Haiti

Inauguration of the Nemours Jean Baptiste Music School in Port au Prince. The Office of Transition Initiatives funded the rehabilitation of the space and purchased equipment.

USAID/Nancy Ruppel

Stabilizing communities, increasing government effectiveness, and enhancing citizen engagement with the Government of Haiti.

Program Description

The USAID Office of Transition Initiatives (USAID/OTI) began its program in Haiti in January 2010 as part of the post-earthquake response, supporting short- and medium-term activities aimed at stabilizing Haiti through support for community revitalization, improved governance, and economic strengthening.

Striving to prepare local governments and community-based organizations for longer-term U.S. Government (USG) investment, the program moved to a new phase in March 2011 following the release of the five-year "Post-Earthquake USG Haiti Strategy." This strategy identifies two objectives: 1) catalyzing economic growth through investments in agriculture, energy, and infrastructure; and 2) ensuring long-term stability through investments in public institutions. USAID/OTI advances this effort to promote economic growth and stability by supporting new and diverse opportunities in key development corridors around Port-au-Prince, Saint Marc, and Cap Haitien.

Program Activities

USAID/OTI activities within the USG strategy consist of three components::

Enabling the Government of Haiti to Function – In coordination with USAID/Haiti and international partners, USAID/OTI is supporting an effective democratic transition for the newly elected President of Haiti, Michel Martelly. USAID/OTI is providing support to the Government of Haiti (GOH) at the local and national levels through technical assistance for urban planning, decentralization, and economic growth and recovery efforts. For example, the program is providing a temporary structure for the Parliament and has worked with the Ministry of Communications on an interactive web portal to link entrepreneurs with investors.

Stabilizing Communities – Working closely with the GOH and international partners, USAID/OTI is rebuilding key neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince to strengthen communities and resettle internally displaced persons (IDPs). USAID is helping develop shelter solutions for earthquake-affected IDPs and lay the groundwork for economic livelihoods projects. Efforts have included installing solar-powered street lights in Cap Haitien to improve public safety, restoring a multi-purpose cultural center in Saint Marc, and rehabilitating embankments on the Artibonite River to prevent flooding. USAID/OTI is also supporting the Martelly Administration's efforts to coordinate the national dialogue on decentralization and facilitate local government investments in urban planning, light infrastructure, and peri-urban upgrading.

Increasing Citizen Engagement – USAID/OTI is promoting increased communication between the GOH and its citizens, including increasing transparency and oversight of government functions. This program component includes support to "News You Can Use," a program airing critical information on issues from food distribution to cholera prevention and treatment, and targeted assistance to Haitian radio stations focused on increasing the quality and quantity of news and information broadcast by Haitians. To publicize the North Park Project, USAID/OTI, in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance, is running a communications campaign highlighting project benefits—job creation, infrastructure improvements, and economic development—and raising awareness of the new government in a previously neglected region.