A memorandum of understanding was signed on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, between the government of Japan, represented by the Japanese Ambassador to Haiti, Kazuhiko Nishiuchi, and the Organization of American States (OAS), represented by its Secretary General, Albert Ramdin, with a view to strengthening Haiti’s national identification system. The signing ceremony was held at the premises of the National Identification Office (ONI), in the presence of CARICOM Secretary-General Carla Barnett and several Haitian officials, including Minister of Justice and Public Security Patrick Pélissier and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs Raina Forbin.

According to information provided by the signatory parties, the memorandum of understanding is aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and improving essential services provided to the Haitian population. More specifically, it provides for “strengthening the capacity of the National Identification Office,” according to Minister Forbin, notably through the rehabilitation of infrastructure, the installation of equipment, institutional capacity-building and operational support for the institution responsible for identifying all Haitian citizens.