Evaluation of UNDP Assistance to Conflict-Affected Countries
Date of Publication
1-1-2023 12:00 AM
Security Theme
Human Rights
Keywords
Human security, electoral process, violence culture, human rights
Description
The situation in Haiti is not a post-conflict situation but rather a protracted and violent 20-year long transition following the end of the predatory dictatorship of the Duvaliers. The crisis left Haiti as the poorest State in the western hemisphere with 56 percent of the population living under conditions of extreme poverty (less than US $1 a day). The crisis is as much the result of a prevailing culture of violence, widespread corruption and the criminalization of armed groups as it is of neglect by the international community. It was only in 2004, after six United Nations missions that were generally considered to be failures, that the United Nations and the international community recognized that a longterm commitment and a robust multi-dimensional Security Council mandate were required for the new United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The new United Nations Mission was also established in line with the concept of ‘integrated missions’ and the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was appointed as Deputy Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral, cumulating the functions of Resident\ Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator. During 2000-2005, UNDP had to adapt its role to the evolution of the internal situation and the nature of the United Nations presence in the country. The years 2000-2005 were marked by two distinct periods. During the first phase, which began with the controversial second election of Jean Bertrand Aristide in November 2000 the lasted till the departure of President Aristide in February 2004, UNDP operated in the absence of a Security Council or General Assembly mandated mission. UNDP’s major contribution during that period was the launching of a multi-year programme titled Programme integer de reponse (PIR) that contributed significantly to allowing a resumption of humanitarian and recovery assistance in a situation where most donors rejected direct cooperation with Government authorities. Following the withdrawal of MICAH (Mission internationale civile d’appui en Haiti) in February 2001, the Resident Coordinator became the senior-most United Nations official in the country and, as a result, played a very prominent role in the days and weeks immediately following the exile of President Aristide.
Evaluation of UNDP Assistance to Conflict-Affected Countries
The situation in Haiti is not a post-conflict situation but rather a protracted and violent 20-year long transition following the end of the predatory dictatorship of the Duvaliers. The crisis left Haiti as the poorest State in the western hemisphere with 56 percent of the population living under conditions of extreme poverty (less than US $1 a day). The crisis is as much the result of a prevailing culture of violence, widespread corruption and the criminalization of armed groups as it is of neglect by the international community. It was only in 2004, after six United Nations missions that were generally considered to be failures, that the United Nations and the international community recognized that a longterm commitment and a robust multi-dimensional Security Council mandate were required for the new United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). The new United Nations Mission was also established in line with the concept of ‘integrated missions’ and the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was appointed as Deputy Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral, cumulating the functions of Resident\ Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator. During 2000-2005, UNDP had to adapt its role to the evolution of the internal situation and the nature of the United Nations presence in the country. The years 2000-2005 were marked by two distinct periods. During the first phase, which began with the controversial second election of Jean Bertrand Aristide in November 2000 the lasted till the departure of President Aristide in February 2004, UNDP operated in the absence of a Security Council or General Assembly mandated mission. UNDP’s major contribution during that period was the launching of a multi-year programme titled Programme integer de reponse (PIR) that contributed significantly to allowing a resumption of humanitarian and recovery assistance in a situation where most donors rejected direct cooperation with Government authorities. Following the withdrawal of MICAH (Mission internationale civile d’appui en Haiti) in February 2001, the Resident Coordinator became the senior-most United Nations official in the country and, as a result, played a very prominent role in the days and weeks immediately following the exile of President Aristide.
