As part of the Urbayiti programme funded by the European Union, CARE Haiti has been running the Vil Nou Pi Bèl project in Jérémie in the Grande Anse department (VNPB, co-financed by the EU and the French Development Agency, from May 2019 to November 2022). This project aims to increase the resilience of the city of Jérémie in relation to natural disasters and reinforce its socio-economic fabric through greater awareness of risks, the long-term rehabilitation of buildings and providing access to basic services for all. The project team also aimed to reinforce dialogue between state bodies and citizens in seven poor neighbourhoods in Jérémie.

Groupe URD is in charge of learning and lesson-sharing and has carried out several studies and evaluations since 2020. Throughout the project, our findings have been used to co-construct new operational areas and make operational adjustments in collaboration with the project team.

This year, Groupe URD visited Haiti from 1st to 15th August during which we observed the implementation of different activities:

 

The assessment of community-based organisations (CBOs).

The VNPB project was based on a community empowerment approach, with civil society organisations (CSOs) involved in small-scale urban facilities projects, the installation of solar lighting systems and the creation of income-generating activities.

CSOs working with vulnerable groups were invited to play a role in the project both in the decision-making process and the implementation of activities.

The evaluation that was carried out in February 2021 (EIMS1) highlighted that organisational support to local structures should be pursued and closely followed up to help them become autonomous. The priority areas to be dealt with were organisational competencies (project and financial management, group organisation and conflict management) as well as other key themes of the project such as environmental education and disaster risk management.

The decision was therefore made to assess the capacities of all the organisations involved in the project, including community-based organisations, disabled persons organisations, Community-based Disaster Risk Management Units, and the association of Grand Anse mayors (AMAGA).

The assessment mission, which is being carried out by INSUCO, began in July 2022. An organisational support plan will be produced, with concrete actions to be taken and the identification of focal points within the organisations who will receive training and then share the competencies that they have acquired. Unfortunately, the increased unrest in Haiti since the end of August means that the series of training courses planned for October-November 2022 may not be able to take place.

 

Launch of a technical study for the renovation of Jérémie’s former courthouse.

Following on from the operational study, ‘Renovation of historical buildings to make the city of Jérémie more resilient’, a project related to historical buildings, which was suspended due to the earthquake of 14/08/2021, is currently being implemented.

This support mission aims to draw up a technical dossier for the future renovation of Jérémie’s former courthouse. Given the technical content of such a renovation (many buildings in Jérémie were damaged by the earthquake of 14/08/21), the technical study that is currently underway will help to attract interest and funding.

The main objectives of this second historical building mission are:

  • to support the courthouse renovation project through its different stages until mid-November 2022;
  • to support advocacy and fund-raising for the planned renovation project;
  • to implement community engagement and participation activities (participatory workshops, events for the general public, capacity building, etc.);
  • to continue to provide support to local teams (Care Haiti, Jérémie municipal authority, and other local actors who are involved in the historical building sector) to organise events and activities promoting the local heritage: presentations, conferences, articles in the press, etc.

 

Filming to produce videos on the topic of civic engagement.

The objective is to make a short film of around 7 or 8 minutes and two video clips showing the potential for community engagement that is essential for poor neighbourhoods to be resilient, and the difficulties that they encounter. These videos could be used for advocacy related to civic engagement and climate change adaptation.

 

During the mission, Groupe URD took part in events to mark the end of the project, such as the inauguration of the urban facilities that had been rehabilitated. See the brochure of the activities carried out.