Critical and creative thinking is essential to guide reconstruction.

Haiti is famous for its proverbs; most require some knowledge of the country to truly appreciate them. There is, however, one that is understood universally and instantly: "In Haiti, everything is a priority."

After the earthquake, what had already been acute challenges are now more complex and more resourcedemanding, and will require action beyond past efforts. This reality is not recognized by all. It is thus opportune and necessary to examine the situation critically and creatively.

This does not mean throwing out all that has been done in the past; rather, it means reflecting upon what has worked and what has not, and demonstrating openness toward new ideas.

In a situation as complex as that of Haiti, an ongoing appraisal of development efforts is always needed. As with last year's FOCALPoint issue on Haiti, this edition brings together a diverse group of analysts, policy-makers, practitioners and diaspora representatives to offer insight into the challenges confronting Haiti. We especially thank our contributors from the Inter-American Dialogue for their collaboration in this effort to take stock of past efforts and to look ahead.