The Rough Road to Services and Livelihood Opportunities in Rural Haiti and the Added Impact of Natural Disasters

This World Bank study investigates transport barriers affecting access to essential services in rural Haiti, focusing on the most marginalized populations including women, people with disabilities, and the rural poor. The research combines household surveys, qualitative interviews, and spatial analysis to understand how transport challenges impact access to health care, education, and livelihood opportunities.

The study reveals that transport issues - including travel time, flooded roads, and lack of reliable public transport - are central barriers to accessing services. However, marginalized groups face additional obstacles such as affordability constraints, inappropriate facility design, risk of assault, discrimination, and cultural norms that further limit their access.

The August 2021 earthquake significantly worsened these challenges, with communities in earthquake-damaged areas showing reduced odds of accessing needed health care and selling agricultural produce, while children in these areas had higher odds of missing school. The research highlights how natural disasters compound existing transport vulnerabilities.

The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive interventions combining infrastructure improvements with complementary policies to ensure equitable access to health, education, and livelihood opportunities for all population groups, especially the most marginalized communities in rural Haiti.