Rapò Gwoup Konsiltatif Ad Hoc sou Ayiti a (E/2015/84)

United Nations E/2015/84 Economic and Social Council Distr.: General 30 June 2015 Original: English 15-10924 (E) 140715 *1510924* 2015 session 21 July 2014-22 July 2015 Agenda item 12 (d) Coordination, programme and other questions: long-term programme of support for Haiti Report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti Summary The present report highlights the main findings of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti following its visits to Washington, D.C., and to Haiti in April and May 2015. Five years after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the Group continues to observe progress in recovery and reconstruction, but remains concerned about the ongoing challenges being faced by Haiti, including the holding of elections and the subsequent formation of a new government and administration; the difficulties in relations with the Dominican Republic, including the deportation of Haitians; the lack of housing for the remaining internally displaced people in camps; the cholera epidemic; the response to the drawdown of the United Nations military presence in Haiti; the weakness of key institutions such as the judiciary and the police; and the decline in donor assistance. The Group welcomes the commitment of the Government of Haiti to hold elections before the end of 2015 and calls for the support of the international community to help meet the current gap in funding for their organization. Improving the functioning of the judiciary, including the corrections service and other rule of law institutions is also necessary to strengthen political and institutional stability. Reform in that sector would enhance security and social stability and contribute to development by, among other things, enhancing the confidence of local and foreign investors and the donor community. In order to improve economic performance and social development, the Group calls for the improved management of government finances as well as for more focused attention to be paid to areas with the potential to contribute to job creation. Such areas include improvements in the system of property registration that could lead to, inter alia, increased agricultural production; increased investment in tourism; and stronger partnerships with local and foreign private investors. E/2015/84 15-10924 2/16 The Group also emphasizes the importance of and necessity for a continued donor support and coordinated international engagement with the country. At the same time, the Group calls for more efficient aid coordination structures that are conducive to transparency and mutual accountability. The presence of the United Nations in Haiti must continue to be responsive to Haiti’s evolving development needs and transitional requirements, with a view to ensuring that the United Nations is in a position to deliver as one and play a leading role in mobilizing the resources necessary to support the country’s long-term development. E/2015/84 3/16 15-10924 I. Introduction 1. The present report is the eleventh submitted by the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti since its reactivation in 2004 at the request of the Government of Haiti. The Group, which is chaired by Canada, is composed of the permanent representatives of Argentina, the Bahamas, Benin, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, France, Haiti, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay to the United Nations and the representative of the United States of America to the Economic and Social Council. The President of the Economic and Social Council, currently Austria, also serves as an ex officio member of the Group. 2. By its resolution 2014/37, the Economic and Social Council extended the mandate of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti until the conclusion of the 2015 session, with the purpose of following closely and providing advice on the long-term development strategy of Haiti to promote socioeconomic recovery, reconstruction and stability, with particular attention to the need to ensure coherence and sustainability in the international support to Haiti, based on the long-term national development priorities, building upon the Strategic Plan for the Development of Haiti, and stressing the need to avoid overlap and duplication with respect to existing mechanisms. The Council requested the Group to submit a report on its activities to the Council at its 2015 session. The present report highlights the main findings of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti following its visits to Washington, D.C., and to Haiti in April and May 2015 (see annexes I and II). 3. The members of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group wish to express their profound gratitude and appreciation for the constructive and collaborative exchange held between its members and the Haitian authorities. The Group is grateful to the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the Secretariat for the constant support provided to its work; and to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti and Head of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Resident Coordinator/ Humanitarian Coordinator, the other members of the United Nations country team and representatives of the international financial institutions and the Organization of American States (OAS) for their efforts to improve aid coordination through continued interaction and commitment to knowledge- and information-sharing. II. Continuing challenges