Haiti: new report highlights importance of making decisions locally

A new report published by Progressio, in partnership with CAFOD, SCIAF, HIV Aids Alliance and Tearfund, calls for the international community to encourage increased decision making at local level (or "decentralisation") in Haiti. Haitian civil society voices argue in the report that taking decision at local level whenever possible is key to successfully tackling Haiti's reconstruction and development challenges for the long term.

Two years on from the earthquake that caused damage worth US$8 billion and losses and left nearly 1.2 million people homeless, Haiti still faces huge challenges; but work is now taking place to try and deliver a long-lasting recovery.

"Thinking local in Haiti" is based on interviews with twelve Haitian civil society organisations (CSOs). It provides a snapshot of their views and opinions on whether more devolved decision making would be useful.

The report proposes that a more decentralised approach could improve the accountability of government and reconstruction agencies to the population. It also suggests that it could encourage greater participation in political processes.

The report suggests that failure to implement decentralised approaches encourages, trends such as over-migration into the capital city, Port-au-Prince. By contrast, increased investment and decision making at provincial level would improve the availability of jobs and services across the country as a whole.

The report also outlines some practical recommendations for how decentralisation could be encouraged by the Haitian government, international donors and aid agencies.

To read the full report see:
www.progressio.org.uk/sites/progressio.org.uk/files/Thinking-local-in-Haiti-2012.pdf