Part of a special journal issue dedicated to strategies for societal renewal in Haiti., It's not the earthquake that kills people, it's the collapse of buildings that were poorly designed and built. This case narrative describes a building model that will work for Haiti and why it is critical to use a homeowner-driven model rather than a donor-driven one.
Part of a special journal issue dedicated to strategies for societal renewal in Haiti., The Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group is one of the few small- and medium-sized enterprise financing organizations currently operating in Haiti. It hopes to incubate independent, locally owned Haitian enterprises that can serve the needs of local communities using appropriate technology. More capital is needed in the country to help establish opportunities for future private-sector investment.
Hamburg, Germany: Institut fur Iberoamerika-Kunde (IIK), GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies/Leibniz-Institut fur Globale und Regionale Studien
Location:
African American Research Center, Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
With the intensification of economic relations between the People's Republic of China and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, Beijing's role as a development donor has expanded in the region. The transparency of the Chinese donor services are limited since the transitions between development aid, investment and trade credits and direct investments are flowing. Focal points of Chinese engagement in Latin America and the Caribbean are upgrading the infrastructure projects in the extractive and energy sectors, education and training.
83 p., Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programs have become the main social assistance interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), reaching 129 million individuals in 18 countries in 2010. Programs shared key characteristics such as the payment of cash grants and the incorporation of co-responsibilities, but varied greatly in terms of coverage, infrastructure, routines, and even objectives. In this study, we analyze the experience of six countries (Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico and Peru) and attempt to identify important lessons for countries that have recently started or that are currently considering the introduction of a CCT.
African American Research Center, Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Notes:
58 p., On January 12, 2010, a powerful earthquake struck Haiti, resulting in an estimated 230,000 deaths, including more than 16,000 Haitian government personnel, and the destruction of many ministry buildings. Congress appropriated 1.14 billion dollars in supplemental funds for reconstruction, most of which was provided to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State (State). This report addresses infrastructure construction activities, including (1) USAID and State obligations and expenditures; (2) USAID staffing; (3) USAID planning; and (4) potential sustainability challenges USAID faces.
African American Research Center, Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Notes:
55 p., Following immediate relief efforts after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Congress provided 1.14 billion dollars for reconstruction in the Supplemental Appropriations Act. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has allocated about 268 million dollars and other funding to construct a power plant and port to support the Caracol Industrial Park (CIP) in northern Haiti and permanent housing in several locations. This report examines USAID's (1) funding obligations and disbursements and State's reports to Congress on funding and progress; (2) USAID's progress in two CIP-related activities -- a power plant and port; and (3) USAID's progress in constructing permanent housing.
37 p., Discusses the evolution of housing conditions in urban areas of Latin America and the Caribbean from 1995 to 2006 based on data from household surveys done in 18 countries that comprise 95 percent of the urban population of the region. The results indicate that, on average, the proportion of urban households facing housing shortages is declining. This decline holds for households of all income levels, particularly those in the lower quintiles of the income distribution structure. The estimates made in this study indicate that in 2006 lack of infrastructure affected almost 19 million households.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development/Organisation de Cooperation et de Developpement Economiques
Location:
African American Research Center, Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Notes:
164 p., Even in the midst of a global financial crisis, Latin American and Caribbean economies find themselves in better condition than in years past. Latin America must seize this opportunity to design and implement good public policies. The greatest of the long-term objectives of Latin American states remains development: economic growth and structural change that is rapid, sustainable and inclusive. In particular, governments must reduce inequalities in income, public-service delivery and opportunities, as well as promote the diversification of economies, often concentrated on a few primary-product exports. Improved efficiency of public administration is crucial to address both the short-term and long-term dimensions of these challenges. The real change, however, will come if Latin American and Caribbean states carry out meaningful fiscal reforms, making them not only more efficient but also more effective.
