U.S. ASSISTANCE TO HAITI - FY 2005

•  In July 2004, the United States pledged to invest $232 million to support the Interim Government of Haiti. Over the past year, the U.S. Government has substantially increased its assistance to nearly double the total amount obligated; now committing $407 million to Haiti for 2004-2005.

•  Economic Infrastructure: Providing short and longer-term job creation and economic growth opportunities through the building up of rural infrastructure and agriculture; short-term urban job programs; increased micro-finance and micro-credit lending; support for essential services (electricity and sanitation); and stimulating Haiti 's unique artistic and crafts sector.

•  Ministerial Assistance: Aiding government ministries and agencies by making available technical assistance to the Ministry of Finance to assist with creating an anti-corruption unit; rehabilitation of the Ministry of Justice and Port-au-Prince port facilities; training for staff, and providing of commodities and office equipment for several ministries and agencies.

•  Education: Expanding programs to support rehabilitating schools, provide back to school assistance to students, and assist the Haitian school system in preparations for the 2005/2006 school year.

•  Democracy and Governance: Supporting democracy through election support, political party development, judicial reform and training, and media strengthening.

•  Public Health: Building on existing programs in women's and children's health, HIV/AIDS counseling and treatment ( Haiti is one of 14 countries receiving funding under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR); and existing public health endeavors.

•  Disaster Recover: Continuing flood recovery efforts in Gonaïves and surrounding areas to repair roads and homes, rehabilitate water pumping and irrigation systems, and restore affected livelihoods through seed and animal allotments, micro-finance initiatives, and procured commodities.

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($ in millions)

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Following civil disturbances and a change in political leadership in February and March 2004, the U.S. Government (USG) developed a response and reconstruction program of $178 million in FY 2004 to address the immediate needs of the transitional Haitian government and the Haitian population. Out of this amount, USAID provided approximately $143.5 million for the following programs: economic growth and employment generation, institutional support for the Interim Government of Haiti (IGOH), expansion of health, humanitarian, and educational services; and strengthening democratic institutions. A USG contribution of $229.3 million is projected for FY 2005, of which USAID will manage approximately $192 million.

Economic Growth and Employment Generation: USAID expanded existing economic growth programs and began several new activities to generate short-term employment. Examples include improving the Port-au-Prince landfill so that it can accept the city's garbage; opening drains and clearing canals; and community improvement projects, which both create jobs and strengthen community/local government partnerships. USAID has also assisted the IGOH with the provision of solid waste collection services in the capital. USAID's longer-term economic growth program works with farmers, artisans, small, micro and medium-scale enterprises to improve their productive capacity and increase employment and income. Activities improve the marketing and processing of agricultural production, and expand construction, export-oriented trade, and manufacturing activities.

Institutional Support to the IGOH: USAID's assistance supplied a total of 16.4 million gallons of fuel for electricity from May 2004 until February 2005. During this timeframe, businesses and homes in Port-au-Prince received 12-14 hours a day of electricity compared with the two to four hours that were provided prior to USAID assistance. USAID is also supporting longer-term improvements to the capital's electricity generation capacity by funding thermal unit upgrades in the amount of $2 million. Additional funds are also being provided for educational needs during the current school year, improving port security and customs services, rehabilitating key ministries, and supporting the government's anti-corruption unit.

Health: USAID has built a network of approximately 30 local service providers to deliver basic primary care and child survival services. Health programs include immunizations for children and pregnant women; respiratory infection detection and treatment; nutrition, food supplementation, and growth monitoring; family planning (natural and artificial); maternal health care; prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS (including mother-to-child transmission prevention) and other sexually transmitted diseases; tuberculosis detection and treatment; reinforcement of policy norms and procedures; health information systems; and advocacy. Haiti is one of the targeted countries under President Bush's Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS Relief.

Humanitarian Assistance: USAID administers a large P.L. 480 Title II food program, which is critical to meeting humanitarian needs and reducing food insecurity in the economically hardest hit areas of the country. Food is distributed through maternal child health facilities to children under five, nursing and pregnant mothers, and children enrolled in primary schools. In addition to direct food distribution, the program monetizes a portion of the food commodities and uses the proceeds to finance projects in health care, primary education, agriculture, and to provide a safety net for orphans, the elderly, and physically disabled.

Education: USAID's assistance in education focuses on improving the quality of primary education through upgrading the skills of teachers and school directors, providing materials and equipment, and strengthening local organizations, schools, and parent/teacher associations. USAID's programs target the expansion and improvement of the quality of primary-level education. Programs for out-of-school youth, estimated at more than 50% of the population aged 15-20, help them obtain basic education and job skills training. To assist the IGOH with public education expenses in 2004, USAID agreed to provide $6.3 million in subsidies for 2.4 million textbooks. In 2005, USAID will provide approximately $2.5 million in textbook subsidies and $2.2 million for public school scholarships.

Democracy and Governance : USAID continues to promote democracy in Haiti by strengthening the capacity of civil society, the independent media, the judiciary, and human rights organizations. In 2004, a training program for judges and prosecutors was initiated that will work to improve the rule of law in Haiti . A hotline has been established to provide the opportunity for victims to disclose human rights abuses. Political parties are also being strengthened in preparation for national elections in 2005. Other elections activities include domestic and international elections observation.

Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) : In response to the recent political turmoil in Haiti , OTI initiated the Haiti Transition Initiative (HTI) in May 2004 with implementing partner International Organization for Migration (IOM). The program emphasizes stability-building measures in key crisis spots through the implementation of quick, visible small projects with the following objectives: restore citizen confidence and hope in the process of political development and positive change; empower citizens and the government to address priority needs in communities; and build cooperative frameworks between government activities and citizens as examples of positive change and progressive political development

Disaster Response and Emergency Food Assistance: Disaster assistance funding was disbursed throughout FY2004 (mainly February/March, May and September) to provide emergency supplies and services related to civil strife and flooding in Fonds Verrettes, Mapou, and Gonaives . Emergency food assistance was provided to the World Food Program and CARE to supplement the food aid requirements for flooding victims in the West and Southeast Departments and for the drought-affected population in the far western region of Haiti .

Tropical Storm Recovery and Reconstruction: In September 2004, Tropical Storm Jeanne impacted the northwest section of Haiti , triggering massive flash floods and ravaging the town of Gonaïves and surrounding areas. Flooding resulted in over 3,000 deaths and affected an estimated 300,000 people in the Artibonite and Northwest departments through loss of homes, schools, health posts, crops, and livelihoods. The USG immediately provided emergency assistance in the amount of $11.8 million for logistical and air support, health services, water and sanitation needs, emergency PL-480 Title II food aid, and cash-for-work clean-up activities. An expanded longer-term reconstruction recovery effort has also been put in place through a $34 million Tropical Storm Recovery Program (TSRP). Activities of the TSRP aim to restore infrastructure to pre-flood or better conditions, restore the livelihoods of people in flood-affected communities, and restore areas of farm, pasture and hillside lands to productivity, and better protect against future flooding. The TSRP will be completed in December 2005.

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