The Courier

AVSI Education project for Children, Cité Soleil, a bidonville in Port-au-Prince.

© Carlo Zorzi

Eligible for the European Development Fund (EDF) for the first time under the Lomé IV Convention in 1990, a series of political and institutional crises in Haiti spanning two decades resulted in allocation of EU funds earmarked for key sectors of the economy to be mostly re-channelled into emergency, humanitarian and ‘post-conflict’ projects.

The coup against President Bertrand Aristide in 1991 delayed implementation of the €112.2M 7th EDF (1990-1995). Disbursement of the €148M 8th EDF (1995-2000) was beset by “an absence of government” resulting in, “appropriate measures” being taken by the EU in 2001 including re-directing funds to emergency assistance, projects to be implemented through civil society and additional assistance by the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO).

One of the few longer-term projects to get underway was support to the education sector in 1999. A €28M sum to PARQUE, ‘Programme d’Amélioration de la Qualité de l’Education’ (the programme to improve the quality of education) included the construction and rehabilitation of 17 teacher training facilities (‘Ecoles Fondamentales d’Application et Centres d’Appui Pédagogique’ - EFACAP), serving 350 schools across four administrative departments. This “tremendously successful” scheme says Price Pady, National Authoring Officer has recently been extended with €14M of 9th EDF’s ‘post conflict’ funds (see below).

Post conflict support.

By the time the 2004 political crisis ended, the 9th EDF was on stream (2000-2007). Its €167.6M budget was redirected for “post-conflict” support to the 2006 elections and rehabilitation of the country. The remainder of the 7th and 8th EDFs were pooled giving a total of €276M to the ‘post-crisis’ situation

The holding of elections (€18M), business support to education through PRIMA (see ‘industry’ article), some road building and many diverse projects through civil society were funded (See Avsi below).

The stretch of road linking Port-au-Prince to Mirebalais was being asphalted when we visited although construction through the steep and rocky terrain which climbs from Port-au-Prince, has been difficult, explained Roberto Rivoli, road engineer with French company, BCEOM, which is overseeing the construction work. This stretch is one section of the road between the capital to Cap Haitien in the northern coast. An additional section of this road to Hinche and also the upgrading of the Cap Haitien to Dajabon road on the border of the Dominican Republic are also underway with 9th EDF funding.

Improved economic management by the newly elected government also attracted general budget aid of €36M for 2006 to 2007.

Roads are key to economy

“All projects are a priority in Haiti,” says Price Pady.  The construction and upgrading of roads to stimulate economic growth is the main focus of the 10th EDF with an allocation of €175M.Of Haiti’s total 3,400 km of roads, just 10% are in good condition. The stretches earmarked for the 10th EDF support are St. Raphael-Cap Haitien, ring roads around Cap Haitien and Mirebalais, and a road from Mirebalais to the Dominican Republic border. Budget support is expected to go to the sector together with a contribution to the national Fonds d’Entretien Routier (FER) towards the upkeep of the network. The World Bank and France are expected to upgrade a stretch between Hinche and St.Raphael (see map) to complete the artery between the capital and Cap Haitien.

The 10th EDF will also make funding available for good governance (€36M) a priority to underpin the country’s political stability.“Reform of the justice system is in the short term the main challenge facing the government,” reads the EU strategy paper for Haiti for the 10th EDF. There will be support for de-centralisation and to help implement the ‘Document de Stratégie National pour la Croissance et la Reduction de la Pauvrété’ (DSNCRP), the awaited government paper on its long-term plans for economic growth and poverty reduction.

Some €48M of direct budget support is foreseen in the form of annual disbursements linked to the good management of public finances.

The 10th EDF will also fund various projects outside the focal sectors of roads and governance including projects in the fields of: assistance to non-state actors (€8.8M), cultural initiatives (€3.7M), the National Authorising Officer – the government official who manages donor aid in his country – and institutional technical support (€7.5M), bi-national strategies with the Dominican Republic and for implementation of the new European Partnership Agreement (€12M) are all projects outside the focal sectors.

“Respekte Moun, Bati Kay”

“We can move around safely now,” says Fiammetta Cappellini, socio-educational consultant for the Italian NGO, AVSI, which is running an EDF project to build peace in Cité Soleil to the north of Port-au-Prince, its shanty dwellings home to an estimated 350,000 Haitians. Previously controlled by armed gangs using violence and kidnapping, since February 2007 life on the streets is easier, many of the perpetrators of violence having been arrested with the help of Minustah.

The €1.2M three-year (2007-2009) project, “Respekte Moun, Bati Kay” includes peace building inititiaves with an €200,000 allocation from the NGO Justice and Peace. It is teaching that, “there is an alternative to armed gangs,” says Carlo Zorsi, AVSI’s Haiti representative.

It’s not difficult to explain the frustration of those who live in this 5km sq. piece of land without basic facilities, jobs and not knowing where their next meal is coming from. Bullet holes in some of the dwellings are evidence of the availability of weapons.

“It was at first difficult to put across the message of peace,” explains Fiammetta Capellini since people were used to receiving something material as an exchange. The programme gives training to ‘mediators of peace’ who pass on the message to others who sign a, ‘Declaration of commitment to peace.’ Carlo Zorsi says it was difficult to impart a vision of the future on the young people, mainly aged 18-28. The programme is also giving more general support, for example, help with CV preparation.

It is also providing social assistance and psychological counselling to younger children. The surrounding unrest has engendered violence within families against women and children, explains Fiammetta Cappellini.

Zorsi says that there is a lot of need for further work in ‘Cité Soleil’ and also in the slum of Matissant, to the south of the capital. An urban horticultural project in tyres and roofs could be useful, and he stresses the need to assist local authorities. Says Zorsi: “The mayor [of Cité Soleil] has been elected but has little influence or capacity.”

www.avsi.org

• HAITI: Dawn of hope
• Building on Stability
• “We’ve got to know who owns the land in this country”
• Haitian-Dominican relations and the media
• “We need irrigation, reforestation and inputs”
• Credit sought for business
• 10th EDF targets roads and governance
• Enticing tourists to an “incredible country’’
• Capturing the soul of Haiti: Sergine André