During the month of June 2017, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), through its Civil Affairs Section, held a 3-day conference called the "Symposium of Community Based Organizations (CBOs)." This conference brought together representatives of civil society from the country's 10 departments as well as various sectors of the international community. This symposium was an opportunity for MINUSTAH to conclude two years of support work for the benefit of around a hundred CBOs scattered throughout Haiti.
Launched in 2015, this program aimed in particular to strengthen the capacity of grassroots community organizations so that they become credible actors in Haitian civil society while facilitating the creation of a space for balanced and equal dialogue between CBOs, local authorities, national and international partners, and the private sector, through a qualitative relationship. To achieve this event, several preparatory steps were taken, including a participatory diagnosis that made it possible to determine the training needs of CBOs.
"With the representation of all departments, we will be able to carry out important events in the ten departments of the country, including activities to strengthen the capacity of CBO members," said Charline Dubuisson, coordinator of the National Alternative for the Promotion of Local Development (ANPDEL).
Charline Dubuisson is one of the leading figures in the grassroots community organizations representing the central plateau. She believes her organization was fortunate to have been chosen from dozens of others to represent her community. For her, this two-year effort is invaluable and will enable CBOs to better understand their responsibilities and fully play their role. The participation of international observers, donors, and representatives of United Nations funds and programs in this forum was a decisive factor for her.
For over a decade, Haiti has seen the development of a multitude of structures whose socioeconomic impacts must be taken into account. Formed as neighborhood committees, these youth, women's, or mixed associations are grouped into collective movements in the form of associations, grassroots community organizations, or local NGOs. Also, MINUSTAH, as part of this project, has focused its support on grassroots community organizations, which, due to their fundamental role, now represent a pillar of sustainable development.
This program is part of the consolidation of the mission and aims to promote the autonomy of CBOs, which will promote a more perceptible and effective impact in their relations with state institutions including parliament, private institutions and international organizations including donors.
"Today we are closing the national symposium, which for MINUSTAH represents the end of the civil society support program, aimed at consolidating achievements through the establishment of an interdepartmental network of CBOs," said Anne Hadcroft, representative of the MINUSTAH Civil Affairs Section Executive Board.
Ms. Hadcroft praised the collaboration of Caritas Haiti, which implemented the first phase of the project, and the Francophone Action Group for the Environment (GAFE), which supported MINUSTAH in implementing the second phase. Funded by Quick Impact Projects, the two phases of the project and the symposium were sponsored.
The third day of work within the framework of the symposium of grassroots community organizations was marked by an atmosphere that was at times good-natured and at times measured. The audience, which acted as a unified group, was in fact made up of about sixty people, 50% of whom were women, belonging to different structures, who had and still have different aspirations.
"In Civil Affairs, we've done a lot of work in the area of conflict management. We don't claim total satisfaction with this work. But within the framework of this symposium, our greatest pride is having brought more than a hundred CBOs together to work towards a common goal. And, look at them... they get along wonderfully," notes Jean Bayard Bien-Aimé, with a hint of emotion in his voice. This success is also due to the fact that the program wasn't parachuted in. "Rather, the program is the result of collaborative work between MINUSTAH and the CBOs," he emphasized.
"And this work is highly appreciated by the representatives of each department: West, Bas-Artibonite, Plateau Central, South-East, Grande Anse, South, Nippes, North-East, North, North-West and Haut-Artibonite.
Esther Dalebrun, the representative of the National Collective of Hattian Technicians for Change (CONTAHC) in Cité Soleil, admits that in her community, many international and local NGOs have intervened in the city with the sole aim of improving the living conditions of the population. However, their impact is not obvious.
He attributes this lack of effectiveness to the lack of structure and coordination among grassroots community organizations, each of which operates independently. Furthermore, the fact that they are not structured weakens them as a civil society. The aim of this symposium was to strengthen this branch of civil society, namely grassroots community organizations.
Written by : Marie Yolette B. Daniel
Photos : Marie Yolette B. Daniel - UN/MINUSTAH
