Governance Diagnostic Report - Haiti

This comprehensive governance diagnostic report examines corruption risks and governance weaknesses across Haiti's key state functions. The assessment was conducted by IMF staff during September-December 2023 through virtual missions and extensive desk review. The report analyzes the severity of corruption and its impact on Haiti's fragility as the poorest country in Latin America with a population of approximately 11 million.

The diagnostic covers four main areas: the severity of corruption and its relationship to state fragility, rule of law and anti-corruption frameworks, governance weaknesses in fiscal governance including revenue administration and public financial management, and governance weaknesses in financial sector oversight. The report identifies macro-critical governance vulnerabilities and proposes concrete reform measures aligned with international standards.

Haiti faces significant challenges including lack of security, gang violence, natural disaster exposure (with over 96% of population exposed to natural hazards), climate change impacts, and deteriorating access to basic services. The report emphasizes that continued decline of arable land poses long-term economic threats due to heavy dependence on agriculture. The analysis considers Haiti's status as a fragile and conflict-affected state and provides forward-looking recommendations to strengthen governance and integrity for stable economic development.