Cap-Haitien was selected as one of 50 finalists, alongside Barcelona, ​​Boston, Tokyo, Cape Town, and Rio de Janeiro, from among 630 applications from 33 countries, in the Bloomberg Philanthropies 2025 Mayors Challenge, an international competition that recognizes cities' boldest ideas for improving essential municipal services.

As a finalist, the city will receive $50,000 in financial, technical, legal, and operational support to prototype and refine its idea.

Cap-Haitien has distinguished itself through an inclusive and structuring approach that aims to rethink urban planning in a context marked by increasing risks of flooding and landslides. The city plans to become the first in Haiti to adopt a zoning code prohibiting construction in vulnerable areas, based on participatory mapping that actively involves citizens, particularly women and vulnerable populations.

In July, a municipal delegation will participate in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Ideas Camp, an intensive workshop bringing together international experts, innovation coaches, and representatives from the 50 finalist cities.

In January 2026, 25 cities will be selected from the finalists to receive $1 million each to implement their projects on a large scale.

In Cap-Haitien, this idea will profoundly transform the way the city manages its urban expansion. Thanks to participatory mapping and a solid legal foundation, the city will become the first in Haiti to adopt a zoning code prohibiting construction in the most vulnerable areas.

To learn more about the 50 finalist proposals, visi : https://bloombergcities.jhu.edu/program/mayors-challenge/2025-finalist-cities

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