Effectiveness of NGO'S in Haiti Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Effectiveness of NGO'S in Haiti - Research Paper Example occupations (twice), brutal dictatorship, and militaries), which have contributed to the worsening of the public infrastructure and pervasive poverty within the country. 80% of the Haiti lives below the poverty line, a situation that remains aggravated by wide income inequality. It is widely approximated that NGOs operating within Haiti numbers around 3000 to as high as 10,000. Aid groups usually avail close to four-fifths of social services, and NGOs may account for close to 25% of the GDP (Schwartz 235). One of the most memorable leaders who have played a remarkable role in the country’s history is Aristide, who was ousted out of power in a coup by General Cedras Raoul in February 2004. In particular, the government is left without the capacity to fight poverty or address the country’s most harmful impacts such as education and health, entrusting most of these functions to international NGOs (Schwartz 236). Introduction Haiti is heavily aid dependent as the country ca nnot execute majority of the key functions of government inclusive of operations, and maintenance or the delivery of core public services devoid of foreign aid expertise and funding. A prominent reason for Haiti’s over-reliance on aid and the subsequent negligible impact draws from the series of corrupt, incompetent governments (Schwartz 235). Systemic corruption has been highlighted that the most prominent obstacle facing successful reconstruction and development of Haiti. This thesis analyses of the impact of NGOs effectiveness on Haiti development (economic, social, and political). I argue that the bulk of NGOs in Haiti has not been effective in discharging their mandate owing to absence of accountability and coordination (Kivland 248a). 1.2 Statement of Research Problem Most Haitians are very poor, living on less than $2 a day, a situation that has been worsened by the inability of the Haitian government to provide basic services such as health care and education (Buss 25 6). The UN approximated that international donors awarded Haiti more than $1.6 billion in relief aid since 2010 (close to $155 per Haitian) and more than $2 billion in recovery aid (close to $173 per Haitian), yet despite the massive aid, Haiti appears as if the earthquake happened less than four months ago (Johnston and Main 3). Close to half a million individuals remain homeless habited within hundreds on informal camps, and the bulk of the debris from destroyed buildings still remain on the streets, and cholera, a preventable disease is increasingly becoming an epidemic annihilating thousands and sickening hundreds. It is apparent that roughly none of the money that the public perceived was going to Haiti went directly to Haiti. The international community selected to sidestep the Haitian people, government of Haiti, and Haitian non-governmental organizations, whereby the funds were rather diverted to other governments, private entities, and international NGOs (Haggerty 25). One of the reasons given for the donors not dealing directly with NGOs rather than the government is the perception of widespread corruption in Haiti (Gurt 10). Overall, progress has been extremely low in all ways, a situation that can be attributed to ineffectiveness and lack of accountability in the channeling of donor funds and implementing projects. The question of accountability