Haiti Regional Conference: Advancing Coordinated, Haitian-Led Pathways for Recovery

Image: Technical segment roundtable of the Regional Conference on Humanitarian Assistance and Development of the Republic of Haiti in Panama City. Photo credit: PVBLIC Foundation.

Panama City, Panama | January 26–27, 2026

PVBLIC participated in the Regional Conference on Humanitarian Assistance and Development of the Republic of Haiti, convened by the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) on January 26–27, 2026, in Panama City. The conference brought together Member States, regional institutions, and invited partners to advance coordinated, Haitian-led solutions to support Haiti’s recovery, grounded in respect for national sovereignty and aligned with ongoing efforts by the United Nations, the Organization of American States (OAS), and CARICOM.

The two-day conference was structured around a technical segment on the first day and a political segment on the second, with the overarching objective of moving beyond shared concern toward concrete, implementable action.

Technical discussions toward an Action Plan

The first day of the conference focused on technical deliberations guided by the preparatory report “Haiti Outlook: Current Challenges and Pathways to Recovery.” Participants engaged in panels, roundtables, and working groups aimed at developing practical proposals across key priority areas. These include humanitarian aid access, food and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), medical assistance, education, children and vulnerable groups, multidimensional cooperation, and funding strategies.

These discussions were designed to inform the preparation of a consolidated Action Plan, emphasizing complementarity, coordination, and feasibility. PVBLIC President Stephen Keppel participated in the technical segment, contributing to working group discussions and plenary exchanges through short interventions focused on coordination, partnership alignment, and implementation-oriented approaches.

Political segment and high-level engagement

Photo credit: PVBLIC Foundation.

On January 27, the conference moved into its political segment during an Extraordinary Meeting of the ACS Ministerial Council. The session included the presentation of the Draft Work Plan for Humanitarian Assistance and Development of Haiti by the ACS Secretary-General, followed by high-level statements from Member States and brief interventions from invited organizations, including PVBLIC.

Speaking on behalf of the organization, Stephen Keppel underscored the importance of leaving the conference not only with shared concern, but with a clear framework for follow-through. He emphasized disciplined coordination, alignment around common priorities, and Haitian leadership as essential conditions for effective collective action.

“Haiti deserves coordinated support that delivers. We should leave this conference not only with shared concern for Haiti, but with an agreed way to organise ourselves for follow-through,” Keppel stated.

In his remarks, Keppel highlighted PVBLIC’s practical orientation toward supporting implementation, particularly in two areas: coordination that respects Haitian leadership and protects humanitarian space, and data as a tool for better decision-making and faster delivery.

Drawing on PVBLIC’s engagement with initiatives such as the SDG Data Alliance, the UN Global Geospatial Information Management (GGIM), and the SIDS Centre of Excellence, he pointed to the value of partner mapping, mutual priorities and gaps, and light-touch reporting mechanisms that help translate effort into measurable impact, without creating new layers of bureaucracy.

Keppel proposed that, as part of the Action Plan follow-up, the ACS Secretariat and Steering Committee consider establishing an implementation and data track, in consultation with Haitian counterparts, and invite capable partners to contribute where useful. He reaffirmed PVBLIC Foundation’s readiness to engage in early technical discussions to clarify priorities and identify a small set of practical outputs that could be delivered quickly.

Image: Stephen Keppel, President of PVBLIC Foundation in Panama City. Photo credit: PVBLIC Foundation.

About the Association of Caribbean States

The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1994 to promote consultation, cooperation, and concerted action among countries of the Greater Caribbean. Comprising 25 Member States and 10 Associate Members, the ACS serves as a forum for political dialogue and regional cooperation, with a focus on areas including sustainable tourism, trade, transport, and disaster risk reduction. Its Secretariat is based in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

About PVBLIC Foundation

Bold Innovation. Lasting Legacy. Institutional Impact.

PVBLIC is a global foundation dedicated to redesigning how society addresses its most daunting challenges. At the intersection of diplomacy, development, and innovation, PVBLIC Foundation is a trusted platform between governments, the United Nations, global family offices, and the private sector to advance bold ideas into large-scale change. Through its four institutional pillars; Nature, Technology, Capital, and Multilateralism, PVBLIC reconceptualizes potential by constructing the framework for future developments.