The Art of Networking

Church World Service (CWS) and Christian Aid, two humanitarian agencies that have been working in Haiti long before, during, and now after the devastating January 12 earthquake, publicized several recommendations for Haiti’s recovery on the eve of the International Donors’ Conference Towards a New Future for Haiti at the United Nations Headquarters on March 31.

Besides the not unexpected list of short- and long-term priorities, i.e., food and nutrition security, agriculture investment and diversification, business and job development, women’s rights, child welfare and education, the two NGOs stressed inclusiveness and collaboration between Haiti and international donors, Haiti and neighboring Dominican Republic, Haiti and members of the Haitian Diaspora, and within the Haitian society itself as this nation begins its “Plan of Action” toward reconstruction and recovery.

CWS and Christian Aid strongly urged that any reconstruction plans include the active support of and coordination with “local Haitian civil society, members of the Haitian Diaspora, and the international community” and that Haiti and the Haitian people “lead the reconstruction of their country.” To “ensure efficient, effective collaboration and coordination, we [CWS and Christian Aid] encourage the creation of a core commission of respected Haitian citizens to oversee all work and ensure that the plan of action stays on course. The commission would represent a wide spectrum of civil society, with members who are seen as committed to the whole of Haitian society and not just individual sectors….” 

Binational work between Haiti and the Dominican Republic “should be encouraged” to build on the extraordinary solidarity and public support given to Haiti by its neighbor following the earthquake, a response that has reduced the historically strained relations between these two countries.

These recommendations appear to have fallen on receptive ears. During the conference, over 150 UN member states and international organizations pledged 5.3 billion dollars for the next 18 months to begin implementing the Government of Haiti’s Action Plan for National Recovery and Development, a document outlining its priorities, cost estimates, and strategies for short- and long-term reconstruction. The document also states the desire of the Haitian Government to involve “all sectors of Haitian society where everyone is called upon to play a role in searching for the collective interest that is ultimately the best guarantee of individual interests in an inclusive society” (6).

With this Plan of Action, Haitian officials and international donors are touting a new paradigm of economic development in Haiti: rather than funding aid through foreign NGOs, donors will look to the Haitian government to determine priorities and plans and pledge to channel aid through the public sector.

“The leaders of Haiti must take responsibility for their country’s reconstruction,” agreed Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, pledging $1.15 billion for Haiti’s long-term reconstruction. “And we in the global community must also do things differently. It will be tempting to fall back on old habits–to work around the government rather than to work with them as partners….”

What an auspicious beginning to this unprecedented global collaborative effort to help this Caribbean nation.

Filed under: Haiti, collaboration on April 14th, 2010