Haitian social partners lead efforts to reduce violence and promote peace through decent work

Cap-Haïtien (ILO News) - Amid a severe crisis marked by insecurity, economic collapse and institutional paralysis, Haitian social partners are stepping up in leading efforts to address the root causes of violence through inclusive economic strategies. With armed groups controlling most of the West Department and violence spreading into regions like Artibonite, access to livelihoods, essential services and safe spaces continues to erode, particularly for youth.

In response to this challenging environment, employers’ organizations and national private sector actors are prioritizing employment as a pathway to peace. Through vocational training, enterprise revitalization and reintegration initiatives, they are advancing a locally- led response that not only addresses economic needs but also contributes to rebuilding trust and strengthening social cohesion.

A growing number of Haitian businesses are demonstrating their commitment by offering internships, mentorship and targeted support for vulnerable youth and women. These efforts signal a shift in national recovery efforts—from reliance on humanitarian aid toward homegrown solutions rooted in decent work and local dialogue.

This momentum was recently reflected at the Private Sector Forum on Community Violence Reduction (CVR) and the Disengagement and Reintegration of Youth Affiliated with Armed Groups, held in Cap-Haïtien from 29 to 31 July 2025. The forum brought together regional chambers of commerce, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti (CCIH), the SNDDR-RVC Task Force (interministerial group focused on implementing the national strategy for disarmament, disengagement, reintegration, and community violence reduction) and representatives from the UN system.

© ILO Haiti

© ILO Haiti

The Forum provided a platform for regional chambers to collectively define peacebuilding priorities, from restoring safety for business operations to identifying how vocational training and employment opportunities can serve as alternatives to armed group recruitment.

“Creating safe economic opportunities is a responsibility we must take seriously”, said Laurent Saint-Cyr, private sector representative on the Presidential Transition Council. “I urge businesses to engage directly—through internships, mentoring, and inclusive hiring—to offer youth and women real alternatives.”

The Forum’s will inform the development of Haiti’s National Action Plan on Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration and Community Violence Reduction (DDR-CVR), placing employment and economic reintegration at the core of the national peace strategy, alongside security and political measures.

All regional chambers highlighted job creation and vocational training as essential tools to support youth reintegration and address the root causes of community violence. Ariel Pino, ILO Country Coordinator in Haiti, reaffirmed ILO’s commitment: “When challenges move faster than opportunities, the frustration of young people and women only grows. The ILO is fully committed to working alongside you to ensure that decent work becomes a key driver of sustainable peace, social cohesion, and inclusive development.”

Godfrey Otunge EBS, OGW, First Commander of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti, shared the MSS’s vision on disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, and community violence reduction (DDR-CVR) and presented Kenya’s experience in this area.

The Forum was organized within the framework of two projects funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF): the CVR2 project, implemented by UNDP and UNICEF with technical support from the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the National Dialogue for an Inclusive and Peacebuilding Economy project, jointly implemented by UNDP and the ILO-Sweden Global Programme on promoting decent work across the Humanitarian, Development and Peace Nexus (HDPN).

By promoting social dialogue and enabling tripartite collaboration, Haiti’s social partners are demonstrating that crisis response does not need to wait for full institutional reconstruction. Even in fragile settings, inclusive economic recovery led by national actors can build the foundations for peace, reduce community tensions and reinforce local resilience.