Japan and OAS Provide $3 Million for Haiti Elections

The Government of Japan and the Organization of American States signed a cooperation agreement on August 18, 2026, providing a $3 million grant to support voter registration for Haiti's general elections scheduled for December 13. This marks the first time the country has prepared for general elections in over a decade, following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

The funding will enable the Haitian government to update voter lists, procure 350,000 biometric identification cards, and expand mobile registration services to remote and vulnerable communities. The project also aims to improve electricity and internet connectivity in decentralized offices to reduce document backlogs and strengthen coordination between the National Identification Office and the Provisional Electoral Council.

During a visit to Port-au-Prince, OAS Secretary General Albert Ramdin urged Haitian authorities to accelerate registration to ensure citizens are not disenfranchised. Ramdin noted that gangs control approximately 70% of the capital and have displaced up to 1.5 million people, many of whom lost their identification documents. He emphasized that the international community must help reclaim territory, specifically securing the main international airport, the seaport, and routes to the southern region, to ensure a safe electoral process.