Building a More Resilient Haitian State

by Crane, Keith; Dobbins, James; Miller, Laurel E.; Ries, Charles P.; Chivvis, Christopher S.

• ISBN13: 9780833050434
• ISBN10: 0833050435
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-10-16
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

Hope for a prosperous and peaceful future for Haiti lies in building a more effective, resilient state. This report identifies the main challenges to more capable governance, evaluates existing plans for improving the delivery of public services, and proposes a realistic set of critical actions. The proposed state-building priorities merit the greatest degree of Haiti's and international donors' policy attention and financial commitment.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. iii
Figures	p. xi
Summary	p. xiii
Acknowledgments	p. xxiii
Abbreviations	p. xxv
Introduction	p. 1
Background	p. 9
Haiti's Challenges	p. 13
Economic Development	p. 13
Society	p. 15
State Administration	p. 16
Politics	p. 17
Consequences of the Earthquake	p. 19
Haiti and Donors	p. 20
Governance and Public Administration	p. 27
The Challenges	p. 28
Long-Standing Challenges	p. 28
Consequences of the Earthquake	p. 33
Appraisal of Plans and Initiatives for Addressing the Challenges	p. 34
Plans and Initiatives Before the Earthquake	p. 34
Revised Plans	p. 36
Recommendations	p. 39
Determine the Applicable Postearthquake Reform Plan	p. 39
Prioritize and Rationalize the Framework Program	p. 39
Focus Attention and Resources on Civil Service Reform	p. 40
Initiate Practical Steps Toward Decentralization and Deconcentration	p. 40
Offer Support to Parliament and Political Parties	p. 41
Keep Constitutional Reform Modest for Now	p. 41
Employ Donor Leverage to Secure Key Reforms	p. 42
Justice	p. 43
The Challenges	p. 43
Long-Standing Challenges	p. 44
Consequences of the Earthquake	p. 47
Appraisal of Plans and Initiatives for Addressing the Challenges	p. 48
Plans and Initiatives Before the Earthquake	p. 48
Revised Plans	p. 51
Recommendations	p. 52
Devote Greater Attention to Justice Reform	p. 53
Create a Mechanism for Resolving Real and Other Property Disputes Stemming from the Earthquake	p. 53
Establish a Special Ad Hoc Panel for Detainee Review	p. 54
Expand Prison Capacity	p. 55
Build an Information-Management System	p. 55
Security	p. 57
The Challenges	p. 57
Long-Standing Challenges	p. 57
Consequences of the Earthquake	p. 59
Appraisal of Plans and Initiatives for Addressing the Challenges	p. 59
Plans and Initiatives Before the Earthquake	p. 59
Revised Plans	p. 66
Recommendations	p. 68
Build on the 2006 Reform Plan and Adapt It to the Postearthquake Situation	p. 69
Support Building Basic Administrative Structures	p. 70
Create Institutionalized Links Between Police and Justice	p. 70
Focus on a Police Force That the Haitians Need and Can Afford	p. 71
Economic Policy	p. 73
The Challenges	p. 73
Impoverishment	p. 73
Inflation	p. 74
Poor Business Environment	p. 74
Appraisal of Plans and Policies for Addressing the Challenges	p. 75
Monetary Policy	p. 75
Exchange-Rate Policy	p. 76
Fiscal Policy	p. 78
Financial-Sector Policies	p. 82
Policies to Improve the Business Environment	p. 83
Recommendations	p. 84
Assess Whether to Replace the Gourde with the U.S. Dollar	p. 84
Streamline the Tax System	p. 85
Improve the Environment for Business	p. 86
Housing and Infrastructure	p. 87
The Challenges	p. 87
Housing	p. 88
Roads	p. 89
Seaports and Airports	p. 90
Electricity	p. 90
Water and Sewage	p. 91
Appraisal of Plans and Initiatives for Addressing the Challenges	p. 92
Housing	p. 92
Roads	p. 93
Seaports and Airports	p. 95
Electricity	p. 96
Water and Sewage	p. 97
Recommendations	p. 98
Take Immediate Steps to Accelerate the Removal of Rubble	p. 98
Focus on Repairing and Maintaining Existing Roads	p. 99
Remove Remaining Restrictions on the Operations of Private Container Ports	p. 99
Immediately Move to Raise Electric-Power Tariffs to Full Cost-Recovery Levels	p. 99
Education	p. 101
The Challenges	p. 101
Long-Standing Challenges	p. 101
Consequences of the Earthquake	p. 105
Appraisal of Plans and Initiatives for Addressing the Challenges	p. 107
Plans and Initiatives Before the Earthquake	p. 107
Revised Plans	p. 109
Recommendations	p. 113
Strengthen Government Oversight	p. 114
Expand Access	p. 115
Improve Quality	p. 117
Health	p. 121
The Challenges	p. 121
Long-Standing Challenges	p. 121
Consequences of the Earthquake	p. 125
Appraisal of Plans and Initiatives for Addressing the Challenges	p. 127
Plans and Initiatives Before the Earthquake	p. 127
Revised Plans	p. 129
Recommendations	p. 132
Focus on Strengthening Policymaking, Planning, Regulation, and Oversight	p. 132
Establish Performance-Based Contracting Mechanism for Provision of Services	p. 133
Reorganize Decentralized Health-Care Operations	p. 135
Build Human-Resource Capacity	p. 136
Examine Health-Care Financing Options	p. 137
Donor Cooperation and Building the Haitian State	p. 139
The Challenges	p. 141
Appraisal of Donor Cooperation with Haitian State Institutions	p. 146
Recommendations	p. 149
Make the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission an Effective Decisionmaking Body	p. 149
Strongly Support the Multidonor Trust Fund	p. 151
Encourage Nongovernmental Organizations to Support State-Building	p. 152
Facilitate Community Involvement and Information Flow	p. 152
Appoint a Senior Coordinator for U.S. Policy and Assistance Programs	p. 153
Exercise Donor Leverage	p. 154
Conclusion	p. 157
Strategic Framework	p. 158
Priorities	p. 158
Political Prerequisites	p. 162
Bibliography	p. 165
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