UN STABILIZATION PROGRAM: FILLING THE GOH GAP

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 002448

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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