ASSESSMENT OF DEPORTEE INTEGRATON PROGRAM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 001018 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR DHS FOR HQ BICE WASHINGTON DC S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM HA SUBJECT: ASSESSMENT OF DEPORTEE INTEGRATON PROGRAM PORT AU PR 00001018 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. Summary. Against the countervailing negative perceptions that most Haitians and the GoH have against deportees, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has convincingly established the foundations of a potentially successful deportee integration program. IOM reported that deportees are increasingly using the program because the GoH has discontinued incarcerating them upon arrival and because of their awareness that employers discriminate against them in what is already a difficult labor market. The deportees focus their efforts on the program's skills training and the micro-enterprise components. Of the 523 deportees processed, 140 participate in the program, of which 100 are currently in the skills training and micro-enterprise components. With more participants, costs are increasing, which in turn heightens IOM's urgency to secure additional funds for the program. End summary. ¶2. Because IOM is on the tarmac to meet every deportee flight, IOM has met 523 deportees, of which 140 (26.8%) decided to register and continue with the program, which gives them access to the program's five major services: counseling, HIV/AIDS testing, drug rehabilitation, skills training, and micro-enterprise support. IOM reported that no deportee used the HIV/AIDS testing or drug rehabilitation service; 100 are currently engaged in the skills training and micro-enterprise services; and 40 are waiting to begin skills and micro-enterprise training. Skills training focuses on vocational and professional skills. In order to participate in the micro-enterprise program, the deportees must successfully complete the appropriate skills training. The first class of 40 micro-enterprise participants drafted 12 business proposals, which received start-up financing in the $200-$2,000 range, of which 70% is a grant and 30% is a loan. The second class of 60 are currently engaged in skills/micro-enterprise training. Counseling is available to all regisered deportees as appropriate. ¶3. The greatestobstacles that IOM worked through were the government's institutional incapacity to receive deportees and its negative attitudes against them. Since the GoH did not have a receiving mechanism for deportees, half of the deportees on the first flight were able to run away from ''processing.'' The GoH's ensuing decision to incarcerate the deportees upon arrival only served to discourage them from participating in the program. The government ended the policy because with the security crackdown in Port-au-Prince, the GoH did not have space in an already overcrowded prison system. ¶4. IOM also succeeded in convincing the GoH to approve a sensitization campaign that started on May 24. To begin, IOM is airing 30 second radio spots before sport broadcasts. Next, IOM will produce a very short video encouraging Haitians to have a more positive view of deportees. Afterwards, IOM will produce and distribute flyers to reinforce the video's message. IOM will follow-up with a workshop for government institutions and NGOs. Moreover, GoH officials have agreed to do newspaper interviews encouraging Haitians to be more positive about all involuntarily repatriated citizens. ¶5. UNDP, through reprogramming made possible by USAID's funding two of UNDP's projects, provided $1 million in initial funding for the program. Since the program has guaranteed funding only until the end of June, IOM and UNDP have reached an accord in principle regarding further reprogramming. If the reprogramming negotiations are successful, UNDP may be able to support the program until December 2007. The program's funding priorities in descending order are: to cover staffing costs from August 2007 through December 2007; to cover the continuing costs of the sensitization campaign and skills training component; and to cover the costs of the entire program from January 2008 through March 2008. IOM communicated that UNDP plans to approach USAID for funds specifically to finance the program, or for funds that would allow for UNDP reprogramming. ¶6. Comment. The IOM program has been successful in getting PORT AU PR 00001018 002.2 OF 002 the GoH to accept that it must receive deportees in a humane, orderly manner and that it must support efforts to counter negative public opinion of deportees. The program is also the primary element of our effort to engage the GoH on deportees while standing firm in insisting that the GoH meet its obligations in accepting them. From this perspective, post believes that IOM's deportee program warrants continued, if not direct USG, financial support. However, before such support is offered, the USG should request that IOM provide a monthly or quarterly financial accounting of the program. Guy Alexandre and Fritz Dorziair, who run the program, indicated that Maureen Achieng, IOM's Chief of Mission, would be willing to provide detailed financial information upon request. SANDERSON