UN STABILIZATION PROGRAM: FILLING THE GOH GAP

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 002448 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) WHA/EX PLEASE PASS TO OAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM HA SUBJECT: UN STABILIZATION PROGRAM: FILLING THE GOH GAP ¶1. Summary: The United Nations announced on December 18 an appeal for USD 97.9 million in support of the economic and social stabilization of Haiti over the next 18 months (January 2007 -- June 2008). The plan proposes 55 separate programs run by the various UN organizations in the areas where they have a comparative advantage. It is intended to help the government carry out its proposals put forward at the July donors' conference, including GoH intent to mobilize and manage its own international aid. According to Minustah's humanitarian and development section chief, Jens Kristensen, his office designed the UN proposal in direct consultation with the key ministries, specifically the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation, and partner NGOs. Though a fairly standard UN country plan, this appears to be in reaction to the government's failure to harness the donor process as defined during the conference in July. End Summary. ¶2. The document prioritizes the eight sectors which need immediate work, as declared by the GoH at the July donors' conference in Port-au-Prince: public works, the Social Appeasement Program (PAS),justice and security, increase in government revenues, reinforcement of public institutions, education, health, and agriculture. (Comment: The GoH has made minimal, if any, visible strides in each of the sectors. Though not surprising given the many challenges the new government faces, the growing impatience of the population is increasingly evident. End Comment.) ¶3. Kristensen described the UN proposal as a supplemental tool for the Haitian government, intending to reinforce GoH capacity, solicit additional financial resources, and focus on the grand dimensions of stabilization such as security, economic and social governance. The new UN program will work over the next 18 months in order to respond to the county's priority needs: reinforced democratic institutions; a modern Haitian state in favor of a reduction in inequality, national dialogue, and reconciliation; an increase in national production; and the availability of basic services, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. ¶4. Eighty percent of the funding will be used outside of Port-au-Prince and will give priority to marginalized urban areas as well as fragile rural areas vulnerable to natural disasters and food insecurity. Included in the document is the GoH's earlier stated priority to create a more favorable environment for development by removing current obstacles to social inclusion and to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable populations. The document specifies that when possible the separate programs will seek labor intensive solutions to generate the maximum employment. In addition to seeking funding from the major donors (the U.S., Canada, EU, and France),the UN will solicit funds from the Nordic countries and Japan. This could be an opportunity for China to make its name known in Haiti, Kristensen surmised. ¶5. Comment: The UN makes every effort to present the document as supplementary to GoH proposals as outlined in July's conference document. However, after two and a half years in Haiti -- and seven months into President Preval's tenure -- the UN appears to be posing as a substitute for GoH inability and inaction. Kristensen told Poloff December 20 that his office has been working on the document since the beginning of the year, but did not want to "compete" with the government. Apparently, the competition has forfeited: the Prime Minister gave his stamp of approval at Minustah headquarters December 18. Despite his calls for the sovereign management of donor aid and distribution, even he is left to admit that his government can not do it alone. TIGHE