Development assistance in Haiti: where has the money gone?

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the level of effectiveness of the development assistance that Haiti has received since being struck by an earthquake on January 12, 2010. Despite receiving billions of dollars in development assistance, Haiti has little tangible results to show for all of the money spent. According to a 2014 report from the United Nations Special Envoy to Haiti, $6.43 billion of this aid has already been disbursed. This thesis analyzes the political and socioeconomic history of Haiti focusing on the progress and changes over the past five years since receiving the additional economic assistance and documenting the challenges facing Haiti moving forward. This thesis finds that Haiti the political and socioeconomic climate is extremely intricate and complex and progress is difficult to measure. It concludes that over half of the allocated funds have been allocated to consumable resources that do not provide any enduring benefit to the nation, but that many of the resources were spent on opportunistic NGOs without the knowledge or consent of the Haitian government. Despite historical precedence, the Haitian government needs more autonomy in determining its future if it is going to achieve enduring prosperity.