in Haiti 4. Further to its previous report in which it called for the holding of long-overdue elections (E/2014/95), the Group welcomes the promulgation of the electoral law by presidential decree in March 2015, followed by the publication of the electoral calendar, paving the way for elections later in 2015. The Group is pleased that the President of Haiti emphatically stated his commitment to ensuring that the elections are held as planned. The first round of legislative elections are scheduled to be held on 9 August 2015, followed by the second round, in addition to local and presidential elections on 25 October 2015. A run-off for the presidential elections will be held on 27 December 2015, if required. The Group believes that the inauguration of a new government and administration in 2016 must be used by all national stakeholders as an opportunity to advance and consolidate political and institutional stability, which is indispensable for sustainable development in Haiti. E/2015/84 15-10924 4/16 5. The Group calls for strong financial support for the electoral process in Haiti. The cost of the elections, which is expected to be borne by the donor community, is estimated at $74.02 million. Considering the total donor contribution of $37.28 million and further commitments of $6.72 million, there remains a funding gap of approximately $30 million, which must be met if the second and third rounds of elections are to be properly organized. If the country is to succeed in holding free, fair and credible elections, the international community must work towards helping Haiti to fill the gap. The elections are a key element in the process of establishing a climate of institutional stability and security for all of Haiti’s citizens, strengthening a conducive environment for domestic and foreign investment and contributing to the setting of conditions for sustainable development. 6. The Group is also concerned that the potential for significant numbers of deportations of Haitians, which began in mid-June at the border with the Dominican Republic, could become a possible refugee crisis. The deportations should be managed because they could pose security, health, economic and protection challenges at a time when the country is preparing for elections. Attention should also be paid to the possibility that the “stateless” persons of Haitian descent might be removed from the Dominican Republic and sent to Haiti. There is a clear need to ensure the protection of vulnerable populations, and the Group urges the management of any flow of people across the border in a way that respects international conventions and human rights law. The Group also encourages the Governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic to speedily resolve the issues between them diplomatically and to consider in the future the revision of the 1999 protocol governing repatriation and conduct of deportation between the two countries. 7. The Group remains concerned about the prevalence of cholera in Haiti. Although the number of cases has declined by 90 per cent to fewer than 30,000 in 2014 from its peak of over 350,000 cases in 2011, it will be difficult to get to zero owing to the continuing lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities for a large part of the population. The Group took note of the work of the High-Level Committee for the Elimination of Cholera, established by the Secretary-General and the Prime Minister, which coordinates United Nations efforts in support of the Government’s National Plan for the Elimination of Cholera. The Plan is designed to attack the spread of cholera at its source through the development of public health, water and sanitation infrastructure. As at December 2014, 50 per cent of the short-term plan and 18 per cent of the 10-year plan was funded. According to the United Nations Senior Coordinator for the Cholera Response in Haiti, the lack of resources has already led to the closure of 91 of the 250 treatment centres, and premature disengagement could compromise gains attained so far and lead to a resurgence of the epidemic. 8. While the Group welcomes and acknowledges that very substantial progress has been made in reducing the number of internally displaced Haitians from 1.5 million to 64,680 as at 31 March 2015, according to the World Bank and the International Organization for Migration, it continues to call for durable solutions by the Government, the United Nations system and the international community for the remaining internally displaced persons in the camps. 9. Environmental protection continues to be a major challenge, with women and poorer households being disproportionately affected, for example, by the impacts of E/2015/84 5/16 15-10924 deforestation and the need for improved management of water systems. Some positive steps have been taken to fight deforestation with tangible results. In the North, Artibonite, Grande Anse and Nippes Departments, the Government of Canada, the Global Environment Facility and the National Directorate for Water Supply and Sanitation provided training and awareness sessions on climate change to over 50,000 people, and 1,000 school children were sensitized to the concept of eco-citizenship. Under the coordination of the National Directorate for Water Supply and Sanitation, a climate change adaptation project also rehabilitates water systems in the southern and south-eastern parts of the country. Recognizing the potential for agricultural production along the Artibonite Delta, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) facilitated