- Introduction
Haiti is recovering gradually following the earthquake that devastated a large part of the country on January 12, 2010. The Government together with NGOs and other institutions are still working to relocate people from the different remaining camps to more secure shelters. Finding durable solutions to this problem takes time, nonetheless, from an initial 1,500,000 homeless people; the number of persons still in camps in October 2012 has reduced to 390,000.
In the meantime, the political situation remains relatively stable, although there is no solution to the appointment of an electoral committee to oversee the local elections, originally planned for the last quarter of 2012. Additionally, the growing inflation and unemployment rates are causing increasing discontent towards the Government, higher levels of crime may result in further increases in protests and possibly violence. The number and scale of gang-related incidents in the main cities of Haiti, particularly in Port-au-Prince is rising, causing a considerable slowdown in progress of development programmes.
The partners involved in the prevention of and response to the epidemic of cholera have managed to reduce mortality and morbidity rates, and in 2012 the numbers of persons affected were significantly lower than in the previous year. The behaviour of the epidemic varies from one region to another, along with the number of operating health facilities and the level of knowledge of the disease. According to experts, the epidemic affects the rural and urban populations in different ways. Indeed, preliminary data show that mortality rates in rural areas is sometimes three times higher than those in urban areas, mainly because of lower levels of awareness, and difficult access to Cholera Treating Centres. Two years after the epidemic began in October 2010, the number of cumulative cases of cholera stands at 596,389 while the epidemic has killed 7,533 people.
In 2012, while in the process of phasing out of most emergency response activities, Concern undertook a participatory Contextual Analysis in the three areas of intervention: La Gonave, Saut d’Eau and Port-au-Prince, to inform the development of its 2012-2015 Strategic Plan and facilitate the development of programme options. The contextual analysis process facilitated the identification of the extreme poor, and the drivers of poverty, as well as exploring communities’ priorities and their vision and capacity for change. The analysis underlined the vulnerability of specific groups including; the landless, those with no income and/or high debts, those who do not have a house or whose children do not attend school.
Through the multi-sectoral programming developed according to the findings of the Contextual Analysis results and recommendations, Concern will work at micro, meso and macro levels, in order to address the root causes of poverty including inequalities and the specific vulnerabilities of the poor. The multi-sectoral approaches used will facilitate improvements in the quality of education; economic development and job creation; and building grassroots capacity. Concern will engage with government, and in sectorial tables, clusters and working groups to support changes in national level policy and its implementation to protect natural resources and livelihoods; improve literacy and learning environments; and ensure that programme outcomes, such as water provision, are more in the most under-served areas. All policy-level changes that will be sought by Concern were identified as priority areas by communities, government and humanitarian partners, and Concern will use its field-level knowledge to engage district and national-level stakeholders regarding challenges to and opportunities for the development of pro-poor policy in these areas. The integrated approach of this programme reflects the Concern Haiti strategy to address the underlying causes of poverty.
With the conclusion of the previous strategic plan in 2012, a new plan for the coming four year period is being developed. Conclusion of this work is expected in the first quarter of 2013.