Haiti - Five Years after the Earthquake: How to Ensure Sustainable Development?

Abstract

This short report provides a personal insight into the work of public health non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Haiti, and highlights some important issues in the organisation of the NGO response. In particular, the harmful effects of disorganised NGO responses and the need to ensure sustainability to any projects put in place are explored. 

Five years after the earthquake in Haiti, donor funding has started to wane and it seems there are only a few plans to ensure the sustainability of development projects put in place since 2010. Partnering with local organisations and training local staff are some of the ways smaller organisations are addressing the issue of sustainability; larger NGOs must find similar ways to hand-over to local organisations.