technical dialogue between the Ministries of Environment on both sides of the Haitian-Dominican border, with a view to identifying joint environmental protection activities. The consultations resulted in the formulation of a strategic action plan for watershed management that defines future agricultural and energy projects for the region in order to prevent conflicts over water use between the two countries. The Group calls for scaling up of similar initiatives to accelerate progress in that area. 10. The challenges come at a time when the military component of MINUSTAH is being drawn down. While the drawdown has proceeded smoothly to date, with no notable increase in the overall level of violence in the country, the Group would like to note that the capacity of the Haitian National Police may be tested during the electoral period as the Haitian authorities take on greater responsibilities for election security and logistics. There is wide recognition that the national police responded well to the challenges of controlling the demonstrations that occurred prior to announcement of the elections, indicating their improved performance and readiness; however, some questions remain regarding its capacity to carry out election security and logistics if there is large-scale election violence. In that context, careful attention should be paid to social and political tensions as the electoral process unfolds, and further measures to prevent electoral violence should be identified. 11. The judicial system remains weak despite important institutional capacity- building programmes. Haiti’s prison system remains severely overcrowded, in large part as a result of the high numbers of arbitrary arrests and prolonged pretrial detentions. Although some recent developments in the area of rule of law are encouraging, including a push to reform the country’s 179-year-old criminal law framework and an initiative to decrease prolonged pretrial detention, rule of law bodies must improve their performance, transparency, accountability and accessibility. The Government needs to enhance its capacity to promote human rights and prosecute human rights violations. A genuine national dialogue on institutional strengthening conducted in a transparent and consultative manner would contribute to confidence-building among all stakeholders. 12. A major challenge for the country will be to manage the substantial decrease in donor financing that has been notable since the peak of support in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. Having declined for the past three years, the trend is expected to continue into the future as stated by the World Bank in its 2015 overview on the Haitian economy. Unless the situation is addressed, the ability of Haiti to make capital investments, which have been increasing over the past three years, will be constrained going forward. With fewer resources, efficient and effective use of domestic and external resources will remain critical. The continued support of the E/2015/84 15-10924 6/16 international community will be indispensable and the Group is hopeful that the successful completion of the upcoming elections will lead to more active engagement by the donor community. III. Economic and social situation 13. The Group observed that, despite the challenges noted above, the overall economic and social situation in the country has continued to improve, in particular in areas related to infrastructure and access to education, health and other services and through increased economic activity and investments. Nonetheless, a variety of interlocutors pointed to a number of factors that could undermine the fragile progress, including recurrent expenditure shortfalls, weak national institutional capacity, a low level of skilled workers, continuing challenges in the provision of high quality education and health care, a shortage of qualified teachers and doctors, and general insecurity. 14. The Group is also of the view that the country’s economy would benefit from an improved management of government finances, notably the need for the creation and implementation of a single account within the Ministry of Finance to provide for greater control, transparency and accountability of all funds received and disbursed by the Government. The continuing heavy reliance on external financing and the impact of the decline in donor support, including through Petro-Caribe, will continue to have an impact on the ability of the Government to sustain economic growth. In that connection, ways and means should also be explored to leverage the inflow of remittances to the country’s economy by the diaspora. 15. Given its vulnerability to environmental shocks and without a strong foundation of human capital, a diversified economy and political and institutional stability, Haiti remains subject to economic volatility, as shown by the recent slowing of economic growth from 4.3 per cent in 2013 to 2.8 per cent in 2014, lower than the projected 3.6 per cent. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the substantial slowdown in 2014 was due mainly to delays in budget approval and adverse weather conditions that affected agricultural production. 