Background
Despite the catastrophic destruction unleashed by the earthquake on January 12, 2010 - Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere - undoubtedly has the potential to move beyond its troubled history and its recent tragedy to emerge a stronger and more secure nation. Its proximity to North American markets, regional stability, prosperous and politically powerful diasporas, and a relatively homogenous sociopolitical fabric provide a unique set of competitive advantages when compared to other fragile states. Strategic and well-coordinated development interventions, backed by sustained funding and the political will of the Haitian government and international community, will help the resilient Haitian people to re-embark on a road to recovery and growth. The need of the hour, however, is to create a rapid, seamless transition from emergency relief to medium and long-term reconstruction and development, focused on equitable economic growth underpinned by broad-based revitalization of the private sector.
Haiti is in the bottom of the global rankings in terms of access to business credit and protection of investors. Strategic rebuilding of Haiti needs to be accompanied by fiscal, regulatory and administrative the economy, combined with rebuilding of productive infrastructure and ensuring access to affordable credit by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). However, this growth needs to take place within a broader framework targeted at establishing a functional state characterized by good governance, political and economic decentralization, and capable of managing debt sustainability, preventing environmental degradation and providing basic services for its citizens.
CHF International (CHF) has been working in Haiti for the past fifteen years. It is currently implementing the USAID-funded KATA Program that focuses on promoting stability through job creation, infrastructure improvement, and technical assistance to the garment and urban centers. Based on its in-country experience, CHF proposes the following mid-to-long term economic development strategies for immediate implementation.