On March 14, the Haiti Property Law Working Group released Haiti Land Transaction Manual, Vol. 1: A how-to guide for the legal sale of property in Haiti. This manual is an important step in the reconstruction efforts in Haiti following the devastating 2010 earthquake, which have been greatly impeded by weak land administration systems and the resulting disputes over land and property. The new manual will help Haitians, international donors, and civil society navigate the country’s complex bureaucratic legal system. The manual was developed by Architecture for Humanity, Habitat for Humanity International, local legal experts, and the Haitian government.
As this paper points out, the challenges Haiti’s land administration system posed to the disaster response and reconstruction efforts highlight the importance of addressing land tenure issues and clarifying and strengthening property rights in order to increase resilience to natural disasters, climate change, and economic shocks.
Click here for more information on land tenure and property rights in Haiti from USAID.