In the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, which killed over 230,000 people and left 1.5 million homeless, WFP launched a Cash and Food for Work program to provide emergency food assistance and support reconstruction efforts. The program employs 140,000 Haitians in projects like clearing debris, cleaning canals, and rehabilitating roads. Workers receive cash and food payments to support a family of five. The program aims to boost food security while funding important recovery activities through temporary employment across Haiti in partnership with the government and other UN agencies.

1. HAITI
Cash and Food for Work
Developing new emergency response tools
Santiago de Chile
30 September – 1 October 2010

2. On January 12, Haiti suffered the most destructive disaster ever
to have been experienced by one single country.

3. At least 230.000 people were killed and around 1.5 million
people left homeless and displaced by the disaster.

4. In the immediate aftermath WFP assisted more than four million
people with lifesaving food rations.

5. DEVELOPING NEW EMERGENCY RESPONSE TOOLS

6. Moving from the immediate emergency phase, Haitian authorities, WFP and
partners have launched a Cash and Food for Work programme - an
employment scheme to support food security, reconstruction efforts and
agricultural rehabilitation.

7. All employment projects take place in areas that are food insecure, where
the earthquake has disrupted livelihoods or in areas of the country that
are highly vulnerable to natural disasters.

8. Through the Cash and Food for Work programme, temporary job initiatives
are being created across Haiti – in collaboration with the Haitian government,
national and international partners.

9. The cash and Food for Work programme will employ a total of 140,000
Haitians by the end of the year.

10. Each worker receives food and cash payment covering a family of five, which
means that the programme will help a total of 700,000 Haitians.

11. Workers are paid 200 gourdes equivalent to USD 5 daily (60% cash and
40% food) for a six hour working day.

12. Only projects adhering to government directed wage rates, work norms,
rehabilitation priorities and endorsed by the technical working groups are
supported by WFP and its partners.

13. Partnerships with other UN agencies has been a key feature of the activity –
key partners include FAO, ILO and UNDP.

14. Initial Cash and Food for Work activities have supported the relocation to
safer sites of people displaced by the earthquake (Tabarre Issa Relocation
Camp).

15. In the immediate aftermath of the emergency, Cash and Food for Work
projects have focused on simple, low-tech and labor-intensive activities
such as clearing of debris and drainage of canals.

16. Clearing of debris in Carrefour, Port-au-Prince.

17. Clearing of debris in Carrefour, Port-au-Prince.

18. Cleaning of canals in Leogane 25 km west of Port-au-Prince and epicenter
of the earthquake. 80 percent of the city’s infrastructure was leveled.

19. Cleaning of canals in Leogane 25 km west of Port-au-Prince.

20. Cleaning of canals in Leogane 25 km west of Port-au-Prince.

21. Debris is being recycled to improve roads.

22. As partner capacity has been build, projects have gradually become more
technical and linked to road habilitation and integrated watershed
management approaches.

23. Each project is designed to advance the goals of Government’s national
recovery and development plan.

24. Road rehabilitation between Source d'Aux Cadets and Merlin through
Cash and Food for Work.

25. The opening of the road will give farmers easier access to markets and
hence contribute to a positive social-economic development of the area.

26. The project employs a total of 785 people and lasts four months.

27. The combination of cash and food is designed to allow people toThe combination of cash and food is designed to allow people to buy whatbuy what
is available locally and to access the food that cannot be foundis available locally and to access the food that cannot be found in the area.in the area.

28. The food component ensures access to the food that cannot be found inthe food that cannot be found in
the area...the area...

29. ... while the cash element allows people to buy what is available locally.

31. The coordination of the job schemes is done through the government led
technical working groups established in each department.

32. Building of terraces in the Bretagne mountains outside of the city of
Gonaives.

33. Gonaives was heavily flooded when major storms and hurricanes hit Haiti
in 2004 and 2008.

34. Marigot in Haiti’s Southeastern Department, an area prone to natural
disasters.

35. In july, a joint Cash and Food for Work project was launched between
FAO, WFP and the Fédération des Associations Caféières Natives
(FACN) in Marigot.

36. The project contributes to an enhanced and sustainable management of
natural resources to improve the food security of the population.

37. While protecting settlements and plantations against floods caused by
torrential rains through the construction of dry walls in hillside gullies,
seeds and sprouts are planted to create the basis for sustainable
agricultural production.

38. The project is further improving purchasing power and hence contributing
to strengthen local economy through the creation of jobs. A total of 1,266
workers are engaged in the project in Marigot.

39. Partnership with other UN agencies has been a key component of the
Cash and Food for Work programme. WFP’s contribution of cash and food
to the workers in Marigot has allowed for FAO to concentrate their
resources on the technical aspects of the project.