The Haiti Recovery Initiative (HRI) is a program implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to support economic growth and stability in Haiti. The program was initiated in January 2010 as part of the post-earthquake response and was continued under a new contract in March 2011. The HRI program focuses on four areas, or “pillars,” which are infrastructure and energy, food and economic security, health and other basic services, and governance and the rule of law.
The program is implemented through grants, short-term technical assistance, and procurement, with a focus on supporting local governments and community-based organizations in the development corridors. HRI’s work is not sector-specific, but rather responsive to emerging issues relevant to Haiti’s economic growth and stability. The program’s objectives are to catalyze economic growth through investments in agriculture, energy, and infrastructure, and to ensure long-term stability through investments in public institutions.
HRI’s program operations are managed by a team of approximately 113 staff members, with 95 of them being either Haitian or from the Diaspora, making the program 84 percent Haitian-staffed. The program has offices in Port-au-Prince, Saint Marc, and Cap Haitian, with the Port-au-Prince office having moved to a new location to accommodate a growing staff.
The country situation in Haiti remained relatively stable over the past year, with a sustained and colossal humanitarian operation in response to the earthquake and the cholera epidemic yielding remarkable results. Almost one million people had left IDP camps as of January 2012, and 50 percent of the debris generated by the collapse of 70,000 buildings had been removed. Transitional shelters had been provided to 420,000 people, and schools and hospitals had been rebuilt.
The political situation in Haiti was marked by the election of President Michel Joseph Martelly, who took office on May 14, 2011, and the ratification of Prime Minister Gary Conille, who resigned on February 24, 2012, due to a tumultuous relationship with the President. The HRI program continued to support all branches of government by providing technical assistance to key ministries and municipalities, despite the tense political environment.
The health crisis in Haiti was marked by the cholera epidemic, which has so far killed 7,000 people. Health partners have scaled up human and material capacities to support the Ministry of Public Health and Population, resulting in a steady decrease in fatality rates from 2.4 percent in November 2010 to 1.3 percent as of October 2011. Continued containment is still required to curb the cholera epidemic.
HRI’s work in Haiti is focused on enabling the Government of Haiti to function, community stabilization, and supporting dialogue on relief and recovery. The program is providing technical assistance to key ministries and municipalities, and is working to build the capacity of the Government of Haiti to govern effectively in key sectors. The program’s efforts are aimed at promoting economic growth and stability throughout Haiti, and at ensuring long-term stability through investments in public institutions.