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Haiti
>> Regional Overview >> Haiti Overview Activity Data Sheet
PROGRAM: Haiti
TITLE AND NUMBER: Genuinely Inclusive Democratic Governance Attained, 521-005
PLANNED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND ACCOUNT: $8,835,000 (ESF)
PROPOSED FY 2002 OBLIGATION AND ACCOUNT: $5,700,000 (ESF)
STATUS: Continuing
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1991 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2004Summary: Haiti has reached a critical juncture in its democratic development. Donor efforts to strengthen Haiti's democratic institutions suffered a major setback as a result of the manipulation by the Government of Haiti's electoral council of the May 21, 2000 parliamentary and local government elections. These elections should have resolved the political impasse that has immobilized the country since April 1997, when an earlier electoral dispute seriously polarized Haiti's political climate. Executive branch influence over the election vote tabulation shed doubt on the validity of the entire process and, therefore, the legitimacy of the institutions to which officials were elected.
As a consequence, USAID will no longer pursue this strategic objective through Government of Haiti (GOH) institutions but will concentrate on strengthening grassroots civil society organizations (CSOs) that address elections, government/ civil society relations, and the rule of law. Civil society's growing engagement with local government and its strong advocacy for reform, including active support for negotiation to resolve the political crisis, warrant continued encouragement and assistance.
Key Results: Four key results are necessary to lay the foundation for genuinely inclusive democratic governance: 1) Civil society organizations must be better able to positively influence policies; 2) Domestic observer organizations must become better able to monitor Haitian elections to make them more credible; 3) There must be more responsive governance by elected officials, with citizens increasingly treated according to the rule of law; and 4) Viable, representative political parties must be better able to develop platforms and offer electoral alternatives.
Performance and Prospects: Past USAID support has resulted in civil society organizations surmounting formidable obstacles to gain respect for democracy in Haiti. Individual CSOs prevailed in voicing diverse opposition to the 1999 dissolution of parliament, successfully negotiating with the executive to name a Provisional Electoral Council, and mustering a large voter registration, election-day turnout, and volunteer election monitoring effort in May 2000. CSOs improved their ability to clearly articulate objectives, raise funds, take action to influence policy decisions, and follow up on policy implementation. USAID training of CSOs resulted in 22,000 volunteers participating in the first ever independent, national monitoring effort by Haitians in May 2000. Forty-five domestic observer organizations from a range of political parties registered and received USAID training in electoral observation. Nearly all published written reports containing their observations. After gross irregularities were detected in the vote tabulation, these organizations demonstrated strong independence by collectively denouncing the first round elections and refusing to observe the second. For the first time, many polling stations were relocated to public locations from the private homes of political activists.
Although the new parliament is not considered legitimate, soon it will take up legislation on decentralization, judicial reform, and the legal parameters within which NGOs may function -- elements considered crucial to the future of democratic governance in Haiti. Through organizational strengthening and improved advocacy skills, USAID will help CSOs participate in the formulation of this legislation and future GOH policies essential to inclusive democratic governance. USAID will increase modestly its investment in civil society modestly, with an emphasis on building trust between segments of society, improving citizen engagement with government, and integrating regional and national policy reforms. USAID will specifically promote the formation of coalitions and alliances among CSOs that pursue judicial reform.
For FY 2001, $8.84 million in ESF funds will be used to: support civic education programs to inform citizens of their rights and responsibilities in a democracy and help them exercise those rights ($1.56 million); support policy reforms across sectors ($4.3 million); strengthen the National Observer Commission's (CNO) interests in policy reform ($210,000); strengthen the CNO's capacity to monitor Haitian elections ($210,000); and build constituencies for judicial reform ($2.56 million).
For FY 2002, $5.7 million in ESF funds will be used to continue these same programs to: support civic education programs to inform citizens of their rights and responsibilities in a democracy and help them exercise those rights ($1.6 million); support policy reforms across sectors ($2.2 million); strengthen the National Observer Commission's (CNO) interests toward policy reforms ($200.000); strengthen the CNO's capacity to monitor Haitian elections ($300,000); and build constituencies for judicial reform ($1.4 million).
Possible Adjustments to Plans: No adjustments planned.
Other Donor Programs: USAID collaborates closely with other donors in the democracy arena, including the United Nations Development Program, Canada, France, the European Union, Japan, the Netherlands, and the Inter-American Development Bank.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: U.S. partners in this sector include the National Democratic Institute, Management Services International, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, and America's Development Foundation. Non-U.S. partners include numerous local Haitian NGOs.
Haiti: 521-005
Performance Measures:
Indicator FY97
(Actual)FY98
(Actual)FY99
(Actual)FY00
(Actual)FY00
(Plan)FY01
(Plan)FY02
(Plan)Indicator 1: Number of policy issues on which civil society organizations and national public institutions carry on an organized dialogue NA 14 44 56 20 60 65 Indicator 2: Targeted Haitian Civil Society Organizations progress in developing their capacity to advocate for policy change. NA NA 36.7 33.9 38.5 39.3 40.3 Indicator Information:
Indicator Level (S)or(IR) Unit of Measure Source Indicator Description Indicator 1: S Number of cases Project records "Organized dialogue" is defined civil society organizations and national public institutions (ministries, agencies, parliament, President, or executive or legislative commissions) meeting in situations in which both sides have been given timely notice and information about meetings and issues. Indicator 2: IR Average score of CSOs on index Independent contractor survey Measure of the capacity of civil society organizations to advocate effectively and constructively on behalf of members and the broader public. Targeted organizations are those organizations receiving assistance from USAID under various programs, not exclusively the civil society program. The maximum possible score is 84. U.S. Financing
(In thousands of dollars)
Obligations Expenditures Unliquidated Through September 30, 1999 32,418 DA 32,309 DA 109 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 52,441 ESF 41,557 ESF 10,884 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 CACEDRF 0 CACEDRF 0 CACEDRF 0 0 0 DFA 0 DFA Fiscal Year 2000 0 DA 44 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 8,281 ESF 14,807 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 CACEDRF 0 CACEDRF 0 DFA 0 DFA Through September 30, 2000 32,418 DA 32,353 DA 65 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 60,722 ESF 56,364 ESF 4,358 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 CACEDRF 0 CACEDRF 0 CACEDRF 0 DFA DFA 0 DFA Prior Year Unobligated Funds* 0 DA 0 CSD 2,000 ESF 0 SEED 0 CACEDRF 0 DFA Planned Fiscal Year 2001 NOA 0 DA 0 CSD 8,835 ESF 0 SEED 0 CACEDRF 0 DFA Total Planned Fiscal Year 2001 0 DA 0 CSD 10,835 ESF 0 SEED 0 CACEDRF 0 DFA Future Obligations Est. Total Cost Proposed Fiscal Year 2002 NOA 0 DA 0 DA 32,418 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 5,700 ESF 11,400 ESF 88,657 ESF SEED 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 CACEDRF 0 CACEDRF 0 CACEDRF 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA
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Last Updated on: May 29, 2002 |
