Difference between revisions of "Haiti NGO Sector"
From NGO Handbook
(New page: Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) play a key role in economic, political and everyday life in Haiti. The Library of Congress reports that, 'some analysts went so far as to call the d...) |
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| + | Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) play a key role in economic, political and everyday life in Haiti. The Library of Congress reports that, 'some analysts went so far as to call the development community in Haiti a shadow government, because overseas funding contributed as much as seventy percent of spending on economic and social development and forty percent of the national budget' (Library of Congress). This article explores the history and landscape of NGOs in Haiti. | ||
| − | + | The Republic of Haiti seceded from France in the first and only successful slave rebellion in the world in 1804. Declaring itself independent of colonial power, Haiti became the earliest self-ruling black republic in history. Notwithstanding its revolutionary beginnings, Haiti has seen more than its fair share of instability and dictatorship. Haiti is presently the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and is the most corrupt nation in the world according to Transparency International. Racial divides and discrimination – a remnant of colonialism and occupation – have also contributed to social instability and economic inequality. Race still, in large part, determines social and economic power. 'One of the striking facts about the social and political history of Haiti from independence in 1804 to the present is the deep gulf separating the largely mulatto elite groups from the predominantly black masses' (Nicholls 1974). According to BBC News' country profile of Haiti, almost half of the nation's wealth rests with one percent of the francophone mulatto class (BBC News 2007). The Haitian Diaspora includes the United States, in particular, Boston, Miami and New York, where those of Haitian descent maintain links to their mother country. According to the World Bank, approximately one-fifth of Haiti's GDP in 2002 came from private transfers, primarily from the expatriate community (World Bank 2004). Foreign aid and nonprofits have become key players in the country’s economic and social development. 'Although the major multilateral and bilateral development agencies have provided the bulk of foreign funding, hundreds of nongovernmental organizations have also played a prominent role in development assistance,' (Chapin Metz 2001). <membersonly> | |
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| − | The Republic of Haiti seceded from France in the first and only successful slave rebellion in the world in 1804. Declaring itself independent of colonial power, Haiti became the earliest self-ruling black republic in history. Notwithstanding its revolutionary beginnings, Haiti has seen more than its fair share of instability and dictatorship. Haiti is presently the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and is the most corrupt nation in the world according to Transparency International. Racial divides and discrimination – a remnant of colonialism and occupation – have also contributed to social instability and economic inequality. Race still, in large part, determines social and economic power. 'One of the striking facts about the social and political history of Haiti from independence in 1804 to the present is the deep gulf separating the largely mulatto elite groups from the predominantly black masses' (Nicholls 1974). According to BBC News' country profile of Haiti, almost half of the nation's wealth rests with one percent of the francophone mulatto class (BBC News 2007). The Haitian Diaspora includes the United States, in particular, Boston, Miami and New York, where those of Haitian descent maintain links to their mother country. According to the World Bank, approximately one-fifth of Haiti's GDP in 2002 came from private transfers, primarily from the expatriate community (World Bank 2004). Foreign aid and nonprofits have become key players in the country’s economic and social development. 'Although the major multilateral and bilateral development agencies have provided the bulk of foreign funding, hundreds of nongovernmental organizations have also played a prominent role in development assistance,' (Chapin Metz 2001). | ||
===Haiti's Natural Resources and NGO Community=== | ===Haiti's Natural Resources and NGO Community=== | ||
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There is a dearth of information on Haitian NGOs. This may be because so much research is on foreign forces in Haiti and because of a lack of clear structure of NGO laws or body overseeing NGOs in the country. The Embassy of Haiti in Washington, D.C. features links to NGOs and lists only four Haitian NGOs, nine Haitian-American NGOs, and seven foreign NGOs (http://www.haiti.org). Other research states there are more than 300 NGOs in Haiti (Chapin Metz 2001; Wikipedia). More recently, the relationship between NGOs and the Haitian government has been strained because of corruption prior to the departure of Cedras, the head of the army who led the coup against Aristide. 'The NGOs not supported by Cedras were either not functioning or were operating in secret and under intense pressure from the government. NGOs which did function were forced to pay bribes,' (Benton and Ware 1998). | There is a dearth of information on Haitian NGOs. This may be because so much research is on foreign forces in Haiti and because of a lack of clear structure of NGO laws or body overseeing NGOs in the country. The Embassy of Haiti in Washington, D.C. features links to NGOs and lists only four Haitian NGOs, nine Haitian-American NGOs, and seven foreign NGOs (http://www.haiti.org). Other research states there are more than 300 NGOs in Haiti (Chapin Metz 2001; Wikipedia). More recently, the relationship between NGOs and the Haitian government has been strained because of corruption prior to the departure of Cedras, the head of the army who led the coup against Aristide. 'The NGOs not supported by Cedras were either not functioning or were operating in secret and under intense pressure from the government. NGOs which did function were forced to pay bribes,' (Benton and Ware 1998). | ||