16. Economic and social progress over the medium term, in the face of a growing demographic challenge, requires a focus on unemployment and underemployment, which remain high. The Group is encouraged by some of the efforts being made by the Government to promote investment and job creation. In 2014, several projects were launched by the Ministry of Trade, in collaboration with UNDP, including the Laboratory for Innovation and Economic Development, which provides training to young entrepreneurs; the publication of the first catalogue of traditional Haitian products, a document that identifies key agricultural products by department and potential investments; the establishment of a “provider database”, an interactive electronic library that provides real-time information for investors seeking information on business opportunities in Haiti; the launch of the “Pro-Huerta” project in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, which aims at improving the diet of urban and rural populations while building capacity and advocating local production. 17. One of the important areas for further institutional development is reform of the system of land registration. The lack of clarity with regard to ownership and land title and land use regulation is hindering the development of agricultural and E/2015/84 7/16 15-10924 tourism potential and has contributed to deforestation. Improvements in the legal framework and procedures for land registration and transfer should be a priority for the new government since it could lead to increased agricultural production, improved food security and employment opportunities for youth and women, as well as promote decentralization and enhance confidence among potential domestic and foreign investors. The international community is encouraged to support that effort by contributing to support projects and programmes, perhaps initially on a pilot basis in designated areas, and by sharing best practices. 18. The Group views the tourism sector as one with substantial potential for the Haitian economy and encourages the Government to develop the country’s tourist industry in a sustainable manner. As many as 362,980 tourists visited Haiti from January to September 2014, compared with 299,686 for the same period in 2013, representing an increase of 21.12 per cent and contributing $202,858,800 to the economy during that period. An important constraint to the development in the tourism sector is the lack of tourism infrastructure. Although some hotels were built during the past three years, the sector still needs significant investment, including from the Haitian diaspora. A major development in 2014 was the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the National Development Fund of Mexico to create a development plan for the southern coast. The Group would welcome similar initiatives that could ensure the sustainable development potential of the sector. 19. The Group also emphasizes the need for Haiti to establish partnerships and enhanced relations with the national and foreign private sector as a key strategy in job creation and the promotion of socioeconomic recovery. In order to do so, Haiti will need to do more to catalyse private investment and improve the business environment by improving legislation, access to basic infrastructure, logistics, financial services and skills. The Group urges the Government of Haiti, multilateral banks, donors and the private sector to jointly develop a framework that will address those challenges so that the private sector can be a more active participant in the development of the country and contribute to the opportunities in construction and infrastructure development, agriculture, manufacturing, finance, tourism and energy. 20. The Group also underscores the important role played by civil society organizations in the provision of basic services, which complements the efforts of the Government and has the potential to make civil society a significant partner in the socioeconomic development of the country. Civil society organizations would benefit from improved coordination efforts, led by the Government of Haiti, that would support their activities and enable the organizations to contribute to a more unified approach to the country’s development. The Group attaches particular importance to the strengthening of grass-roots and community-based organizations as part of the overall process of democratic and institutional development in Haiti contributing to the development of political, social and economic institutions that are more accessible, transparent and accountable. IV. International support to Haiti 21. Solid support by the United Nations and the international community continues to be critical in helping the Government to meet its short-term priorities and its longer-term goals of recovery and development. By its resolution 2180 (2014), the Security Council extended the mandate of MINUSTAH until 15 October 2015. The E/2015/84 15-10924 8/16 United Nations integrated structure for Haiti comprises MINUSTAH and a total of 22 development and humanitarian agencies. All of the agencies, funds and programmes, including the World Bank and IMF, work within the United Nations resident coordinator system to support the country in its development. The 2013-2016 United Nations Integrated Strategic Framework for Haiti articulates the joint strategy of MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team in support of the Government’s stability and reconstruction efforts. The Framework puts a particular emphasis on the reconstruction of Haiti, including through the implementation of socioeconomic programmes for the eradication of extreme poverty, the reconstruction and/or development of the country’s social and economic infrastructure, the creation of employment targeted at youth, institutional capacity-building, rule of law, human rights and strengthening disaster risk management. 