COORDINATINGRECONSTRUCTION

IN PORT-AU-PRINCE | HAITI

Definitionco·or·di·na·tion noun \kō-ˌor-də-ˈnā-shən\: the work and activity of a number of persons who individually contribute toward the efficiency of the whole. Source: Merriam Webster online

Synonyms: collaboration, cooperation, teamworkRelated Words: collegiality, fellowship, partnership; community, mutualism, reciprocity, symbiosis; synergism, synergy;

communion, cooperativeness, kinship, oneness, solidarity, togetherness, unity

TOPIC | DEFINITION

<< At least 3,000 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are operating in Haiti. Struggling with insufficient capacity in the face of overwhelming poverty and environmental disasters, the government has been unable to coordinate or capitalize on what some in Haiti refer to as a “Republic of NGOs”.

Concerns about the role of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Haiti’s development have been present for decades. However, these issues have gained increasing prominence following the January 12, 2010 earthquake that destroyed much of Port-au-Prince.Historically, funneling aid through NGOs has perpetuated a situation of limited government capacity and weak institutions. Haitians look to NGOs rather than their government for basic public services.Following the earthquake, international donors have recognized the importance for Haiti’s government to take the lead in recovery efforts. However, old habits die hard; the problems of government capacity and poor coordination of NGO efforts remain.(…) If projects implemented by NGOs do not match up with the government’s priorities, the long-term success of recovery efforts will be undermined. >>

panel presentation and peace brief by the United States Institute of Peace (Sept. 2009 & April 2010)

TOPIC | PROBLEM ANALYSIS

TOPIC | PROBLEM ANALYSIS

From a humanitarian perspective, coordination is “the systematic use of policy instruments to deliver assistance in a cohesive and effective manner”. It seeks to answer the question “what conditions and characteristics of organization structure and operation might lead to improved service delivery processes and outcomes in (…) relief scenarios”. Literature on civil-military coordination defines coordination as a means of “coping with dependencies”, referring to the dependencies that exist between the key stakeholders that are involved in the reconstruction process. Those can be host governments, NGO, UN, the donor community, and military actors, but should also include the beneficiaries themselves, and take into account their own coordination mechanisms.

In theory, coordination would entail strategy, data & information management, resources mobilization, accountability, division of tasks, negotiation, communication and leadership. In practical terms, in the field, reconstruction coordination worries about the 3Ws “Who does What Where”, a very simple concept at first glance, yet a hard goal to reach. The UNOCHA cluster systems is the primary body for coordinating the delivery of humanitarian and early recovery assistance. It is organized by sectors (health, shelter, education, protection, etc.) and aims to reduce gaps and overlaps in reconstruction projects. However, it is essentially in the hands of the international organizations and expatriates “experts” and doesn’t always correlate with funding exercises (meaning that funds are only very partially allocated based on the clusters recommendations).

APPROACH | ACTORS

APPROACH | PROBLEM ANALYSIS

2. External “experts”

1. Top-down decision making process with limited Haitian representation and empowerment

3. Sectorial approach (modeled on international agencies specialties)

We assume that coordination is pivotal to guaranteeing success of the reconstruction process, and that the Haitian community participation in this coordination process increases efficiency and relevancy of reconstruction projects. Against this background we ask: How can communities regain control over the reconstruction process and take charge of their own future? How can this improve the success of reconstruction projects and the efficiency of aid delivery?

TOPIC | GOVERNING QUESTION

<< The purpose of this Code of Conduct (…) is to offer guidance on how international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can work in host countries in a way that respects and supports the primacy of the government’s responsibility (…)It is now becoming clearer that NGOs, if not careful and vigilant, can undermine the public sector and even the health system as a whole, by diverting health workers, managers and leaders into privatized operations that create parallel structures to government and that tend to worsen the isolation of communities from formal health systems. >>

PRECEDENT #1 | NGO CODE OF CONDUCT FOR HEALTH SYSTEM STRENGTHENING (www.ngocodeofconduct.org)

<< The Centre’s overall purpose is to enhance nation building by providing reliable information to policy planners, strategy makers, program implementers and future leaders of Afghanistan, including the faculty and students at Kabul University. There is also an outreach component, which sends mobile libraries into the provinces to communities, high schools and provincial councils. The purpose of this programme is to provide information to the Afghan population to enable them to learn to read; and live happier lives. >>

PRECEDENT #2 | ACKU – AFGHANISTAN CENTER AT KABUL UNIVERSITY(www.acku.edu.af)

<< The effort focuses on "watchdogging" the aid and reconstruction from the point of view of Haiti's majority, at the same time as it also provides historical and political context, examines structural causes and challenges, and seeks out Haitian academics, technicians and specialists who will add their voices to the voices of the Haitian people and their associations and organizations. >>

PRECEDENT #3 | HAITI GRASSROOTS WATCH (www.haitigrassrootswatch.squarespace.com)

APPROACH | USEFUL FRAMEWORKS AND KEY CONCEPTS

APPROACH | PROPOSAL AND SITE

1. Cross sectorial approach

2. Coordination by commune representatives (including representation of marginal groups and women)

3. commune-scale coordination body

APPROACH | EXPECTED OUTCOME