| − | + | ===Timeline of NGO Law in Haiti=== | |
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| + | A timeline of nonprofit law in Haiti begins with the law of June 8, 1921 on the recognition of public usefulness; the law of July 23, 1934 modified by the law of September 29, 1953 on foundations; the edict of September 14, 1989 defining the implementation and functioning of NGOs. There is a draft of a new NGO law, 'the Draft Fixing the Status of Nongovernmental Organizations and Registering Their Implementation and Their Functioning in Haiti,' which was published in December 1996 by the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation (MPCE), the principle government body that oversees NGO registration and NGO Affairs, and the Union for the Control of Nongovernmental Organizations' Activities (UCAONG). It is this draft that most implicitly outlines the establishment and operation of Haitian and foreign NGOs (MPCE, UCAONG 1997). According to the French Liaison Mission of International NGOs, this draft has been drawn up by the Haitian government to regulate the NGO community in Haiti, which 'the latter find to be a fetter to their rights,' (Mission de liaison avec les organisations internationales non-governementales 1999, my translation). The desire to monitor NGOs emerged from a history of unstable government, which pushed Haitian NGOs to seek, often unregulated, aid from foreign sources. Some organizations operating for commercial benefit and corrupt purposes also became the impetus for the drafting the 1996 decree. | ||
Presently, the title of nongovernmental organization (NGO) is given by the MPCE. There are numerous methods, both official and unofficial, to obtain legal status as an NGO. A Canadian market research report details the registration of NGOs in Haiti, beginning with a special application to the Ministry of Planning in Haiti. The organization must submit a document of Legal Status of the Charitable Organization translated into French or Creole; the names, nationalities, addresses and current working status of Board Members; a letter of recommendation from two NGOs operating in Haiti or from a multilateral or bilateral organization. The City Council where the NGO will be set up must give authorization. After following these steps, if an NGO is specializing in medical services or Charity, it may also send the application to the Ministry of Public Health. Recognition by the Ministry of Public Health allows NGOs to order drugs without paying duties at customs. For this, it is necessary to submit the commercial and generic names of the drugs, along with the expiration date and manufacturer's serial number (International Market Insights 2003). | Presently, the title of nongovernmental organization (NGO) is given by the MPCE. There are numerous methods, both official and unofficial, to obtain legal status as an NGO. A Canadian market research report details the registration of NGOs in Haiti, beginning with a special application to the Ministry of Planning in Haiti. The organization must submit a document of Legal Status of the Charitable Organization translated into French or Creole; the names, nationalities, addresses and current working status of Board Members; a letter of recommendation from two NGOs operating in Haiti or from a multilateral or bilateral organization. The City Council where the NGO will be set up must give authorization. After following these steps, if an NGO is specializing in medical services or Charity, it may also send the application to the Ministry of Public Health. Recognition by the Ministry of Public Health allows NGOs to order drugs without paying duties at customs. For this, it is necessary to submit the commercial and generic names of the drugs, along with the expiration date and manufacturer's serial number (International Market Insights 2003). | ||
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The future of any NGO community also hinges on international awareness of its efforts. The international response to Haiti has been and will continue to be as important as the domestic response. A powerful factor in gaining awareness is celebrity involvement and its subsequent media attention. Most notable for Haiti is the effort of one of its sons and now a music celebrity, Wyclef Jean. His spotlight has put Haiti and its development needs in the international limelight in a positive way, rather than news reports that focus on the instability of the nation. Jean has created a nonprofit of his own called Yéle Haiti, whose goal, according to the singer and producer, 'is to restore pride and a reason to hope, and for the whole country to regain the deep spirit and strength that is part of our heritage' (Yéle Haiti 2007). Media plays a key role in all NGO communities' advocacy efforts, and radio is the most widely used medium in Haiti. Therefore, some researchers suggest that NGOs should tap into this resource and use radio as a tool for informing the public and starting dialogue between organizations (Benton and Ware 1998). Haiti relies heavily on the NGO community for development and will continue to do so in order to meet economic and social needs. 