strategy for the Haitian government’s reconstruction
plan. It calls for equipping the Haitian government
to “assertively guide the next phase of Haiti’s
rebuilding, implement a viable development strategy,
and take decisive steps to move Haiti onto a more
sustainable reconstruction path.”
As a constellation of actors on the ground work
to meet the challenges, a truly country-led process
including both Haiti’s government and its citizens
remains elusive.
The dynamics of the relief effort will set the
stage for the long-term recovery and reconstruction.
Reconstruction will be overseen by the Interim Haiti
Recovery Commission (IHRC). Approved by the
Haitian legislature in May 2010, the IHRC ostensibly
workers add the second series of panels to a
water
responds to two key concerns—the limited capacity Haitian the Acra camp in Port-au-Prince. After the sheets20,000 liter bolted
tank in
of zinc are
of the Haitian government to lead the reconstruction to vertical ribs around the structure, a plastic lining makes the structure
and skepticism among donors that reconstruction waterproof.
funds will reach the Haitian people.
The existence of a multi-donor fund does not automatically
Co-chaired by former U.S. President Bill Clinton and
Haiti’s Prime Minister, Jean-Max Bellerive, the IHRC is translate into aid that is more coordinated and effective or into
modeled after the post-tsunami reconstruction authority support for government priorities.5 There are few examples
in Aceh, Indonesia. After 18 months, the functions of the of effective civil society participation in structures similar to
IHRC will transition to a redevelopment authority run by Haiti’s, particularly of marginalized groups. For instance,
while the Indonesian post-tsunami multi-donor trust fund has
the Haitian government.
been touted as a success by donors, it largely failed to address
In theory, the IHRC should serve as a flexible, responsive,
transparent, and accountable decision-making body to gender concerns in its project design and objectives.6
Supporting a country-led recovery includes the following:
approve and oversee recovery projects and coordinate donor
funding. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee report Incorporate civil society voices into the permanent structures
suggested that the IHRC is the best near-term prospect for of the IHRC and the Haiti Reconstruction Fund.
managing Haiti’s rebuilding, but also urged quick action
A genuine effort to put Haitians at the center of the
to make it operational and cautioned against its becoming
disaster response cannot ignore the role of civil society.
overly bureaucratic. The current structure of the IHRC could
slow the funding and actual implementation of development Haiti’s vibrant people and organizations are now credited
projects—multiple signoffs are required for project approval with filling the gaps where relief efforts have fallen short—
and there is confusion about the decision-making process. organizing in both urban camps and rural communities
With 20 million yards of rubble remaining and the urgent flooded with displaced people. Resilient communities and
need to provide shelter from the hurricanes, there is little grassroots organizations with local knowledge have provided
ongoing assessment of the needs in the camps for displaced
time for bureaucracy.
7
The relationship between the IHRC and another key people. For example, the Christian Center for Integrated
vehicle for reconstruction, the Haiti Reconstruction Fund, is Development (SKDE), a network of more than 100 rural
still unclear. The Haiti Reconstruction Fund, administered by cooperatives which each have hundreds of members, quickly
the World Bank, is intended to coordinate resources, nimbly activated its structures to provide support to the flood of
disburse grants for projects, and help build government victims from Port-au-Prince.
In the days after the earthquake, the Haiti Response
capacity. A steering committee chaired by the Haitian
government will review and approve proposals and serve as Coalition, a network of Haiti-based nongovernmental
the final point of accountability for the use of reconstruction organizations, coalesced to coordinate aid efforts. The
funds.4 Donors who contribute $30 million or more will have coalition has now launched “The Initiative for a New Haiti,”
a consultative strategy for rebuilding focused on key sectors,
a seat on the steering committee.
www.bread.org
Bread for the World Institute 3
David Snyder/CRS
Haiti’s Reconstruction