Citizen Development Roadmaps Gain Lawmakers’ Attention in Haiti

Two years after the devastating January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the country is attempting to rebuild with the help of development proposals prepared by citizens. These efforts, known as roadmaps, or “cahiers de charges,” have been endorsed by elected officials across the country as a way to demonstrate that they are listening to citizens and have set specific goals for reconstruction and development efforts.

Haitians’ primary concerns are the economy, education and security, but many people have been unaware of government efforts to address those issues. NDI has helped connect citizens and government officials through a series of dialogues across the country that have included civil society representatives and local authorities, such as mayors, city councilors and other officials. Through these dialogues, the participants developed 10 roadmaps, one for each of Haiti’s local government jurisdictions, known as “departments.”

Prime Minister Garry Conille Cites Cahiers de Charges in Senate Address

In an address to the Haitian Senate on Oct. 13 Prime Minister Garry Conille included recommendations from the “cahiers de charges.” Examples of the citizen requests he cited included:

Infrastructure: Build an airport and port in the South department; roads in the Grand'Anse department; finish building the Miragoane-Baraderes road in the Nippes department
Tourism: Add professional tourism agents in the North department; establish tourist attractions, such as the residence of Toussaint Louverture in Ennery and the residence of Jean-Jacques Dessalines in Marchand-Dessalines in the Artibonite
Agriculture: Provide professional training and credit for rural farmers in the Northwest department; rebuild agricultural infrastructure, such as irrigation systems, in the Artibonite department and set up a training center for agricultural experts
Education: Provide additional schools and support to overcome the low local school attendance rate of only 37 percent in the Center department

These discussions opened the door for citizens to work with decision-makers to address the issues identified in the cahiers. And during 2010 legislative elections, the cahiers guided discussions during 15 debates, helping candidates understand the reconstruction and development needs in each department.

After the elections, NDI helped Haitian community groups, called Initiative Committees (ICs), follow up with members of parliament (MPs) to encourage them to act on the priorities outlined in the cahiers that they supported during the campaign.

In a statement to the Senate in October, Prime Minister Garry Conille cited specific proposals from the cahiers (see sidebar). Likewise, a group of senators and deputies went on national television to ask the new government to use the cahiers recommendations to make sure citizens’ needs are addressed.

In July, IC leaders began presenting the cahiers to legislators at public forums organized at the departmental level and have reached almost 30 MPs to date. These forums were conducted in eight departments: Artibonite, Center, Grand'Anse, Nippes North, Northeast, South and Southeast. Through these efforts, legislators discussed the recommendations with citizens, local authorities and grassroots groups. Follow-up meetings have underscored the interest and demand for continued interaction between elected officials and citizens.

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