Côte Sud Initiative: Rationale
The need for increased decentralization and regional development in Haiti is widely acknowledged. The Government of Haiti has historically been highly centralized in the national capital, leaving only limited authority and investment capacity at the department level. The explosive growth of Port-au-Prince over the last generation and resultant overcrowding is a direct reflection of the limited employment, livelihood, and education opportunities elsewhere in the country. Poverty is everywhere in rural Haiti and the Departmental GDP per capita is typically half of that of Port-au-Prince.
Decentralization and regional development are fortunately now a core part of Haitian Government policy. This includes the South Department and Les Cayes in particular. The March 2010 Action Plan for National Recovery and Development of Haiti specifically calls for the creation of five regional development hubs or “poles”: Cap Haitien, St-Marc, Port-au-Prince, Les Cayes, Gonaives, and Hinche, with investment priority given to the first four zones.
On the side of the international community, decentralization and regional investment is starting to occur in accordance with government policy. Major industrial park and energy investments are planned for the Cap-Haitien-Fort Liberte region. Relatively limited investments have been made elsewhere, including in the South Department.
The specific needs and opportunities for the South Department have been well documented in the Government of Haiti Master Plan for the Southern Peninsula dated January 2011 (available upon request). This plan provides a comprehensive list of desired investments, from roads to tourism. In addition the June 2010 National Plan for Agriculture nominates the Les Cayes plain as a target region for increased investment in agriculture. In summary, the best potential sectors for development are considered to be diversified agriculture, tourism and fisheries. If sufficient and reliable electricity can be provided there is the potential for growth in the service and light manufacturing sectors. There are very large unmet needs for social services such as health, education, potable water and sanitation, and for environmental restoration.
The investment required to fully implement the two main government plans for the South Department is estimated to be several hundred million dollars. As of mid-2011, the projected available funds for the development of the South Department are unclear, but are nonetheless estimated at only a small fraction of the sum required.
In summary, regional development for the South Department is a nationally endorsed goal and its very extensive needs have been comprehensively listed in a recent government report. However, there is clearly a major funding shortfall and the Department also lacks a practical implementation plan for the development process.
