Entretien avec Anthony Dessources, Directeur du PPI-II, Haiti

Q- Comment avez-vous vécu le tremblement de terre?

Comme tous les haïtiens, c’était pour la première fois. J’étais devant une église dans ma voiture. La voiture a commence a bouger. Les gens ont commence a courir et crier. J’étais avec ma femme. Ca dépassait toute notre imagination.

Quand j’ai réalisé ce qui se passait, j’ai réalisé l’ampleur des dégâts quand je me suis déplacé. J’ai vu de gros bâtiments écroulés. Il y a eu trois secousses en tout. Ma maison a été fissurée. C’était la panique totale. Il y avait encore beaucoup de jeunes dans les écoles. La majorité des victimes sont des jeunes. Je n’ai pas eu de pertes dans ma famille mais nous avons perdu de grands amis.
L’état a perdu des symboles comme le palais de justice et le ministère de la justice, les impôts, etc.

En Haïti, on gère bien le passage des cyclones, mais pas des séismes qui ne sont pas communs.

Q- Quelle est la situation des populations rurales dans les zones couvertes par votre projet ?

Dans les zones d’intervention du projet, il n’y a pas d’effet direct. Cependant, les mouvements de population vers les trois zones couvertes par le projet.

Q- Quelle est la situation de votre projet?

Le projet est opérationnel, mais le problème est que le bâtiment de l’unité de coordination a subi des dommages assez importants et ne peut plus être utilisé. Mais les équipements sont fonctionnels. Il n’y aura pas de gros investissements pour les équipements.

J’ai réuni mon équipe pour réfléchir aux solutions. Les bureaux sont branchés sur internet. J’ai commencé à travailler avec les bureaux de province. Nous sommes en mesure de mettre en œuvre le PTBA.

Q- Selon vous, quels types de programmes le FIDA devrait mettre en œuvre , particulièrement en faveur des femmes et des jeunes ?

Il faut aider davantage des groupements de femmes, faciliter l’accès au microcrédit avec des dons ou à travers les projets en cours. Aider les jeunes à devenir des prestataires de service.

Q- Quelles leçons tirées de cette catastrophe?

Ce drame nous interpelle sur la façon dont nous avons gérer notre espace. Nous n’avons pas respecté pas les normes en matière de construction. Il faut respecter la nature. Nous devons faire les choses autrement.

Testimonies from Haiti

The Minister of Agriculture

The earthquake had impact on: - Indirectly touched sectors – Availability and needs for food - Areas of consumption/supply. This implies coordination between the actions in progress and a good assessment of needs. IFAD is an essential partner in the agricultural sector to consolidate the assets, to meet the short-term needs. Approximately 1.5 million people left the urban areas: return to the areas to join families - or not - and they will be then in competition with the already established people.

Actions will be taken to reinforce the capacity of integration to develop employment (a joint and concerted action of the government is necessary) – A programme has been worked out by the Government with FAO & IICA for 600 million US$ over 18 months. The farming season of March produces approximately 60% of consumption: we are thus at a key stage of food security in the country. Another medium-term programme (5 years) will be elaborated.

Anthony Dessources - Director PPI-II

150.000 died, 50.000 wounded, almost 1.000.000 of moved. There is no direct impact on the rural sector. Only the migration will have effects on the number of people per household, between 3 and 5 people moreover, which will thus pass from 5 to 10 people). The emergency will last 3 to 6 months. But of medium and long term actions are necessary to preserve the structure of the rural areas and the capacity to produce of agriculture. Some evaluations are still missing but between 20 and 25.000 persons moved in the western northern zone.

Jean-Marie Bisserette CEHPAPE
The Communes of Gressier (District of Port-au-Prince), of Léogane, Small-Goâve and Large Goâve (District of Léogane) located in the Department of the West were seriously touched. The indicators of the OCHA show that these above communes were seriously affected by the seism.
Before the earthquake, 10 irrigated perimeters adding up a surface of 3352 ha, used by 7344 (users) families whose majority of them are organized in producers’ association. Irrigated perimeters contribute to ensure food security for these local populations and the populations of the metropolitan zone of Port-au-Prince.