22. The Group observed that the United Nations system continues to focus on supporting institutional capacity-building in the interest of creating an enabling environment for domestic and external investment. Particular focus has been placed on the rule of law and support for the development of a truly independent judiciary through strengthening key oversight institutions such as the Superior Council of the Judiciary. With the support of MINUSTAH, UNDP and OAS, the Superior Council of the Judiciary has agreed to develop a road map for strengthening the justice system and determining, for example, the proper distribution of judges throughout the country. In coordination with MINUSTAH, UNDP also continues to train judicial inspectors (8) in the use of legal information management systems, and 200 judges/clerks have received training in combatting gender-based violence and in undertaking investigative and court registry techniques. The Group also welcomes the completion of the draft penal code, the passage of which must be a priority for the new Parliament. 23. An important part of those efforts involves the strengthening of the Haitian national police. In that regard, it is particularly important to note the commitment of the Haitian authorities to further professionalizing the national police, in close collaboration with the United Nations and bilateral donors and to creating a steering committee for providing strategic and operational guidance on the implementation of the national police development plan. 24. The Group recognizes the potential for positive and tangible results for the United Nations system that could be realized by moving towards the “Delivery as one” approach in Haiti and witnessed examples of the practical benefits of inter-agency cooperation during the field visit in Grande Anse Department. Although Haiti is not a “Delivering as one” pilot country, the United Nations country team has incorporated relevant elements from the standard operating procedures of the approach and is moving forward in that spirit. The Political Champions for Disaster Resilience initiative, which is being piloted in the Grande Anse Department by UNDP, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to reduce vulnerabilities and promote sustainable development, is an example of that approach. The approach is also being utilized by FAO, UNDP, the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Office for Project Services in the “Côte Sud” Initiative to reduce the vulnerability of the coastal region and by UNDP, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, the International Labour Organization and the E/2015/84 9/16 15-10924 MINUSTAH community violence reduction team, to improve community planning and promote job creation in areas such as Bel Air and Cité Soleil. 25. The Group welcomes the revision and extension by one year of the United Nations Integrated Strategic Framework, which was signed in the presence of the Group by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the Minister of Planning and External Cooperation on 28 May 2015. The revisions reflect the consolidation process of MINUSTAH, the ongoing transition from a humanitarian to a development context, funding trend requirements and the new poverty alleviation and investment plans of the Government. The review provided an opportunity to revise United Nations objectives and indicators and to propose mechanisms for improved reporting and monitoring. It has allowed MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team to identify specific areas for enhanced collaboration, subject to the availability of additional financial resources. 26. The Group took note of ongoing discussions between MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team on the need to formulate a transition plan in anticipation of the transfer of some of the functions of MINUSTAH to the Government, the United Nations country team and other national and international partners, and the ongoing reconfiguring of the United Nations presence in Haiti. The discussions also included assessing the impact of the transition on the implementing partners of MINUSTAH and service delivery by the Government of Haiti. The Group is encouraged that the United Nations system has been proactive in looking at the potential implications of the gradual reconfiguration of the United Nations presence in the country and welcomes the fact that the continuing drawdown of MINISTAH has proceeded smoothly to date. The Group considers that the concerted effort to foster communication across the United Nations country team and to avoid duplication of efforts in the transition from a humanitarian to development basis is necessary and commendable. V. Donor assistance and aid effectiveness 27. As in the past, the Group emphasizes the need for continued donor engagement given the vulnerability of the country to natural disasters and economic shocks, and the need to sustain the development progress that has been achieved. In that context, the Group takes note of the transitional appeal, launched in March 2015 by the Government and the United Nations. The appeal, with a budget of $401 million, is intended to address basic social needs and will target the following sectors: (a) durable solutions, $67.8 million; (b) cholera prevention and response, $80.3 million; (c) food security and nutrition, $91.6 million; (d) disaster risk reduction, emergency preparedness and response, $51.4 million; (e) protection from violence, abuse and exploitation, $21.3 million; (f) education, social protection and employment, $88.7 million. 