HDI EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE PLAN

PRINCIPLES FOR RESPONSE

International assistance for earthquake recovery and reconstruction is needed but must be provided in a way that is culturally sensitive and preserves dignity.  The response must respect the role of local leaders and organizations that have been their communities’ first responders and only safety net for years.  It must not sideline or marginalize them, undo their accomplishments or dissipate the trust they have painstakingly earned in their communities.  Principled disaster recovery assistance must pay careful attention to equity and inclusion.  It must also include support for capacity building and institution building.

OUR APPROACH

HDI’s response will advance these principles in the recovery and reconstruction process. HDI is a grant maker, convener and capacity builder for Haitian grassroots organizations. We will support earthquake victims by leveraging all our pillars:

Grantmaking

Approximately 75% of the funds raised will be granted to organizations in the affected areas for community recovery and reconstruction priorities.  HDI has made relief grants totaling $120,000 to our credible partners in the affected communities to empower them to help community members cope with the disaster and instill hope. These grants helped over 1000 families with cash assistance, support for tuition and school supplies, provision of construction materials, animals and seedlings, and more.

The bulk of the response resources will be devoted to making grants for longer-term recovery and reconstruction projects aimed at helping affected communities rebuild.  HDI will conduct multiple rounds of an open competitive grant process inviting Haitian-led community organizations to propose long-term recovery projects. These may include helping families rebuild their homes and helping communities rebuild infrastructure like schools, clinics, bridges and community spaces.  In addition, the predominantly farming population in this area needs help restoring agricultural assets to support their livelihoods.  The grantmaking will following our regular grant procedures – RFP, review, scoring, due diligence, grant decisions, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting.  We work closely with all our grantees to ensure projects are implemented as intended.  Transparency with the community will be ensured.

Capacity Building

With more resources and huge rebuilding responsibilities, local organizations’ need for capacity building support and accompaniment will be even greater.  In addition to HDI’s trainings and coaching in project and financial management, community planning and others, we will provide Mental Health and Disaster Risk Management Trainings/seminars to enable local leaders to help their communities deal with trauma and prepare for and mitigate the next natural hazard.  Enterprise development will be another priority.

Convening, Coordination and Advocacy

It is very important to bring together different actors’ assessments and the stakeholders in each municipality to understand the damage and design equitable plans for reconstruction.  This is difficult, so usually not done.  We will serve as a convener of local organizations and their respective local governments to advance coordination, and wherever possible advocate for equity, help resources reach communities that may be forgotten and elevate the voices of stakeholders in affected communities.

Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of donors, we have raised $1,600,000 to support communities. Mesi anpil.

Contact Liz Fischelis at elizabeth.fischelis@tbf.org to learn more.