International Journal of Business and Economics Research

| Peer-Reviewed |

Sustainable Growth in Haiti: Creating Meaningful Change in the Developing World

Received: 03 August 2018    Accepted: 07 September 2018    Published: 09 October 2018
Views:       Downloads:

Share This Article

Abstract

Recent tragedies have placed a global spotlight on the county of Haiti, which many observers believe to be a nation mired in incurable poverty. Many organizations in the developed world have previously engaged in various projects and relief efforts to improve the living conditions in the country and develop the infrastructure of the nation. However, some observers have questioned the sustainability and beneficial results of these efforts. There is a reasonable concern that some of these projects generate more harm than good. Strategically, it is necessary to consider whether sustainable development occurs through these efforts, and if not, what changes can be made to improve the benefits from outside intervention for people living in the developing world. This paper will provide a framework for that evaluation, by looking at the history of development efforts in Haiti, primarily through examining the nation under a lens of food security and resource development, two commonly accepted metrics for economic development. The paper will then explore suggested means of making future efforts more sustainable and effective using techniques that have had proven success elsewhere within the developing world. Finally, the paper will examine the specific focused efforts of personnel associated with the Village of Hope, a successful educational and health care NGO mission in Gantier. It will be demonstrated that much of the success of the Village of Hope is based upon their recognition of these fundamental effective development techniques.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijber.20180705.13
Published in International Journal of Business and Economics Research (Volume 7, Issue 5, October 2018)
Page(s) 144-150
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Economic Development, Food Security, Haiti, Resource Development, Sustainable Growth

References
[1] O’Grady, M. A. (2015). Diagnosing what ails Haiti’s economy. Wall Street Journal. 10/11/2015.
[2] The World Bank. (2014). Living conditions in Haiti’s capital improve, but rural communities remain very poor. http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/featuer/2014/07/11/while-living-conditions-in-porte-au-prince-are-improving-haiti-countryside-remains-very-poor.
[3] Merilus, J. Y. (2015). Rural development: the economic potentials of Haiti’s “Lakou” system. Focus on Geography 58 (1). pp 36-45.
[4] Dumay, H. (2012). Haitian higher education, funding, and economic development: the missing links. Haiti Perspectives 1 (1). pp 29-35.
[5] Sapat, A. & Esnard, A. (2015). Directory of non-governmental organizations involved in Haiti’s post-disaster recovery. https://fau.edu/spa/research/diaspora/sapat-and-esnard-directory-of-organizations-haiti-recovery-8-17-2015.pdf.
[6] Koa, C. (2016). Haiti’s multi-billion dollar humanitarian aid problem. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/young-professionals-in-foreign-policy/haitis-multi-billion-doll_b_8207494.html.
[7] White, T. A., & Gregersen, H. M. (1994). Policy lessons from natural resources projects in Haiti: A framework for reform. Retrieved from http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/11901/1/pb9.pdf.
[8] Chambers, J. (2016). Haiti needs new approach to make aid effective, bring jobs, and skills: ex-Prime Minister. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-journalists-trial-specialrepo/special-report-how-myanmar-punished-two-reporters-for-uncovering-an-atrocity-idUSKCN1LJ167.
[9] Mason, J. B., Ahlers, T., Henderson, C., Shorr, I. J., & Tabatabai, H. (1985) Identifying nutritional considerations in planning a rural development project in N. Haiti. Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 18:1, 1-17, DOI: 10.1080/03670244.1985.9990910.
[10] GAO. (2013). Haiti Reconstruction USAID Infrastructure projects have had mixed results and face sustainability challenges. Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/658445.pdf.
[11] GAO. (2013). Post-Earthquake USG Haiti Strategy: Toward Renewal and Economic Opportunity Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/658445.pdf.
[12] GAO. (2015). Haiti Reconstruction USAID has achieved mixed results and should enhance sustainability planning. Retrieved from http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/670616.pdf.
[13] Edmonds, K. (2013). Beyond Good Intentions: The Structural Limitations of NGOs in Haiti. Critical Sociology, 39 (3), pp 439-452.
[14] Garland, C. (2015). The visual rhetoric of ‘voluntourists’ and aid workers in post-earthquake Haiti. Social and Economic Studies, 64.3/4, 79-102. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.lib.purdue.edu/docview/1830731057?OpenUrlRefId=info:xri/sid:primo&accountid=13360.
[15] Barker, K. (2004). Diffusion of innovations: A World Tour. Journal of health and communication, 9:S1, pp 131-137, DOI:10.1080/10810830490271584.
[16] OECD. (2012). Perspectives on global development 2012: Social cohesion in a shifting world. Retrieved from http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org.ezproxy.lib.purdue.edu/perspectives-on-global-development-2012_5kgf1pctjls2.pdf?contentType=%2fns%2fOECDBook%2c%2fns%2fBook&itemId=%2fcontent%2fbook%2fpersp_glob_dev-2012-en&mimeType=application%2fpdf&containerItemId=%2fcontent%2fserial%2f22224475&accessItemIds=&option6=imprint&value6=http%3a%2f%2foecd.metastore.ingenta.com%2fcontent%2fimprint%2foecd.
[17] Leonard, L., & Gonzalez-Perez, M., A., (2013). International Business, Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility. Published by Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Retrieved from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/purdue/detail.action?docID=1142043.
Author Information
  • Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA

  • Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, USA

Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Claire Elizabeth Haselhorst, Robert Merton Stwalley III. (2018). Sustainable Growth in Haiti: Creating Meaningful Change in the Developing World. International Journal of Business and Economics Research, 7(5), 144-150. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijber.20180705.13

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Claire Elizabeth Haselhorst; Robert Merton Stwalley III. Sustainable Growth in Haiti: Creating Meaningful Change in the Developing World. Int. J. Bus. Econ. Res. 2018, 7(5), 144-150. doi: 10.11648/j.ijber.20180705.13

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Claire Elizabeth Haselhorst, Robert Merton Stwalley III. Sustainable Growth in Haiti: Creating Meaningful Change in the Developing World. Int J Bus Econ Res. 2018;7(5):144-150. doi: 10.11648/j.ijber.20180705.13

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijber.20180705.13,
      author = {Claire Elizabeth Haselhorst and Robert Merton Stwalley III},
      title = {Sustainable Growth in Haiti: Creating Meaningful Change in the Developing World},
      journal = {International Journal of Business and Economics Research},
      volume = {7},
      number = {5},
      pages = {144-150},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijber.20180705.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijber.20180705.13},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijber.20180705.13},
      abstract = {Recent tragedies have placed a global spotlight on the county of Haiti, which many observers believe to be a nation mired in incurable poverty. Many organizations in the developed world have previously engaged in various projects and relief efforts to improve the living conditions in the country and develop the infrastructure of the nation. However, some observers have questioned the sustainability and beneficial results of these efforts. There is a reasonable concern that some of these projects generate more harm than good. Strategically, it is necessary to consider whether sustainable development occurs through these efforts, and if not, what changes can be made to improve the benefits from outside intervention for people living in the developing world. This paper will provide a framework for that evaluation, by looking at the history of development efforts in Haiti, primarily through examining the nation under a lens of food security and resource development, two commonly accepted metrics for economic development. The paper will then explore suggested means of making future efforts more sustainable and effective using techniques that have had proven success elsewhere within the developing world. Finally, the paper will examine the specific focused efforts of personnel associated with the Village of Hope, a successful educational and health care NGO mission in Gantier. It will be demonstrated that much of the success of the Village of Hope is based upon their recognition of these fundamental effective development techniques.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Sustainable Growth in Haiti: Creating Meaningful Change in the Developing World
    AU  - Claire Elizabeth Haselhorst
    AU  - Robert Merton Stwalley III
    Y1  - 2018/10/09
    PY  - 2018
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijber.20180705.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijber.20180705.13
    T2  - International Journal of Business and Economics Research
    JF  - International Journal of Business and Economics Research
    JO  - International Journal of Business and Economics Research
    SP  - 144
    EP  - 150
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-756X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijber.20180705.13
    AB  - Recent tragedies have placed a global spotlight on the county of Haiti, which many observers believe to be a nation mired in incurable poverty. Many organizations in the developed world have previously engaged in various projects and relief efforts to improve the living conditions in the country and develop the infrastructure of the nation. However, some observers have questioned the sustainability and beneficial results of these efforts. There is a reasonable concern that some of these projects generate more harm than good. Strategically, it is necessary to consider whether sustainable development occurs through these efforts, and if not, what changes can be made to improve the benefits from outside intervention for people living in the developing world. This paper will provide a framework for that evaluation, by looking at the history of development efforts in Haiti, primarily through examining the nation under a lens of food security and resource development, two commonly accepted metrics for economic development. The paper will then explore suggested means of making future efforts more sustainable and effective using techniques that have had proven success elsewhere within the developing world. Finally, the paper will examine the specific focused efforts of personnel associated with the Village of Hope, a successful educational and health care NGO mission in Gantier. It will be demonstrated that much of the success of the Village of Hope is based upon their recognition of these fundamental effective development techniques.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

  • Sections