienced external constraints impeding business as usual, whereas 8 percent of households experienced violence ⁠– most often in Ouest (13 percent overall, with some areas in Ouest reporting 17 percent), Artibonite (11 percent) and Grand’Anse (8 percent). In terms of the livelihood zones, HT01 in NordOuest reported income drops most frequently, followed by HT07 (south beans, bananas and petty trade) and HT08 (southwestern coast maize, manioc and bush products). 3 Figure 2.Main shock experienced (percentage of households) Not impacted by shocks 40% Sickness/death of household member(s) 13% External event impeding work 11% Violence and insecurity/conflict 9% Other economic shock 7% Hurricane/cyclone 5% Higher food prices than usual 5% Fire from human-induced disaster 5% Higher fuel prices than usual 5% Earthquake 4% Source of data: FAO. 2023. Haiti: DIEM-Monitoring assessments results (December 2022). In: FAO Data in Emergencies Hub. Rome. Cited 3 February 2023. data-in-emergencies.fao.org Crops Figure 3. Haiti agricultural calendar Source of data: FAO. 2023. GIEWS – Global Information and Early Warning System: Country briefs – Haiti. In: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome. Cited 12 August 2022. fao.org/giews/countrybrief/country.jsp?lang=en&code=HTI 4 The main crops produced were beans,3 maize, plantains, yams and rice. Most crop producers (65 percent) rely on rainwater for their crops and lack of rainfall/irrigation was the most reported production difficulty, followed by losses and damages to crops (Figure 4). On average, 69 percent of all crop producers had production difficulties, while the Nord-Est department reported the most difficulties. Over 50 percent of all crop producers reported difficulty selling crops, the most common issue was difficulty accessing markets (primarily due to insecurity). Fifty-four percent of crop producers reported that the sales price of their main crop was higher than normal, especially for rice (a commodity largely imported at competitive prices). Those intending to sell most, or all of their harvest, obtained better food security outcomes and engaged less frequently in harmful coping strategies than those intending to consume most or all of their harvest. The latter also have a higher frequency of reporting difficulty accessing markets and low demand as main sales difficulties. Concerning the livelihood zones, HT01 reported the most production difficulties (84 percent) followed by HT07 (68 percent) and HT08 (65 percent). Figure 4. Crop production difficulties (percentage of crop producers) Not enough irrigation water 53% Crop lost/damaged crop 14% Not enough seeds 9% Soil erosion 7% Access to extra labour 7% Access to pesticides 6% Plant disease 5% Access to fuel/electricity 4% Access to fertilizer 4% Access to machinery 3% Low quality of seeds 3% Access to plot 1% Source of data: FAO. 2023. Haiti: DIEM-Monitoring assessments results (December 2022). In: FAO Data in Emergencies Hub. Rome. Cited 3 February 2023. data-in-emergencies.fao.org 5 Livestock According to the survey, goats were the most frequently sold livestock. It was also the main livestock raised for food and income for 45 percent of producers. Approximately 64 percent of livestock producers faced production difficulties with over half attributing these difficulties to livestock disease or death (Figure 5). Nearly a quarter of surveyed households had difficulty purchasing feed. Additionally, 71 percent reported a decrease in the number of livestock compared to the previous year, mostly due to death or disease and distress sales. Those reporting an increase mostly attributed it to increased births. Thirty-eight percent of livestock producers faced difficulties selling livestock in the three months preceding the survey, with over half attributing this to low selling prices. Still, over half of respondents claimed that livestock price had increased, which made it more difficult to purchase livestock. Livestock producers with income from non-agricultural employment and/or cash crops had better food security outcomes than those relying solely on income from agricultural activities. Livestock producers in Nord-Est and Nord-Ouest had the highest reported percentage of production difficulties at the department level. Figure 5. Livestock production difficulties (percentage of livestock producers) Livestock diseases 54% Purchasing feed 24% Livestock theft/insecurity 16% Access to pasture 11% Access to water Access to livestock markets to buy young animals 9% 2% Access to veterinary services 1% Access to veterinary inputs 1% Source of data: FAO. 2023. Haiti: DIEM-Monitoring assessments results (December 2022). In: FAO Data in Emergencies Hub. Rome. Cited 3 February 2023. data-in-emergencies.fao.org 6 Food security Many households experienced large food consumption deficits, and many were engaged in emergency coping strategies to prevent larger gaps. Female-headed households were reportedly less food secure than male-headed households. Female-headed households engaged less frequently than male-headed households in coping strategies like selling productive assets and reducing health expenditure but engaged more frequently in coping strategies like begging. Crop producers (as a household group) reported the lowest levels of food security. Approximately 62 percent of crop producers reported low dietary diversity. Those engaged in both livestock and crop production have the highest Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) on average, but it remains low. Agricultural households had lower HHS scores than non-agricultural households. In contrast, agricultural households had better HDDS than non-agricultural households, meaning they had had greater diversity in their food consumption during the 24 hours preceding the interview. At the national level, nearly half (49 percent) of the surveyed households engaged in emergency coping strategies (Figure 7) and 38 percent resorted to begging. Crop households were the household type engaging most frequently in