Together, HDI and the Coalition created a space for participatory discussions, provocative panels, and small group workshops that focused on operationalizing lessons learned by building systems and structures that put Haitian communities in control of assessing and reporting their own needs in times of crisis. We did not want to hold another workshop with the same actors, more than half of whom would fly into the South to talk about the situation. Instead, the Coalition and HDI took the time necessary to bring together local people from throughout the Grand Sud who were the first responders after the earthquakes last August, just as they were the first responders after Hurricane Matthew. Time has shown that the same local people who were the first responders were in many cases the only responders. At the opening of the program, we screened the short film “Nou Reponn Dezas - We are Disaster Responders,” produced by Konbit Jounalis Lib, featuring local organizations participating in the conference.

In an effort to strengthen existing structures for coordination, thematic discussions were based on the sectors used by Civil Protection and OCHA to form working groups during emergency response. These include health/medical, cash assistance, agriculture/livelihoods, education, shelter, and WASH. Local organizations shared the strategies they used to respond at the community level and some highlights included:

•  Dr. Jamesky Blaise from AJVPA spoke about the local solidarity from the community of Abricots, including volunteer-driven mobile clinics and distribution of local food.

• Linda Thelemaque from Hope for Haiti and Job from the Coalition both discussed multi-purpose cash grant programs using Digicel’s MonCash service, which led to a lively dialogue about the structures that exist to deliver cash support.

• Jovanie Padé from Blue Butterfly/Lakou Kajou spoke about the audio and video programs that Lakou Kajou has produced for distance learning and to support engaging students during times of crisis.

• Civil engineers with experience in the Grand Sud shared insight about earthquake and hurricane resistant construction.

Each sector presentation was followed by discussion or small workshop breakout sessions where participants were asked to think not only about needs, but also resources locally available as a key part of planning and response.

A panel led by Professor Mark Schuller explored the themes of the Pledge for New Minimum Standards for Haiti. Mark’s opening remarks focused on the lessons that should have been learned by now but haven’t yet. Professor Ilionor Louis spoke about infantilization and exclusion, two common practices in humanitarian response that may have begun with foreign actors but are starting to be adopted by Haitians as well. Nancy Sherline Saint Louis shared her research about the ways aid has been politicized in Port Salut, where politicians have used aid to win community support. This is possible in large part because local citizens, and often local governments, do not completely understand the larger humanitarian aid system that impacts them locally.

The Community Guide to Humanitarian Aid is a new resource that was developed through a community-led process in Abricots. Anthropologist Jessica Hsu presented the Guide and spoke about how it deconstructs myths about aid by providing clear information about different actors, channels for funding, and much more. After Jessica presented the Guide, activist James Beltis from Nou Pap Dòmi spoke about the importance of advocacy as part of the work to move beyond lessons learned. When people speak about their frustration with the lack of response from the Haitian government, and how it appears as though there simply is no government, Beltis reminded participants that the government does indeed exist, and that it continues to collect funds from taxes and international sources. Advocacy can be incredibly effective in raising awareness about corruption, and Beltis cited the success of the Petrochallengers movement in making Petrocaribe a household word across the entire country and beyond.

Ultimately, a new approach to disaster planning and response requires new tools that are tailored to Haitians. Patris Tardieu from Ayiti Analytics presented the new coordination tool that was developed by Haitians for Haitians: the Coalition Platform, and invited all the attendees to download the application so they could begin to share firsthand information about the needs and resources in their communities.

At the conclusion of the conference, several concrete next steps were highlighted including follow up workshops at the local level that are focused on participatory planning and preparation for disasters, as well as building local structures for coordination that connect with national structures and can leverage the international members of the Coalition in the future. Many expressed their frustration that Haiti’s Civil Protection and UN coordination actors were absent from the conference, despite repeated efforts to secure their participation. Follow up with these key stakeholders was also determined as a priority for next steps.

Job Joseph from the Coalition and Reginald Cean from HDI animate a small group discussion.

Jovanie Padé, at right, presented the multimedia educational resources available through the Lakou Kajou program.

Panelists Nancy Sherline Saint Louis, Jessica Hsu and Mark Schuller.

James Beltis from Nou Pap Dòmi and Professor Ilionor Louis.

Above: Patris Tardieu from Ayiti Analytics presented the Coalition Platform for disaster response coordination.

Below: Conference Co-Hosts Cosy Joseph from Gaskov Clergé Foundation and Linda Thelemaque from Hope for Haiti joined co-organizers Melinda Miles from the Coalition and Pierre Noel from Haiti Development Institute to close the conference.