28. The Group welcomes the ongoing negotiations between IMF and the Government of Haiti for a follow-up programme to the 2010 Extended Credit Facility. The Facility, which aims to ensure macroeconomic stability and good fiscal governance by containing inflation and mitigating the volatility of the exchange rate, could also be helpful in increasing the mobilization of revenue, thereby addressing the challenges of the fiscal situation in the country. E/2015/84 15-10924 10/16 29. The Group notes that the Haiti Reconstruction Fund for earthquake recovery and reconstruction has not yet been fully disbursed and that a number of government projects supported by the United Nations and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency are ongoing. The remaining $40 million available in the Fund is being used to support such areas such as health, agriculture, professional training and elections. The World Bank Group, also a partner entity of the Fund and responsible for its management, is currently assessing the vulnerability of some 400,000 buildings and evaluating with the Government the cost of their reconstruction/rehabilitation. The International Development Association is disbursing the committed $500 million for the period 2012-2014. The World Bank Group has contributed substantially to the reconstruction of the country since the earthquake, launching its largest development programme to date for Haiti, which amounted to over $800 million in grants. 30. The Group also welcomes the ongoing negotiations on the Inter-American Development Bank country strategy for Haiti, 2015-2020. As one of the main multilateral partners of Haiti, the Inter-American Development Bank has disbursed more than $500 million in aid since the earthquake. The five-year education programme, which included the construction of public schools, improved access for school-age children and improved education quality and access to vocational training, is at the core of its development strategy. With respect to private sector development, a key project involves support for the development of the Caracol industrial park in partnership with the United States. With regard to the agricultural sector, a commitment of $200 million over five years is expected to strengthen land tenure rights, boost agricultural production, increase market access for farmers, support the transfer of technology to small farmers and reinforce food security. 31. The recent increase in cholera cases during 2015 has made it imperative to ensure that the National Plan for the Elimination of Cholera is well funded. The Plan requires an estimated $2.2 billion to support large-scale development of public health, water and sanitation infrastructure. The Group welcomes the $20 million emergency programme financed by the World Bank to fight cholera in collaboration with the United States Centre for Disease Control and notes that the total amount required by the United Nations for the period 2014-2015 is $72 million. As indicated earlier in the present report, as at December 2014, 50 per cent of the short-term plan ($486 million for the period from February 2013 to February 2015) was funded; while 18 per cent ($407 million) of the 10-year plan was funded, 12.9 per cent ($285 million) disbursed. Ensuring that cholera operations are adequately funded throughout 2015 will be critical to maintaining and improving the gains made over the past 24 months. 32. The Group has also consistently called for increased aid effectiveness through improved and simplified donor support and accelerated governance reforms by the Haitian authorities, with a view to creating new momentum for effective development support for the country. The instruments for improvement in that regard have been put in place, and institutional structures exist for managing and coordinating aid through the External Aid Coordination Framework for the Development of Haiti. A national aid policy has been presented to the Group of Twelve Plus and a locally driven results monitoring framework developed according to the international standards of the International Aid Transparency Initiative. 33. In that context, the Group welcomes the recent decision by the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation to simplify the external aid coordination E/2015/84 11/16 15-10924 mechanism for greater efficiency; however, more needs to be done to ensure that it becomes more agile and a better conduit for exchanges between the Government and donors on issues related to project development and implementation. Increasing mutual transparency and accountability with partners and strengthening the planning and study units within line ministries to produce sector strategies would help to improve the effectiveness of the mechanism and to ensure alignment from partners. 