Port-au-Prince, Haiti – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Haitian Institute of Statistics and Informatics (IHSI) recently signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen migration data governance in Haiti. This partnership aims to enhance migration data collection, governance, and capacity-building for national stakeholders, contributing to evidence-based migration management and policy development in the country.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by IOM Haiti Chief of Mission, Grégoire Goodstein, and Wilson Fièvre, Director General of IHSI, formalizing the existing collaboration between the two entities.

“We are pleased to strengthen our partnership with IHSI and firmly believe that this agreement will provide a solid foundation for improved migration data governance in Haiti,” said Gregoire Goodstein, emphasizing the importance of reliable migration data for informed decision-making.

“This agreement reinforces our commitment to producing and disseminating quality statistics, while guaranteeing confidentiality and the protection of personal data”, rejoiced Mr. Wilson Fièvre, Managing Director of IHSI.

Through this strengthened cooperation, IOM and IHSI will work together to establish a national working group on migration statistics in Haiti, jointly advocating for the funding and implementation of migration-related research programs. The agreement also focuses on capacity-building initiatives for national stakeholders to improve data collection and management, ensuring that migration policies are grounded in accurate and up-to-date information.

The MoU aligns with IOM’s Migration Data Management Strategy and supports Haiti’s efforts to implement the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By fostering stronger migration data governance, the partnership aims to generate evidence that informs policies and programs, ultimately contributing to positive outcomes for migrants and the broader society.

Migration in Haiti is influenced by a variety of factors, including economic opportunities, environmental challenges, and political instability. However, despite the complexity of migration flows, comprehensive national-level data on migration remains limited. Strengthening data collection and analysis through this agreement will help address existing gaps and improve governance.

“Our goal through this agreement is to enhance the availability and use of migration data to support better governance and positive impacts for migrants and communities,” said Yakin Mwanza, the Data and Research Unit Coordinator at IOM Haiti. IOM, through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), serves as a key UN agency producing regular and reliable data on migration patterns in Haiti. This cooperation agreement will contribute to the sustainability of DTM activities by promoting national ownership through IHSI.

“Ultimately, our objective is to ensure that national statistics institutions like IHSI can independently collect, analyse, and report on migration data,” added Mr. Mwanza.

This agreement marks a significant step toward strengthening migration governance in Haiti, fostering a data-driven approach to migration policy and ensuring that national and international stakeholders can effectively respond to migration dynamics in the country.