On Friday, October 16, 2026, following a request from the Jacmel City Hall to assess the historic Iron Market—a step taken as part of an effort to mobilize resources and secure funding for its rehabilitation—Marceau Joseph, Mayor of Jacmel, and Jean-Louis Wilson, Director of the Jacmel School-Workshop (École-Atelier de Jacmel or AEJ), reached a partnership agreement.

This partnership is not limited to the Iron Market; it also extends to other public spaces and historic homes within the city, which are considered part of Jacmel’s architectural and cultural heritage.

During their discussions, Mayor Marceau Joseph and AEJ Director Jean-Louis Wilson expressed their enthusiasm for this collaboration. They view it as a significant milestone toward ensuring the long-term sustainability of initiatives aimed at promoting, preserving, and restoring the city’s historic heritage. This partnership reflects their shared commitment to mobilizing the expertise and resources necessary to guarantee the lasting protection of these heritage assets—tangible testaments to the history and identity of the city of Alcibiade Pommayrac.

Through this partnership, the Jacmel City Hall intends to strengthen its efforts to protect the municipality’s heritage, while also seeking technical and financial partners to support the restoration and revitalization of these historic sites.

As of the 2026 partnership agreement, funding for the targeted rehabilitation project has not yet been fully secured. The financing for the agreement and the participating organizations relies on two distinct channels:

The Jacmel School-Workshop (AEJ) is funded and supported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). Over the years, other international donors—such as the French Development Agency (AFD) and UNESCO—have provided complementary funding for major urban projects and programs supporting the artisans of Jacmel.

The agreement explicitly states that this technical collaboration with the EAJ (École des Arts de Jacmel) serves as a foundation for the Jacmel City Hall to actively pursue fundraising efforts and seek external financing. The technical assessments conducted by the school will enable the municipality to present robust proposals to international donors (including Spain, France, and various development banks) in order to secure the capital required for restoration work.

IH/ S/ iciHaiti