depleting coping strategies. Of all departments, Grand’Anse (particularly in the HT08 livelihood zone) and Nord-Ouest were the departments with the highest food insecurity. Regarding livelihoods zones, while those in livelihood zone HT04 in Artibonite had better food security outcomes than the rest of the department – it remains poor. Overall, Nord-Est had the highest HDDS, whereas the urban area Cap Haitian in Nord had the highest HHS indicating that they reported experiencing hunger less frequently. Figure 6. HHS (by administrative level 1) Source of data: FAO. 2023. Haiti: DIEM-Monitoring assessments results (December 2022). In: FAO Data in Emergencies Hub. Rome. Cited 3 February 2023. data-in-emergencies.fao.org 7 Figure 7. Households' livelihood coping strategies None 4% Stress 13% Emergency 49% Crisis 34% Source of data: FAO. 2023. Haiti: DIEM-Monitoring assessments results (December 2022). In: FAO Data in Emergencies Hub. Rome. Cited 3 February 2023. data-in-emergencies.fao.org Needs Approximately 95 percent of all households reported a need for assistance in the three to six months following the survey. Of these, 74 percent said they needed assistance in the form of cash or food, whereas 11 percent reported needing assistance for schooling (access, materials and/or fees). The need for schooling was highest in Sud-Est and Grand’Anse. At the same time, almost half of all households in Grand’Anse stopped sending their children to school as a coping mechanism (overall, a third of all households used this coping strategy). Six percent of all households reported the need for work, with Ouest and Grand’Anse having the highest need. These households also reported needing loans and seeds. Livestock owners had the highest percentage of households who reported a need for loans (9 percent). Crop producers had the highest percentage of households who reported a need for seeds (11 percent), followed by households engaged in both crop and livestock production (just under 11 percent). Approximately 69 percent of crop producers (including those combining livestock production) consumed their seed stock as a coping strategy. While those engaged in this coping strategy reported higher food consumption, this was possibly due to temporary delayed reduction in food consumption through the coping strategies mentioned. The departments with agricultural households who reported the most frequent need for assistance were Grand’Anse (98 percent) and Nord-Ouest (98 percent), however the need was high for all departments. 8 Recommendations The limited number of observations for certain indicators at the department level does not allow us to determine a priority department for each of the recommendations listed below. Overall, we recommend targeting the departments with the highest food insecurity. Short-term recommendations  Given the results of the survey, immediate assistance is necessary to save lives and protect livelihoods. Cash transfers and food distribution – as reported to be the main assistance needed by most households – are likely the most efficient methods in the short-term. Grand’Anse and Nord-Ouest were the departments with the highest food insecurity and require the most assistance (in any form).  Due to the high rate of agricultural households reporting production difficulties (75 percent), inputs should be distributed for the upcoming spring season, such as quality seeds and animals.  Income, stable employment and diverse livelihoods are important factors connected to food security. Many households reported a need for assistance in terms of schooling and education, and/or finding a job, suggesting that access to educational materials and vocational trainings would be helpful. Medium and long-term recommendations  With over a third of all crop producers reporting lack of rainfall or irrigation, it is important to identify, build and improve management of alternative water sources and basins.  Because the main sales difficulty of most crop producers was accessing market (often due to insecurity), a way to improve livelihoods would be by rehabilitating and building infrastructure to enhance the accessibility of markets and improve post-harvest management methods to avoid losses when delivery to markets is delayed.  Enhanced veterinary care and access to feed in combination with the distribution of animals is recommended to address some of the most frequently reported production difficulties and reasons for change in livestock ownership. 9 Notes 1 Round 1 and Round 2 are not comparable with Round 3 as the methodology differed. 2 Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net). 2015. Haiti – Livelihood zones. In: FEWS Net. Cited 3 February 2023. fews.net/sites/default/files/documents/reports/HT_Livelihoods_2015.pdf 3 The term “peas” has been replaced by the term “beans” as beans are significantly more common in Haiti, but the word for beans in Creole is very similar to the word for peas in French (pois) which may have created confusion. 10 This brief is made possible by the support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this report are the sole responsibility of FAO and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States of America Government. Contact FAO Representation in Haiti FAO-HT@fao.org fao.org/haiti/fr | @FAOHaiti Port-au-Prince, Haiti Office of Emergencies and Resilience Data-in-emergencies@fao.org data-in-emergencies.fao.org | @FAOEmergencies Rome, Italy The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on the map(s) in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries. Dashed lines on the map represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. Some rights reserved. This work is available under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO licence FAO. 2023. Haiti: DIEM – Data in Emergencies Monitoring brief, round 3 – Results and recommendations, March 2023. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cc5014en ©FAO, 2023 CC5014EN/1/04.23 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations