UN-Habitat has developed an improved Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS) System, in order to assure sound environmental and social performance throughout the life-cycle of UN-Habitat projects. The ESSS defines the environmental and social objectives and principles that apply to all projects and to the staff that work on those projects.

The project aims covers different aspects in means to overcome the area’s challenges from connectivity, infrastructure, environmental risks, water management to public space. A provision of a strategic vision and a new urban structure that will enhance sustainable urban development will be delivered.

In the series of charrettes and meetings that have been held in accordance with the Urban Development Initiative (UrDI), the vision for the northern area of Port-au-Prince has been widely debated and discussed. This process has brought together the different future perspectives and aspirations for the area from both decision makers and the affected populations.

Canaan III, located in the southern part of Canaan, is the densest neighbourhood with a population of 22,413 inhabitants. The densest region is the centre where the concentration of houses and services is abundant. The topography of Canaan III is moderate and opens the possibility for development. This neighbourhood does not face environmental risks and thus has the potential to be a rich neighbourhood.

Canaan I, located in the centre of Canaan, is a mixed usage neighbourhood with a population of 13,779 inhabitants. The central area is the densest in terms of settlements and services; especially around the arterial roads. In the South, the topography of Canaan I has large plateaus and therefore hold great potential for development.

Canaan IV, located in the central part of Canaan, is the densest and is one of the smallest neighbourhood in terms of area. In the north, the slopes are too steep, however, in the south, the presence of wide plateaus gives the potential for development. The proposals in this section are based on a participatory process with the Canaan IV community that lasted an average of three months. The UN-Habitat team maps the existing situation and then the community validates and proposes ideas.

Canaan V is one the smallest neighbourhoods in terms of area. Located in the centre, just north to Canaan III, this neighbourhood has 7,695 inhabitants. Due to lack of information, the calculation of the population was done by multiplying the number of houses by 4 persons. The topography around the periphery is steep, and we can only see some large plateaux in the centre where possible development can actually take place.