34. During the visit of the Group to Haiti, the potential for a stronger partnership between the Government and the international community was evident and, efforts in that direction need to be sustained, in order to keep donors engaged and enhance their confidence in the leadership and capacity of the Government. The Group supports the call by the Government for direct budgetary support, which would help to enhance reporting and auditing systems, increase the allocation of funds and improve capacity to manage the budget and disburse funds on time. 35. The Group recognizes that building strong, transparent and accountable institutions takes time and encourages the Government and the international community to reinforce cooperation, working through local institutions to overcome the existing obstacles and achieve more effective aid delivery. Although no recent evaluation of aid impact on the country’s institutions has been done, evidence supported by research on other fragile countries indicates that using country systems has greater impact on local economies. VI. Conclusions and recommendations 36. Haiti continues to face serious challenge that should be addressed with vigour by all national stakeholders and the country’s development partners if the country is to maintain its momentum in economic recovery and reconstruction. During its visit to the country, the Group was particularly encouraged by the commitment expressed by the Government to ensure that elections will be held on schedule and within the framework of democratic institutions and the Constitution. A stable political and institutional environment remains a priority, for which the upcoming presidential, legislative and local elections are a prerequisite. The Group also strongly encourages the Government of Haiti to strengthen its commitment to full transparency and accountability in public administration and the coordination of development assistance. Support from the international community is indispensable to consolidating recent gains and reactivating the process towards sustainable development. 37. The Group notes that Haiti is one of only eight countries on the list of least developed countries that is also a small island developing State. Compared with other countries, therefore, it is particularly vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks, including those induced by climate change, which has impacted the life of millions of Haitians. Solid institutions can help to mediate those vulnerabilities. Increased attention focused on reforms such as improving land registry, stronger partnerships with the local and foreign private sector and improving the management of government finances can help to strengthen economic performance and consolidate recovery, reconstruction and socioeconomic development. E/2015/84 15-10924 12/16 38. In the light of the challenges outlined at the beginning of the present report, the Group is of the view that it would be useful to continue to monitor the recovery and reconstruction of the country in the post-election phase and in the context of the consolidation of the United Nations presence on the ground. 39. The Group would like to draw the attention of the Economic and Social Council to the recommendations below. 40. The Group encourages the Government and its development partners to: (a) Make every effort to ensure the holding of free, fair and inclusive elections and to set the conditions to ensure that the new parliament, government and president are ready to meet the challenges that await them and to take action to address national priorities; (b) Ensure continuity in the development and implementation of priority medium- and long-term institution-building and poverty reduction projects and recognize that a clear and meaningful commitment to accountability is a necessary condition for the maintenance of confidence among all of Haiti’s international, partners including the private sector; (c) Take measures to make land tenure more secure through a structured approach and provide alternatives to poor farmers by enhancing investment in rural areas, supporting projects that empower communities and populations through participatory actions in the interest of slowing the rural exodus and reversing the unsustainable growth in peri-urban and urban areas; (d) Improve employment opportunities by targeting initiatives that create linkages with the private sector capable of addressing the needs of youth and women; (e) Ensure adequate resources to continue the fight against cholera; (f) Sustain commitments to strengthening the rule of law, including the reform of the justice system and continued assistance in the development of the Haitian national police. 40. In particular, the Group calls on the United Nations to: (a) Continue to provide logistical support and technical expertise to assist the national police and build the capacity of Haitian rule of law institutions, at the national and local levels, as mandated by the Security Council, and strengthen an internal oversight and control structure for the national police, in order to guarantee its efficiency, effectiveness and independence; (b) Continue consultations on transition planning as appropriate with a view, for example, to identifying MINUSTAH activities that could be undertaken by the United Nations country team, the Government of Haiti and other international partners as mission consolidation proceeds; (c) Address the needs for housing the remaining internally displaced people in camps; (d) Continue developing the basis for the application of the “Delivery as one” approach for a better integrated and coordinated delivery in consultation and coordination with the Government of Haiti. E/2015/84 13/16 15-10924 41. The Group calls on the Government of Haiti to: (a) Increase its efforts in support of a national voter education campaign and create conditions for peaceful and inclusive elections resulting in a high voting turnout; (b) Continue its regular dialogue with MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team, to prioritize development activities and focus on sustainable initiatives building on the progress made so far; (c) Improve transparency, accountability and accessibility of rule of law bodies and address human rights violations; (d) Improve communication with civil society organizations and grass-roots and community-based organizations to enhance their participation in the country’s institutional development. 