Haiti’s recent political transition offers a window of opportunity for the Préval administration to work with the international community to put in place the programs and reforms needed for economic recovery and political and social stability. Building the institutional capacity of the Executive Branch is an essential element of US foreign assistance. Stability can only be achieved if the Government of Haiti (GOH) is perceived as legitimate and effective in working to improve the conditions that most directly affect daily life in Haiti and in reestablishing an economic climate conducive to growth. Haitian government institutions are extremely fragile and lack capacity to perform many basic functions without external assistance. US assistance to the Executive Branch will help reinforce government legitimacy and effectiveness by providing advisors to key offices and ministries involved in reform, fiscal management, trade and investment, basic service delivery and strategic communications. Planned results after five years include an Executive Branch with enhanced capacities to govern effectively and provide for the needs of it citizens ,with systems in place to manage relations within the Executive Branch and among other branches of the GOH, as well as with the international community.

Background: USAID’s provision of technical advisors to the GOH began in 2005 and was designed to institutionally strengthen key ministries and institutions of the IGOH while the country transitioned to a newly elected government. The services provided by the advisors proved to be critical in helping Haiti to implement reforms and modernize. Consequently, the GOH requested, and USAID agreed, to extend these services for a period of four years.

Phase I: In February 2005, USAID signed a ten-month contract with “Centre de Formation et d’Encadrement Technique” (CFET) a local Haitian company to recruit, hire, monitor and pay individual consultants provided to the IGOH. The total estimated cost of the initial contract was $547,890. Ten consultants were contracted by CFET to serve in an advisory capacity to five key ministries and the Prime Minister’s Office. Because the Haitian elections were delayed, the original contract was increased to $767,890 and extended to June 30, 2006.

Phase II: During July and August 2006, the Government of Haiti requested that USAID continue all ten advisors already provided, and immediately add additional advisors to help the newly elected Préval Administration with high priority programs. Consequently, USAID modified the contract, added funds, and extended the end date to May 2008. USAID is currently providing both short and long-term advisors to key ministries to help improve organizational structures and efficiencies, and to improve service provision to Haitian citizens.

Phase III: USAID has developed a Scope of Work for a new three year mechanism to begin March 2008 valued over $15 million dollars. Under this new instrument USAID anticipates providing 2 international, 20 local long-term advisors and approximately 50 months of short-term advisor services to the GOH over the three year life of the contract.

Other Donors - There are several other donors which are providing or have provided technical advisors to the GOH including Canada, the World Bank, IADB, UNDP ant the EU. The USG Mission in Haiti is currently in the process of designing a coordinating mechanism to complement the activities of these donors.