Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTAUPRINCE1347
2006-07-25 14:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:  

Prime Minister briefed on USAID/Haiti program.

Tags:  EAID ECON PGOV HA 
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PP RUEHQU
DE RUEHPU #1347/01 2061442
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 251442Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3603
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1139
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0981
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 0522
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001347 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR ADOLFO FRANCO, AA/LAC
EB/IFD/ODF
EB/IFD/OMA
INR/IAA/MAC
TREASURY FOR JEFFREY LEVINE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV HA
SUBJECT: Prime Minister briefed on USAID/Haiti program.


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001347

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR ADOLFO FRANCO, AA/LAC
EB/IFD/ODF
EB/IFD/OMA
INR/IAA/MAC
TREASURY FOR JEFFREY LEVINE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PGOV HA
SUBJECT: Prime Minister briefed on USAID/Haiti program.



1. SUMMARY: Ambassador Sanderson and USAID/Haiti Acting
Mission Director met with Haiti's Prime Minister and the
Minister of Planning and External Cooperation (Plan) on July
14, 2006. The purpose of the meeting was to provide an in-
depth brief on USAID program results achieved (2004-2006)
and planned assistance under the extension of the Interim
Cooperation Framework (ICF). This meeting also provided an
opportunity to highlight how USAID assistance will support
the Preval Administration's development priorities,
particularly those related to the Social Appeasement Program
(SAP). The Prime Minister emphasized the importance that
the Preval Administration attaches to Government of Haiti
(GOH) and donor coordination and collaboration. This will
be a key GOH message at the July 25th donor's conference.
END SUMMARY.

USAID Delivers under the ICF


2. USAID staff reviewed its major development
accomplishments achieved under the ICF, a donor coordination
mechanism created to channel substantial foreign assistance
to the Interim Government of Haiti from 2004 to 2006.
Haitians benefited from USAID assistance through improved
healthcare and primary education; short-term job creation
and employment; micro-enterprise development; public sector
institution strengthening; justice sector reform and civil
society development; elections support; and food security
and disaster assistance. The Prime Minister acknowledged
the breadth, scope, and importance of USAID assistance,
stating the results delivered had improved the lives of
Haitians. This acknowledgement was important, due to public
GOH comments that donor results have not been commensurate
with the nearly one billion dollars of assistance disbursed
during the past two years.

USAID supports the Social Appeasement Program and the Five-
Year Development Plan


3. At the July 25th Donor's Conference in Port-au-Prince,
the GOH will officially unveil its development vision and
launch its development program for Haiti. This vision will
include an immediate-term (the SAP) and medium-term (the
Five-Year Plan) development agenda for Haiti. The July 14th
meeting gave USAID the opportunity to preview how its on-
going and future assistance will support the GOH's vision.
USAID will help create jobs and employment opportunities to
spur national productivity, focusing particularly on
vulnerable groups in disadvantaged and conflict-prone zones;
continue to provide and improve basic social services, like
healthcare, education, and potable water; and strengthen
national, provincial, legislative and local government
institutions to improve their ability to provide public
sector services and accountability to Haitian citizens.

Greater Donor Coordination and Collaboration: The New GOH
Mantra


4. The Prime Minister expressed a clear desire to strengthen
communication and collaboration with all donors. He also
asked that donors work more closely to coordinate assistance
by sector and geographic location. The GOH, to the greatest
extent possible, would like to ensure that all provinces and
communes receive a basic package of social services that
includes health, education, potable water, sanitation, and
access to roads. To begin this mapping exercise, the GOH
will ask all donors to clarify where they are funding
programs, at what cost, and with what implementing agencies.
USAID has already provided this information.

Commission Mixte: Not What Haiti Needs


5. The Prime Minister raised the idea of a commission
mixte to enhance USG and GOH communication with respect to
U.S. foreign assistance. The Ambassador responded that the
work of a commission mixte, a concept tried in many parts of
the world, is not the best vehicle for maintaining a
flexible, responsive aid program in Haiti. She suggested
that closer communication at the working level between our
two governments would yield more productive results given
the GOH's coordination concerns. The Prime Minister agreed
and asked the Minister of Plan to ensure all channels of
communication are open and utilized to coordinate assistance
with USAID and Embassy Port-au-Prince. USAID has already

PORT AU PR 00001347 002 OF 002


held many meetings with the new GOH, including the
Ministries of Plan, Health, Education, Justice, Environment,
Commerce, Finance, Public Works, Youth and Tourism, in
addition to the newly-installed Parliament. With donor
coordination such a high priority for the Preval
Administration, this meeting was useful in demonstrating
USAID's past and present responsiveness to the GOH's
development agenda, and its amenability to continue to
strengthen coordination with the new Government.

SANDERSON