42. The Group calls on the international community to: (a) Maximize the chances for successful 2015 elections through continued support to MINUSTAH and the United Nations country team; (b) Ensure that the Provisional Electoral Council has the support it requires to ensure there are no delays in the electoral calendar; (c) Mobilize additional donor support and address the financial gap in the United Nations election basket fund. The estimated gap is currently $30 million; (d) Ensure greater transparency and improved reporting by the Government regarding the use of donor funds and support improved transparency and accountability with cooperation partners; (e) Support the dialogue between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. E/2015/84 15-10924 14/16 Annex I Programme of the visit to Washington, D.C., of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, 27 April 2015 6 a.m. Departure from New York (Penn Station, 2103 Acela Express) 8.55 a.m. Arrival in Washington, D.C. (Union Station) Transfer to the Embassy of Canada 10 a.m. Welcome by the Permanent Mission of Canada to the Organization of American States Meeting with members of the international financial institutions: Mr. Agustin Aguerre, Manager, Haiti Country Department, Inter- American Development Bank Mr. Gabriel Di Bella, Deputy Division Chief, Western Hemisphere Department, International Monetary Fund Ms. Michelle Keane, Lead Country Officer for Haiti, World Bank Mr. Raju Singh, Programme Leader and Lead Economist, Haiti Country Management Unit, World Bank 1 p.m. Working lunch with Robert Maguire, professor, George Washington University 3 p.m. Meeting with representatives of the Organization of American States 6 p.m. Departure from Washington, D.C. (Union Station, 2124 Acela Express) E/2015/84 15/16 15-10924 Annex II Programme of the visit to Haiti of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti, 26-29 May 2015 Tuesday, 26 May 1351 Arrival at Port-au-Prince Airport (American Airlines) 1400 Met at aircraft by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Peter de Clercq, and a protocol official of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) 1430 Departure from airport to MINUSTAH log base 1445 Courtesy call with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Ms. Sandra Honorée, and Deputy Special Representative Peter de Clercq — welcome and presentation of programme 1500-1630 Meeting with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the United Nations country team for general briefings on the situation in Haiti 1615-1700 Transfer from the log base to Hotel Oasis 1700-1800 Meeting with the Minister for Foreign Affairs a.i., Mr. Lener Renauld 1800-1815 Transfer from Hotel Oasis to Hotel Karibe 1815-1915 Personal time 1915-1930 Transfer to the residence of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General 1930-2030 Reception hosted by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Wednesday, 27 May Before 0700 Individual breakfast 0700-0800 Transfer to the MINUSTAH helipad log base 0800 Departure from the log base for Jérémie, Grande Anse 0800-0900 Transfer by helicopter 0900 Arrival in Jérémie 0900-1500 Field visit in Jérémie/Grande Anse (visiting projects linked to the Political Champions for Disaster Resilience initiative) 1500 Departure for Port-au-Prince 1500-1600 Transfer by helicopter 1600-1700 Arrival in Port-au-Prince and transfer to Hotel Karibe 1730-1900 Meeting with representatives of civil society (Hotel Karibe) E/2015/84 15-10924 16/16 1905 Transfer to the Official Residence of Canada, Péguyville 1930-2130 Reception hosted by the Ambassador of Canada to Haiti, Ms. Paula Caldwell, Official Residence of Canada Thursday, 28 May 0730-0900 Working breakfast with the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary- General (Rule of Law), Carl Alexandre, Office of the United Nations Police Commissioner and Community Violence Reduction/Corrections Unit 1030-1100 Transfer to the Ministry of Economy and Finance 1100-1200 Meeting with the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mr. Wilson Laleau 1230-1245 Transfer to restaurant, Marriott Hotel 1300 Lunch with the Group of Twelve Plus (donor coordination group) 1430 Departure for the Ministry of Planning 1500 Meeting with the Minister of Planning, Mr. Yves Germain, and signing of the revised United Nations Integrated Strategic Framework for Haiti by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the Minister of Planning 1700 Meeting with the President of Haiti, Mr. Michel Martelly, and the Prime Minister, Mr. Evans Paul (Presidential Palace) 1830 Return to Hotel Karibe *Free evening* Friday, 29 May Before 0800 Check-out from Hotel Karibe 0800-0930 Briefing on United Nations country team priorities for 2015 (Deputy Special Representative Peter de Clercq and United Nations country team, Hotel Karibe) 930-1030 CANCELLED Meeting with International Organization of la Francophonie 1030-1130 Meeting with the Economic Forum (Hotel Karibe) 1130-1230 Transfer from Hotel Karibe to log base 1300-1415 Lunch and debriefing with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Rule of Law) (log base deck) 1415 Transfer from the log base to the airport 1430 Check-in at the airport 1525 Departure for New York City