Following the passage of the seism, farming systems of these rural areas were completely destroyed. Besides the assessments of thousands of dead and the collapse of good number of buildings, it is necessary to also note: the destruction of the natural habitats, the damage of the irrigation systems, the destruction of the rural roads and of the drinking water adduction. This catastrophic situation has very serious humane consequences. Moreover, the strong migrations of populations of the metropolitan zone of Port-au-Prince towards the neighbouring rural communes (an increase of approximately 20% of the local populations) worsen the situation of food safety already very precarious on the level of these zones.

Meeting to prepare IFAD Response to the Crisis in Haiti

DAY 1 – 28 January

The workshop was opened by Ms Josefina Stubbs, Director of the Latin America and the Caribbean Division. Josefina Stubbs extends condolences of IFAD over earthquake in Haiti. She provided a comprehensive overview of the objectives and background to the workshop. PL Director highlighted the immediate response of IFAD to the crisis that focused on facilitating the resumption of agricultural activities as a means of restoring the livelihoods of thousands of communities that are dependent on agriculture. The main challenges for the workshop were to identify interventions and strategies for the long-term reconstruction of the agricultural sector. In order to achieve this will require an integrated and participatory approach. She welcomed the FAO residents for Haiti and Santo Domingo and other FAO staff as well as representatives from a national NGO from Haiti and IICA, a regional organization at the workshop. This is indeed not only a reflection of the importance of partnership as efforts are being channelled to start the rehabilitation of the agricultural sector.

Attendees were also invited to introduce themselves. The remainder of the day was comprised of formal presentations on the situation from each of the IFAD-funded projects, by representatives of FAO and non-government organizations.

COUNTRY OVERVIEW - Experience sharing and testimonies on impact on rural areas

Representatives of the IFAD-funded projects staff, along with NGOs, FAO and IFAD staff, reported on the progress to date with respect to the situation of the agricultural sector.

The disaster made a serious impact on agricultural related livelihoods, including both on-farm and off-farm activities. It destroyed not only physical facilities (i.e. agriculture tools and equipment, irrigation systems, houses and buildings), but also natural resource capacities.

Analysis of preliminary existing information on post-earthquake situation in rural areas based on first-hand information from IFAD-funded project staff in Haiti shows that:
i) The major impact of the earthquake for the agriculture sector is the massive migration of population from the capital city to the rural areas which magnitude is still to be confirmed. The Ministry of Agriculture estimates the number of people leaving cities for rural areas could reach more that 1 million. Migration is putting further pressure on rural households in terms of availability of food and access to basic services and socio-economic stability in areas already

grappling with meagre resources;
ii) Assessment of physical damages in the rural areas is still underway. However, it is confirmed that there has been some damage to irrigation systems, productive infrastructure, roads, including main routes to agricultural markets, particularly in the Western regions (Leogane, Grand Goave, and Petit Goave, Nippes in a 100 km radius).

On mid-day, the Minister of Agriculture of Haiti visited the workshop venue to address workshop participants. The Minister confirmed the assessment made by IFAD-funded projects staff and informed that a programme has been worked out by the Government for 600 million US$ over 18 months for agricultural development.

The Minister requested the three ongoing IFAD projects to maintain all activities approved in their AWPB 2009-2010 which are still relevant trying to speed up their implementation to meet their ambitious annual targets. In addition, the Minister welcomed additional resources to

address the immediate needs in the rural areas most affected by the earthquake outside IFAD-funded projects areas. Finally, the Minister invited IFAD and FAO to reactivate the seed distribution programme which was implemented in the aftermath of the food prices crisis.

The mission has also found out that a multi Donor Need Assessment Exercise is under preparation with the aim of presenting a detailed report at the next world conference on Haiti to be held in New York in March. The IFAD participation in this exercise will be discussed in a series of bilateral meetings with donor agencies (World Bank, IADB, AECI, FAO) next week.

In summary, the impact of the earthquake has been exacerbated by the huge migration to rural areas, increasing demand for food and agricultural production and concerns about food security.

Before leaving a grant financing agreement of US 5.6 miilion with the Ministry of Agriculture.

