USAID/OTI Haiti Field Report
November 2004
Program Description
In response to the recent political turmoil in Haiti, OTI initiated the $5 million Haiti Transition Initiative (HTI) in May 2004 with implementing partner International Organization for Migration (IOM). The program emphasizes stability building measures in key crisis spots through the implementation of quick, visible small projects with the following objectives: restore citizen confidence and hope in the process of political development and positive change; empower citizens and the government to address priority needs in communities; and build cooperative frameworks between government activities and citizens as examples of positive change and progressive political development.
Country Situation
Haiti’s overall security climate worsened in November, particularly in the capital. Increasing numbers of shootings, carjacking, kidnappings and unchallenged displays of force by members of the ex-FAd’H, chimères and others were reported. In the face of insufficient security, these armed groups became bolder in the type of acts they are willing to perpetrate. For example, a U.N. minibus with 11 Argentine peacekeepers in Cite Soleil was recently carjacked in broad daylight. On another occasion, uniformed former Haitian Armed Forces (FAd’H) entered the police academy grounds brandishing weapons.
In response to growing support by former military to reconstitute the army, the Prime Minister asserted that only the next elected government would have the authority to address the question. In related news, November 18 marked the anniversary of the Battle of Vertières, a decisive victory in the Haitian revolution and also seen as the anniversary of the Haitian army. This year was the first year the ex-FAd’H marched since the army was disbanded in 1995. Supporters of former President Aristide also marched in the capitol this month to express support for him and called on the international community to include the ousted leader in negotiations.
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously to keep MINUSTAH in Haiti for six more months. MINUSTAH forces are expected to reach two-thirds capacity on December 1 for a total of approximately 4,500 peacekeepers and 1,200 civilian police. Despite this international presence, gang members known as chimères and former soldiers have continued to refuse to disarm or abandon police stations, saying that they need to fill the security vacuum and stabilize Haiti. Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) members have pledged to support peacekeeping and humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti but have yet to recognize the interim government.
After months of contentious dialogue within the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), its President resigned this month. This move was applauded by much of the political class and the change in leadership is expected to result in the rapid publication of an electoral law and calendar. Also at the national level, a former military officer was named National Coordinator of the National Commission for Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration – a body launched this month by MINUSTAH and UNDP.
The IMF mission to Haiti was canceled for the second time last month due to the instable security situation. It has been rescheduled for early 2005.
USAID/OTI Highlights
A. Narrative Summary
OTI remains focused on working with the Haitian national and municipal government bodies and vulnerable communities in an effort to support the processes of political stabilization and community recovery in Haiti. Activities continue throughout Port-au-Prince, Saint-Marc, Gonaïves and Petit Goâve that are bringing local communities together with municipal, community and ministerial representatives in order to strengthen relationships and forge cooperation.
In Petit Goâve, five grants were signed in a ceremony at City Hall with community and central government representatives. These grants include three school rehabilitation projects in areas prone to unrest and public works projects in two of the most volatile neighborhoods. While opening new channels of communication between officials and marginalized inhabitants and in one case renewing a relationship from a successful prior project in Nan Pesen, the activities will also provide hundreds of days of labor over the coming months.
As the security situation in Port-au-Prince continues to deteriorate, projects in Cité Soleil have slowed and focus has been put on developing activities in the Carrefour-Feuilles neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. In addition, the program has prioritized exploring partnerships and potential activities in the Bel-Air neighborhood and on its periphery as Bel-Air has rapidly become another hotbed of violence and gang activity with little existing development activity to sustain the community.
The OTI Program is now working with several partners to help build their capacities to support the processes of political stabilization, community recovery and development. One strategy being explored is adding a media component in coordination with the community radio network, RAMAK, a USAID program. In particular, local communities that have collaborated previously with OTI would be brought together with a participating ministry and communications staffers recently trained by RAMAK. Together, they would address the ministry’s public relations needs by producing radio spots highlighting the collaboration and the ministry’s responsiveness to local needs in distressed zones.
B. Grants Activity Summary
| Communes of Port-au-Prince |
23 |
$746,691 |
| Petit Goâve |
16 |
$218,467 |
| St. Marc (includes Gonaïves) |
18 |
$287,880 |
| Total |
57 |
$1,253,038 |
Activities are continuing in communities where youth are at high risk of joining gangs which destabilize communities. HTI’s labor-intensive infrastructure projects not only put older youth to work, but also serve as community resources for youths of all ages. Some examples of these include: rehabilitation of the Sainte Anne soccer field in Cité Soleil; the Avenir Flagship Cyber and Community center in Carrefour-Feuilles; rehabilitation of Solino Sport Complex, Sainte Bernadette Soccer Field, and Simon Bolivar Municipal School in Port-au Prince; renovation of Stenio Vincent High School in St. Marc; and the provision of sports equipment for the School for the Gifted in Petit Goâve.
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Youth at risk work to rebuild the soccer field at
Ste. Bernadette High School. |
Building on last month’s work in Gonaïves to generate short-term employment for flood victims and jumpstart long-term reconstruction programs, OTI continued its support for the transitional government’s relief efforts. One new OTI initiative will reinforce the role of the Ministry of Public Works (TPTC) in the removal of mud and debris from blocked drainage canals. The project, which is being coordinated by the TPTC office in Gonaïves with participation of the mayor, will supply tools and pay for labor for approximately 440 people for approximately 50 days. This project is expected to benefit 10,000 people living near and in the vicinity of the canals, particularly in terms of improved sanitation and a diminished risk of flooding and malaria outbreaks.
OTI collaborated this month with the Ministry of Education, the local municipality, students and faculty to rehabilitate schools in Petit Goâve. Earlier this year, Lavalas chimères who were dressed in school uniforms had entered the Faustin Soulouque High School, provoking violence that lead to the destruction of school equipment, including the sanitation system. Since then teachers and students have had to leave school grounds to use neighbors' toilets, a problem which disrupts lessons and hurts the school’s relationship with the neighborhood and increases security concerns. Grants to the schools will directly address the source of these issues by providing materials and skilled workers to rehabilitate the sanitation system and restore restrooms, water and electrical installations, and the painting of core buildings. They also increase the transitional government's credibility by demonstrating its ability to rapidly respond to local crises. OTI approved a similar school rehabilitation grant in St. Marc this month, also in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the local government and a school repair committee composed of parents and teachers.
C. Indicators of Success
Two months after hurricane Jeanne ravaged Gonaïves, a large scale effort to clean up and rebuild Haiti has continued with USAID leading the donor community. OTI’s strategic use of rapid impact grants facilitated the early on distribution of aid to Gonaïves and targeted key communities for small scale clean-up and short term employment efforts such as employing residents to remove mud from public spaces. In addition, the program has held preliminary meetings with the Direction of Civil Protection (DPC), part of the Ministry of Interior, to develop a plan for collaborating on the creation of local committees for disaster prevention. OTI’s work in Gonaïves has been instrumental in helping bridge the gap between initial aid to the ravaged community and the deployment of USAID’s full fledged Tropical Storm Reconstruction Program.
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
In the next month, USAID/OTI Haiti will:
- Elaborate and initiate out new media activities;
- Take an active role in DDR strategy and planning;
- Set priorities for follow-on activities in key communities where collaboration and projects can advance peace and reconciliation processes.
For further information, please contact:
Katherine Donohue, OTI Haiti Program Manager, 202-712-0498, kdonohue@usaid.gov
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