Se Grès Kochon ki Kwit Kochon: Dismissing Top-Down Development Aid and Haiti Fatigue
“By joining forces and strengthening the mechanisms to support locally driven development in Haiti, we can put an end to the era of large, centralized, top-down aid projects created in places like Washington D.C., New York, or Miami by individuals far removed from Haiti.”
Haiti’s ongoing perils feed into disaster capitalism. The 7.1 magnitude 2010 earthquake that struck near Haiti’s capital and killed more than 300,000 and displaced 1.5 million, is still regarded as one of the world’s worst natural disasters in modern times. In what was a leaked confidential communication in February 2010 from the U.S. Ambassador in Haiti, “THE GOLD RUSH [WAS] ON!” when referring to the business opportunity that came with such a devastating event to the Haitian people.
Of the estimated 13.5 billion in donations and pledges for Haiti, almost all of it funneled back into the hands of US infrastructure and private US corporations, while Haitian-led NGOs and businesses were largely excluded from the pool of funds (received only $0.8 million). This is in sharp contrast to the form of development aid currently being distributed at the Massacre River, where organizations such as P4H Global are channeling critical funds directly to the Haitian people as they work on key water infrastructure. As an expert in community development in Haiti, I must make it clear that Haitians in Haiti, when supported by self-less and reputable local leaders, are fully capable of identifying development priorities in their communities and mobilizing their available resources to address them.
Since 2010, humanitarian shocks have not subsided. Deadly earthquakes, armed violence and displacement, and hunger still dominate the country’s landscape, entrapping the nation in the status quo— that Haiti is doomed to be permanently dependent on foreign aid. Now at this critical juncture in Haiti’s history, the deployment of yet another foreign intervention in Haiti, we (Haitians, Haitian descendants) must ask ourselves, moving forward, what would development look like if it were led by, and for, the people that have nowhere else to go? While the country’s governance and security issues absolutely demand some form of immediate assistance (read a recent publication), we must not overlook the importance of investments in the country’s core sectors like its economy, healthcare services, and food systems. Until these areas of Haiti’s development are radically transformed, various shocks (e.g., armed violence, climate, natural disasters, global market trends) will bring the country back to this dependency on foreign-led aid intervention.
@Bertrhude on Instagram
By now, almost everyone knows about the construction of the canal in the town of Ouanaminthe at the Haitian-Dominican border. This event, happening at the peak of Haiti’s ongoing crisis, carries with it several key insights into what Haitian-led development in and for Haiti could look like when external interests do not dominate it: First, is the potential of trusted organizations with transparent operations to channel funnel funds directly to Haitian-led solutions. Dr. Bertrhude Albert, Ph.D., through her non-profit organization P4H Global, has been a key advocate in this construction, mobilizing over $100,000 in just two weeks. For reference, this is two-thirds of a typical small-scale agricultural development organization’s annual budget in the Artibonite. These contributions have purchased workers’ meals, construction materials, and supported salaries of over 180 volunteers.
Video: Haiti canal construction: Dominican Republic closes borders in response. Source: Al Jazeera News
The second key observation stemming from the canal construction is the significant financial influence of the Haitian community when local projects gain visibility and are driven by self-determination and a shared aspiration to transform Haiti's aid-dependent image. On October 15, 2023, another unexpected and successful mechanism for funding this project also transpired. Raising over $30,000 in one night, the critically acclaimed Haitian band, Zafèm, in partnership with Haitian Diaspora United For Haiti (HDUH) held a fundraising event in New York City in support of the canal, illustrating the role that Haiti’s public figures around the world can have in the country's future.
Zafèm performing in New York City 10.15.23
Photo: Odeson Honorat
Third and last of these observations is the recognition that initially, the construction of the canal was purely based on Haitians themselves identifying a problem, establishing a need, defining a solution, and mobilizing their own tangible and intangible resources to execute their plan— all without any external top-down aid. This was not a handout. This was a clear demonstration of community-led development backed by local expertise. Despite the crisis that has kept many away from Haiti, Haitians around the globe have been unified under this powerful moment in history.
Respectfully— in my opinion, I believe Haitians in Haiti, within their capacity, already know what they deserve to live better lives. And, if they do not already, they at least have the critical resources (labor groups, strong social ties, soil, seeds, determination, etc.) to support the learning of new ways to live better lives. Throughout the past five years of ongoing conflict (2018-2023), devolving ownership to locals and grassroots organizations has been associated with continued impact in Haiti during moments of disaster and conflict (Blaise et. al. forthcoming). I urge high-level managers and practitioners to reflect on the practicality of their approaches and consider investing in existing bottom-up projects, rather than re-inventing the wheel with new ambitious projects that are unlikely to withstand the challenging socio-political conditions in Haiti. By joining forces and strengthening the mechanisms to support locally driven development in Haiti, we can put an end to the era of large, centralized, top-down aid projects created in places like Washington D.C., New York, or Miami by individuals far removed from Haiti.
I end this comment by saying: Se grès kochon ki kwit kochon an (translation- it is the pig’s fat that cooks the pig). This is a Haitian proverb that is about being able to support yourself without help from other people. While I do not make any claim that external aid is not needed— in fact, I believe it is owed to Haiti— what I suggest is the redefining of what development aid looks like in Haiti. It is evident that existing “business as usual” reactive aid has not gotten the country and its people far. Radical development is necessary. This should include critical public-private partnerships between the Government of Haiti and the private sector that can address basic human services while simultaneously building the nation’s economy. And while some actors might suffer from “Haiti fatigue”, this is not the case for the millions of Haitians who, despite the series of events that continue to play out, continue to adapt to their problems.
Haiti Policy House is not-for-profit institution focusing on Haitian public policy issues. Its research is nonpartisan. Haiti Policy House does not take specific policy positions. Accordingly, all views, positions, and conclusions expressed in this publication should be understood to be solely those of the author(s).
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