Haiti: Testing the Limits of Government Aid and Philanthropy

Abstract

Haiti is testing the limits of foreign aid, both public and private; it remains to be seen whether successful innovations in philanthropy and public-private partnerships stand a chance on this long-devastated island. There has been a general reinvention of foreign assistance over the last decade that is playing out in countries across the globe. New players have emerged who are testing innovative ways of spurring longterm economic growth to free individuals and nations from dependence on the inefficiencies of foreign aid. Long-time players like major nonprofits and foundations are experimenting with bottom-up, technology-driven solutions that also seek to replace dependence with sustainability. Public-private partnerships are replacing donor-driven models in foreign aid. Many of these actors are also working to involve grassroots organizations in development efforts, believing that locally designed and driven strategies have a greater chance for success. While these new approaches in Haiti promise hope for the future, without much needed good governance, this impoverished country cannot expect long-term growth and prosperity. What undergirds the new aid efforts in Haiti is the realization that private actors working with private dollars often have more flexibility to demand accountability flexibility and results than government donors have. Through its Index of Global Philanthropy and Remittances, the Center for Global Prosperity measures private financial flows from developed to developing countries. The report has shown that these flows—global philanthropy, remittances, and private capital investment—

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