From roof repairs to insulation and flood-control measures, the upgrades are intended to help vulnerable Haitian schools remain safer and usable during disasters.
Almost 5,000 students in Haiti are benefiting from improved safety and learning conditions after eight schools were rehabilitated through a climate-resilience project involving UNOPS, UNESCO and the country’s ministries of education and environment.
The initiative, funded by the Adaptation Fund, was designed to strengthen school infrastructure, improve resilience to climate hazards and support disaster risk reduction in vulnerable communities.
Schools in Haiti often serve not only as places of learning but also as shelters, community hubs and critical lifelines during emergencies. Many are increasingly exposed to hurricanes, flooding, earthquakes and other extreme weather events, placing children, teachers and communities at risk.
With the school year now underway, UNOPS and its partners visited several of the rehabilitated schools in the Artibonite department to observe how communities were benefiting from the upgraded infrastructure.
“Through science, the VISUS methodology, and the partnership with the Adaptation Fund, the Ministry of Education, and UNOPS, we are not just rebuilding walls; we are strengthening the capacity of the entire educational community to adapt to climate hazards,” said Eric Voli Bi, Resident representative of UNESCO in Haiti.
Rehabilitation work was tailored to the specific needs and risks identified at each school, with measures aimed at making the facilities safer, more accessible and better able to remain operational during emergencies.
The improvements included replacing roofs, waterproofing buildings, installing thermal insulation to reduce heat inside classrooms and introducing measures to prevent flooding during heavy rainfall.
“UNOPS is committed to supporting crisis-affected communities across Haiti, and helping build safe, climate-resilient spaces that are vital for people to live, learn and work,” said Dabagai Dabagai, UNOPS Country Director in Haiti.
