Contribute to Long-Term Rebuilding in Haiti

   Since the earthquake of 2012 the Lambi Fund has been focused in rebuilding for long term impact in communities in rural areas with minimal infrastructure and inadequate planning.  The lack of integrated multi sectorial plans to address the needs of the remote communities with which we are working in partnership is relatively non existent. It has been both a learning experience, and a challenge to obtain sustainability and achieve capacity building in meaningful and continuous success.  We have encountered barriers and conditions that require constant attention and flexibility to improve skills and local capacity so as to make a difference.

A.  Climate changes shift best practices and forces redefinition of strategies

      There was a time not less than 10 years ago that we could predict harvest timing and relatively plan a year of agricultural production among hard working rural farmers.  The shifts in timing and unexpected weather patterns have altered these strategies and made best practices unreliable.  In many ways we are redefining the methodologies and creating other options to assure production. Yet the lack of national resources and support makes it a challenge to make ajustments.  Compounding the problem is the state of the environment in Haiti.  As we progress in reforestation, we can have a visual in many of the communities touched; yet a national plan is still the intensifying factor that can help the wave of the climactic shifts occuring today.  We remain hopeful because these communities constantly are opting to work together, identify a critical issue and present a strategy that Lambi Fund supports in partnership to resolve the identified issue.

B.  Migration Patterns

      The migration from rural areas to some of the coastal cities and the capital is a threat to agriculturally relevant activities because it adds to a lack of food security.  Primary and secondary migration adds to woeful neglect of the agricultural sector in the rural areas resulting in the greatest barrier to long term rebuilding efforts. There needs to be more actionable projects to combat this detrimental issue that may lead to less food production and more expensive imports in the near future.  A cultural and dialogue shift from "priority in word" to "priority with implementation and measurable results"  must be embraced by all sector and issure a Private Public Partnership (PPP) to make a difference.

C.  Revenues and agro related production

     As previously discussed, migration and climatic change impact rural communities.  The reduction of revenue associated with family plot production is symbiotic and generates more food insecurity.  Finding alternatives (cistern for water retention) (identifyings critical geo center for sustainable communities) and supporting activities (grain storage for example) can provide new approaches to overcome the impact and support the population.  A PPP is in order to make sustainable and critical shifts in outcome.

D.  Partnership and development 

The work of partners coupled with local activities identified by local partners is critical to support economic development and its impact on communities int he rural area.  Yet the impact for urban cities cannot be ignored as rural haitian motivators say in their motivational singing  "without us, cities wont be fed" (san peyizan yo pa manje). 

As we continue to work, we acknowledge the long term support. Over these year you have remained committed in solidarity with us to find some solutions based on the experience that we share to make a difference.  Although it is a slow cumulative process, we are making a difference. Rural peasants, farmers and the Lambi Fund thank you for your faithfullness and your support.

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