Haiti - The future
At this time, how can the business community make it possible for Haitians to look forward to a better brighter future?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Business Fights Poverty on -
I think we have all been moved by the shocking images from Haiti over the last week. Just as striking has been the resilience and determination of the Haitian people. Nyakio has started an important discussion here about what business can do - both immediately to help save lives, but also over the near future to help rebuild livelihoods and futures.
For those interested, the UN has posted some information here about how business can help.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Solanky on -
Global Hand has put up a REACT page for businesses seeking to engage with the disaster at: http://www.globalhand.org/information/disasters/react-haiti-earthquake
I hope this of help too.
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BFP TeamPermalink Reply by Zahid Torres-Rahman on -
Here is a good roundup, by the World Bank's Private Sector Development blog, of good discussions happening right now on Haiti: http://snipurl.com/u48kw
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Permalink Reply by Lyman on -
hi,
I feel sorry for our fellow in Haiti. I'm devasted. I hope there is way for me to help. I can volunteer my strenth and skill if given the opportunities
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Permalink Reply by Nyakio Ndungu on -
It has been very sad to watch, with more and more fatalities everyday. There are ways to help, as you can see from the discussion, but for individual volunteer opportunities, here is a link that you can look at.
http://www.petergreenberg.com/2010/01/13/how-to-help-haiti-voluntee...
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Permalink Reply by Dahir Arab on
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The private sector of Somalia is the one holding back the country's economy. I think the Haitians future lies with the private sector development
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Permalink Reply by HAYIBO Koffi Inoussa on -
hello,
business is the power of every reconstruction.
I think all international organisation must encourage people(business person), to moov or create business in Haïti.
Haïti need our help, so we must be ready to serve this country.
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Permalink Reply by Tim Fort on -
IThis is a good and timely question Nyakio,
In a disaster like this, there is something any sector - and any individual - can do. By itself, it may seem incremental and lost in the magnitude of the situation. It might not even get credit. But in the past, businesses have made contributions in times like these.
First, businesses can act philanthropically to help deliver materials; that's particularly true if the business is in the business of selling items in need. Items like food, water, and building materials for instance; also telecommunications capabilities. Companies also often have logistical delivery capabilities that can help get materials into the affected areas.
Second, when the time comes to rebuild, businesses can take great care to avoid taking advantage of a bad situation. There are instances in the aftermath of hurricanes where some companies gouged suffering populations. The demand for building materials might provide a market incentive to raise prices. But other companies have refused to do this and to act instead with some solidarity for the affected and not raised, even discounted prices. Those same companies reported longer term profitability because suffering people remembered the difference between those two approaches.
Third, as with any poverty-stricken area, through natural disaster or otherwise, hope springs from a future where people are employed and can provide for their families. That's not simply because of being able to obtain material goods, but there is pride and dignity in being able to care for one's family. Businesses have choices of where they locate their businesses. There are risks, to be sure, but businesses can make Haiti a place of their doing business too. And, in doing so, avoiding corruption is critical to creating a sustainable, peaceful economic and social environment.
Timothy Fort
Executive Director, The Institute for Corporate Responsibility
Lindner-Gambal Professor of Business Ethics
George Washington University
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Permalink Reply by Hennie Botes on -
Firstly, we wish to extend once again our sincere condolences to the people and the government of Haiti following the tragic death and massive destruction caused by the earthquake of 12 January 2010.
“The country of about 9 million people, most of them desperately poor, has struggled with political instability and has no real construction standards. In November 2008, following the collapse of a school in Petionville, the mayor of Port-au-Prince estimated about 60 percent of the buildings were shoddily built and unsafe in normal circumstances.”
We avail ourselves and our construction technology to assist Haiti and her people in the reconstruction process that will follow. moladi reinforced walls and stub wall configuration is designed to with stand earthquakes and minimize the damage created by the impact. With the moladi process of formwork construction we are able to utilize the rubble from the collapsed buildings to create new structures.
For more info as to how - visit www.moladi.net
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Permalink Reply by Jacqueline Muna Musiitwa on
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For attorneys:
I decided to start an initiative to get lawyers more involved in the relief effort. As such, Prese Prese! (hurry hurry! in Haitian Creole) is encouraging lawyers to donate money as well as pro bono or low cost legal services to Haitians that need assistance to adjust their immigration status (Temporary Protected Status applications and applications for employment authorization) and other related legal matters. Please check out: http://preseprese.org (Prese Prese! is also on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook) and spread the word.
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Permalink Reply by Peter Burgess on -
The crisis has three stages: Rescue, Relief and Rebuilding. Rescue and relief are being used to mobilize resources and a large proportion of these resources will be wasted for both good and bad reasons. Rescue lasts a few days and it is reasonable that there is little accounting and accountability during this phase when time is of the essence and immediate lives are at risk. Relief last longer ... the resources are more "economic" and easy to divert for personal gain. Accounting and accountability can go a long way to minimize this problem ... but it needs to be serious and embraced by the leadership of the key organizations involved. This rarely happens, in part because accounting is a bit of a pain, and nobody wants to have a system where people may be held accountable. But we must have a system where there is accounting and accountability, otherwise a lot of resources will do rather little ... the norm too often! Tr-Ac-Net ... Transparency and Accountability Network ... is seeking to deploy Community Analytics (CA) as a way to have adequate accounting and accountability regarding the Haiti emergency.
Peter Burgess
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Permalink Reply by Carlos Martin Ruiz on -
The first amount for rebuilding is 10.000 € in five years, all this money is needed to help individuals to start economical activities in the construction sector. If anybody looks after the BoP interest this money will go to foreign companies.
Our proposel is based on Inclusive business Schemes, send Machinery and equipment, we are adapting a previous plan to act adapted to the disaster.
We need help to arise the project - Attachments:
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Machinery park.doc, 34 KB
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