Press Release
July 1, 2025 • 4 min read
GOAL Haiti, in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis, has launched an emergency cash transfer programme aimed at improving food security for vulnerable displaced families living in internally displaced persons (IDP) sites in Port-au-Prince. This initiative comes as part of a broader effort to mitigate the devastating impact of food insecurity across the country, as outlined in a recent report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
The April 2025 IPC report highlights that Haiti is facing a severe food insecurity crisis, with 5.7 million people—more than half the population—currently experiencing food insecurity at Crisis (Phase 3) or worse levels. Among the most affected groups are those in IDP sites, where more than 200,000 people are in Emergency (Phase 4) and 8,400 are living in catastrophic conditions (Phase 5). In Port-au-Prince, the situation is dire, with 56% of residents facing food insecurity at Phase 3 or worse.
The Need for Immediate Humanitarian Action
The primary drivers of this crisis include ongoing armed violence and displacement, compounded by an inflation rate of nearly 30%, poor harvests, the termination of humanitarian programs, and disruptions in essential services. The ongoing humanitarian response has been severely limited since January 2025 due to funding gaps, political instability, and gang violence, leaving many without basic needs such as food, water, and health services.
GOAL Haiti launches emergency cash transfer in Port-au-Prince with funding from Irish Aid, through Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership (ICSP) programme.
GOAL Haiti’s Response
With generous support from Irish Aid through Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership (ICSP), GOAL prepositions funds to rapidly respond to acute humanitarian crises. To address the growing crisis in Haiti, GOAL has activated this emergency funding to target one of the most food-insecure areas in the country – the Trentin IDP site in the Morne Hôpital area of Port-au-Prince. This site is home to approximately 600 displaced households, or roughly 3,000 people, who are experiencing IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) conditions, with pockets of Phase 5 (Catastrophe).
The objective of GOAL’s intervention is to provide direct cash assistance via mobile money to help these vulnerable households meet their urgent food needs, improve dietary diversity, and stabilize food access. The programme focuses on improving the food consumption score (FCS) of these households while reducing negative coping mechanisms through immediate, flexible, and efficient financial support.
Speaking about this Irish Aid-funded emergency response to improve food security, Matt Knight, GOAL Haiti’s Country Director, said.
“In May 2025, GOAL Haiti, in partnership with local authorities and the Trentin IDP site committee, registered 600 households and conducted eight community sensitization sessions. These sessions focused on educating beneficiaries on cash assistance, mobile money, food hygiene, and nutritious food choices to better prepare beneficiaries. And then between June 9th and 13th, 2025, approximately 600 households received their first cash transfer via SOGEXPRESS mobile money. GOAL continues to monitor food consumption, dietary diversity, and coping strategies to refine and adapt the programmes impact.”
“GOAL Haiti’s emergency cash transfer programme is a lifeline amid the ongoing food crisis. With 75% of displaced families surviving on one meal a day, or none, and nearly 25% of children under five suffering from severe malnutrition, the need for swift, effective support is more urgent than ever. Our programme will continue providing assistance as GOAL monitors the situation and adapts to the evolving needs of affected communities. However, despite having access to 15 displacement sites in Port-au-Prince, current funding only enables us to deliver food assistance in one. With additional funding, GOAL could quickly scale up this life-saving support to reach thousands more who are currently experiencing food insecurity without aid” continued Matt Knight.
With generous support from Irish Aid through Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership (ICSP), GOAL is able to rapidly respond to the acute humanitarian crises in Haiti.
The Emergency Response programme details are as follows:
- Target Area: Trentin IDP Site, Morne Hôpital (Port-au-Prince)
- Target Population: Approximately 600 displaced households (3,000 people)
- Program Modality: Cash transfers via mobile money (SOGEXPRESS)
- Cash Assistance: €115 (approximately 7,851 gourdes) per household in two instalments
- Food Security Objective: Improve dietary diversity and stabilize food access for vulnerable households
About GOAL Haiti
GOAL has been operating in Haiti since the catastrophic earthquake in 2010. Today, millions of people are still rebuilding their lives after the 2010 earthquake, Hurricane Matthew, which hit Haiti in 2016 and the 2021 earthquake, which brought further destruction and devastation. GOAL Haiti programmes concentrate on basic humanitarian needs, community preparedness and resilience. In 2024, with a team of 88 in-country staff and a programme expenditure of €8M, GOAL Haiti reached 160,000 people.
GOAL Haiti launches emergency cash transfer in Port-au-Prince.
