From fiscal year 2004 to 2008 (March), MINUSTAH financed more than 500 quick impact projects (QIPs) nationwide for a total amount of more than US$ 5 million.In spite of the delays in the nation’s political process, MINUSTAH QIPs heavily targeted confidence – building towards the peace process through its infrastructural rehabilitation projects, assistance to delivery of basic public services, social mobilisation and institutional support.
To jumpstart the taking of office of the newly-elected local officials, QIPs spent USD 200,000 for the start – up kits (basic office supplies and equipment) for the 140 mayors, 10 delegations and 42 vice – delegations. The ninety-two infrastructure projects in fiscal year 2006-07 consisted of the rehabilitation of existing or the construction of new but basic municipal/delegation offices, police commissariats and court tribunals.
In the aftermath of military operations in Cité Soleil, the Mission responded to the immediate need to consolidate its gains with on ground humanitarian assistance - something which was not possible to execute earlier. Twenty-four projects amounting to more than USD200,000 have been executed in the Cité Soleil area. Most of these have been implemented by the mission’s military component.
From July 2007 to date, US$ 1.2 million was committed for 100 QIPs in line with MINUSTAH’s mandate to contribute to capacity and institution-building at all levels and to expand such support to strengthen State institutions, especially outside Port-au-Prince.
In the past calendar year alone, the Mission has positively affected the lives of a countless number of people especially in the far flung areas in the regions and precarious zones in Port-au-Prince through the: rehabilitation of six schools and provision of 250 school desks; construction (ten) and rehabilitation/electrification (ten) of municipal offices and administrative complexes; rehabilitation of two delegation offices; construction (four) and rehabilitation (two) of tribunals de paix; construction (one) and rehabilitation (24) of prisons and police stations; rehabilitation and equipping of seven community health centres; construction of three tertiary roads and one 6 metre by 2.5 metre bridge; fencing for the Olympic football field in Ganthier; repair of two Red Zone public parks, provision of furniture for five regional offices of MPCE and MENFP; 13 projects for digging wells; providing safe drinking water, repairing existing ones and constructing new public cisterns and water towers; repairing two fire trucks and one Coast Guard boat, two projects for securing and furnishing the customs offices in St.Marc and Miragoane; three village electrification projects; two income-generating projects, and; the provision of start-up office kits for 140 municipal offices, 10 delegations and 42 vice-delegations.
There were 14 trainings on public administration for local government personnel and the social mobilisation projects included a quiz bee on MINUSTAH.
The constant evolution in the scope and intensity of MINUSTAH’s mandated tasks has made QIPs and their direct and highly-visible benefit to Haitians indispensable to sustaining the local population’s confidence in MINUSTAH.
Whether directly or indirectly, these QIPs have helped the Mission to invite much more significant donor assistance such as the USD20 million from the US government. This has also created tangible signs of progress and mandate support which the GoH has openly recognised. (President’s year end review)
In anticipation of broader donor involvement towards an integrated border management, a fifth year QIPs funding of US$ 1.2 million for an estimated 75 QIPs has been requested to effect rapid improvement of security and the effectiveness of identified border sites. This includes the rehabilitation or construction of basic but functional customs offices, police commissariats/outposts, public toilets and other public installations. To foster better and transparent utilisation of revenues collected along the borders, essential capacity-building programmes will, therefore, need to be implemented for both government officials of different levels and civil society representatives, particularly in areas of local administration, budget and fiscal decentralization. Social mobilisation projects will also be in the agenda to muster public support for these border initiatives.
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