March 29, 2010
A group of Washington based groups, the “ad-hoc Haiti advocacy coalition”, released a document today which includes numerous recommendations for implementing a Haitian led reconstruction. The purpose of the document is “to ensure that Haitian input is accessible to international policymakers, donors, and media as critical strategy and funding decisions are being made that will impact Haiti’s future. The compilation consists of documents from Haitian civil society, international NGOs, coalitions and diaspora conferences. Below are some of the general points and principles for guiding both short-term and long-term reconstruction:
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.
To read the entire document, click here.