Day 2 – 29 January

On the 2nd Day of the Workshop, the participants discussed needs to support rural communities by:

- Reviewing and analyzing the current approved AWPB for 2010:
- Mapping the existing needs assessment information and identified information gaps;
- Identifying the main factors and trends that could impact the implementation of annual work plans;
- Identifying priorities areas and overall objectives for the 2010 short term and long term strategies;
- Started the development of response plans for each project and FAO.

In conclusion, the food security needs of earthquake-affected rural areas households will require, according to participants and based on previous experience, an immediate combination of food assistance, rapid agricultural input supplies (seeds, fertiliser, tools, poultry and small ruminants etc.) and a rehabilitation of production infrastructure, such as on-farm irrigation, storage facilities.

Workshop participants suggested that IFAD response should focus th e following:
Rehabilitation of agricultural infrastructure such as irrigation systems in time for the March 2010 planting season and the re-establishment of agricultural markets to ensure the short and long term goal for food security.
· Research, development and information sharing - documentation and data collection of the impact on and recovery of affected agriculture areas and ecosystems.
· Development of income generating activities, micro-credit schemes and community empowerment with a focus on agricultural livelihood activities.
· Distribution of seed and planting materials; crop diversification that includes or incorporates cash cropping options; livestock; and improved agricultural practices.

IFAD Response to the Crisis in Haiti

This was my first trip to Latin America. The first impression I had during my breakfast is the number of UN staff, NGOs, rescue and humanitarian teams in Santo Domingo.

After the breakfast, we made arrangement with the hotel for the workshop. Our colleagues from Haiti have arrived. I am anxious to meet them. I missed the opportunity in November 2009 as they participated in the project implementation workshop organized by the Division of Western and Central Africa.

The workshop is a unique opportunity to listen to IFAD-funded project staff and share their concerns. They provided us with testimonies and useful and painful information on the situation. Despite the pain, they are strong and speak with calm and dignity. They are eager to share information so that we can collectively assess initial findings related to rehabilitation needs and opportunities, share plans and proposals for future rehabilitation work, and develop mechanisms for collaboration and joint activities. You can read the testimonies I collected in the next blog.

The tragedy of the earthquake in Haiti is beyond what many of us can even fully imagine. We have see shots of the seism, and humanitarian efforts to get food, water and shelter to people. But listening to people stories is shaken.

Fortunately, the situation in Haiti is improving. This was good news and for which we are grateful. As Haiti begins to rebuild, the development process must be driven by values and processes that ensure real sustainability. According to our colleagues, the work of empowering communities must start and this includes building lasting food security, rehabilitating agricultural infrastructure and development of income generating activities, micro-credit schemes and community empowerment with a focus on agricultural livelihood activities.

IFAD Response to the Crisis in Haiti

In the aftermath of the devastating 7.0 earthquake in Port-au-Prince, a team of IFAD staff led by Josefina Stubbs PL Director arrived in Santo Domingo Haiti to assess impacts on the agricultural sector and damage to infrastructure in the earthquake zone. The team comprised Marco Camagni, CPM, Audrey Nepveu, PT, Maija Peltola, APO, Jean-Jacques Gariglio, senior consultant, Jorge Pina, Infrastructure Specialist and Zoumana Bamba, PA.

The objective of the mission is to start the implementation of the Response Plan. The focus of the mission work will be:
(i) the analysis of existing information on post-earthquake situation in rural areas;
(ii) close coordination with other development partners, including UN agencies, IFIs, bilateral agencies and international and national NGOs;
(iii) design of up to two small grants to finance projects aimed at helping small farmers to restore agricultural production and economic activity.

For this purpose, the mission is working in the Dominican Republic from 27 January to 5 February 2010, where a workshop with GOH representatives, IFAD country team, and development partners, including the WB, FAO, WFP, UNDP, and NGOs will be organized. The mission will also meet in the border area with Haiti with representatives of MARNDR and MEF, the IFAD country team and development partners and NGOs.

That is to introduce you to the purpose of the mission. Tomorrow I will give you more information with photographs on the meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, IFAD-funded project staff in Haiti and development partners.