Haitian Led Reconstruction & Development

A compilation of recommendation documents from several Haitian civil society and diaspora conferences, organizations and coalitions.

March 29, 2010


EXCERPT/SUMMARY
(full document below)

Below are common strategy points as well as process guidelines that are raised in multiple documents, both for immediate relief efforts and long-term reconstruction and development efforts:


SHORT-TERM RECOVERY

• Provide locally or regionally produced emergency food aid with coordinated and equitable distribution
  in both urban and rural areas of need.
   
• Preparation for the imminent planting season by the procurement and purchase of tools and culturally
  appropriate seeds, as well as by providing agricultural training for displaced persons.
   
• Support for shelter and temporary housing for internally displaced people, including adequate food,
  clean water, appropriate shelter for the rain season, medical services and psycho-social support.
   
• Protection of human rights of especially vulnerable populations, such as women, children, displaced persons and people with disabilities, including security strategies to prevent gender based violence, documentation of human rights abuses, and provision of universal, non-discriminatory access to support and resources.

LONG-TERM RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

• Support for agricultural infrastructure and development including investments in: seeds and tools; reforestation; water cisterns, new wells, and irrigation systems; soil conservation; and animal husbandry to repopulate the Creole pig.
   
• Promotion of policies that foster food sovereignty that include land reform, financial support for small farmers, rural investment, and regulation of food markets to protect the local economy.
   
• Leadership training, capacity building, and support for civil society groups conducted in a way that promotes participation within local, national and international government structures, as well as the ability of Haiti to break its dependency on international aid.
   
• Strengthening and investment in formal and informal education systems to build national literacy, job creation and universal access in both urban and rural areas.

PROCESS

• Strengthened civil society participation in the design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of all immediate and long-term reconstruction and development initiatives, both by the Haitian government and international actors. This necessitates sensitivity to language barriers and includes participation in the upcoming March 31 donor’s meeting.
   
• Promotion of transparency and accountability among the Haitian government, NGOs and international donors that is fostered by a robust and active civil society with access to information in locally accessible languages.
   
• Decentralization of infrastructure and resources in the long-neglected rural areas, including health, agriculture, education, water, sanitation, communications, power, housing, justice and social services.
   
• Coordination with local, regional, international actors at all levels for reconstruction efforts, which includes aid distribution and repair of infrastructure.

 Haitian Led Reconstruction & Development

This compilation was prepared by a Washington, D.C. based ad-hoc Haiti advocacy coalition (contributing members listed inside). Views expressed in the documents included are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the coalition that prepared this document.