'On the social plan, the weakness of the State and its public services have essentially left the field open to NGOs in the health sectors where certain access to care is exclusively the private association sector's domain. The same goes for the education sector. The build-up of great social distress, orphans, street children, and abandoned sick people remains the quasi-exclusive domain of charitable organizations and religous congregations,' (La Mission de liaison avec les organisations internationales non-governementales 1999, my translation). With the desire for cooperation among NGOs, there is hope that Haiti can regain its spirit, as Wyclef Jean writes, « a spirit of liberation. » | The future of any NGO community also hinges on international awareness of its efforts. The international response to Haiti has been and will continue to be as important as the domestic response. A powerful factor in gaining awareness is celebrity involvement and its subsequent media attention. Most notable for Haiti is the effort of one of its sons and now a music celebrity, Wyclef Jean. His spotlight has put Haiti and its development needs in the international limelight in a positive way, rather than news reports that focus on the instability of the nation. Jean has created a nonprofit of his own called Yéle Haiti, whose goal, according to the singer and producer, 'is to restore pride and a reason to hope, and for the whole country to regain the deep spirit and strength that is part of our heritage' (Yéle Haiti 2007). Media plays a key role in all NGO communities' advocacy efforts, and radio is the most widely used medium in Haiti. Therefore, some researchers suggest that NGOs should tap into this resource and use radio as a tool for informing the public and starting dialogue between organizations (Benton and Ware 1998). Haiti relies heavily on the NGO community for development and will continue to do so in order to meet economic and social needs. 'On the social plan, the weakness of the State and its public services have essentially left the field open to NGOs in the health sectors where certain access to care is exclusively the private association sector's domain. The same goes for the education sector. The build-up of great social distress, orphans, street children, and abandoned sick people remains the quasi-exclusive domain of charitable organizations and religous congregations,' (La Mission de liaison avec les organisations internationales non-governementales 1999, my translation). With the desire for cooperation among NGOs, there is hope that Haiti can regain its spirit, as Wyclef Jean writes, « a spirit of liberation. » | ||
| − | The country boasts a unique and inspiring heritage and, as NGOs work to address the humanitarian needs and roots of environmental and economic poverty, they can move Haitians into a better future. 'The accomplishments of the nongovernmental organizations have proved that concerted efforts [can] achieve results in Haiti,' (Chapin Metz 2001). | + | The country boasts a unique and inspiring heritage and, as NGOs work to address the humanitarian needs and roots of environmental and economic poverty, they can move Haitians into a better future. 'The accomplishments of the nongovernmental organizations have proved that concerted efforts [can] achieve results in Haiti,' (Chapin Metz 2001). |
==References== | ==References== | ||
Latest revision as of 08:17, 17 July 2008
Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) play a key role in economic, political and everyday life in Haiti. The Library of Congress reports that, 'some analysts went so far as to call the development community in Haiti a shadow government, because overseas funding contributed as much as seventy percent of spending on economic and social development and forty percent of the national budget' (Library of Congress). This article explores the history and landscape of NGOs in Haiti.
The Republic of Haiti seceded from France in the first and only successful slave rebellion in the world in 1804. Declaring itself independent of colonial power, Haiti became the earliest self-ruling black republic in history. Notwithstanding its revolutionary beginnings, Haiti has seen more than its fair share of instability and dictatorship. Haiti is presently the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and is the most corrupt nation in the world according to Transparency International. Racial divides and discrimination – a remnant of colonialism and occupation – have also contributed to social instability and economic inequality. Race still, in large part, determines social and economic power. 'One of the striking facts about the social and political history of Haiti from independence in 1804 to the present is the deep gulf separating the largely mulatto elite groups from the predominantly black masses' (Nicholls 1974). According to BBC News' country profile of Haiti, almost half of the nation's wealth rests with one percent of the francophone mulatto class (BBC News 2007). The Haitian Diaspora includes the United States, in particular, Boston, Miami and New York, where those of Haitian descent maintain links to their mother country. According to the World Bank, approximately one-fifth of Haiti's GDP in 2002 came from private transfers, primarily from the expatriate community (World Bank 2004). Foreign aid and nonprofits have become key players in the country’s economic and social development. 'Although the major multilateral and bilateral development agencies have provided the bulk of foreign funding, hundreds of nongovernmental organizations have also played a prominent role in development assistance,' (Chapin Metz 2001).
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