The Haitian Diaspora in the United States and the Relationship Between International Migration and National Development
Semester
The Capstone project was commissioned by the Bureau of Haiti‘s Special Envoy to the UN (the Bureau) and the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) with the intent to develop a strategy for engaging the Haitian diaspora in Haiti‘s recovery and development. The Bureau is a Haitian Presidential initiative charged with facilitating and supporting the UN Office of the Special Envoy to Haiti and otherwise generating support from the Haitian Diaspora and interested parties and institutions to Haiti. SSRC‘s Migration Program seeks to promote research that can improve understanding of the relationship between international migration and development, including how members of diasporas work with governments and international agencies to attain their goals. The organization is an independent, not-for-profit that advances social science throughout the world by nurturing new generations of social scientists, fostering innovative research, and mobilizing necessary knowledge on important public issues. Together, these two organizations are working to better understand the factors that limit the diaspora‘s contributions and to create opportunities for a greater involvement of the Haitian diaspora in Haiti's development.
After an initial meeting with the clients, the team narrowed its research topic to the following question:
In what ways can US-based Haitian Diaspora members integrate their resources, talents and knowledge to fortify and mobilize the creation of a diaspora network (consisting of individuals, agencies, organizations and foundations) that will contribute to the development and implementation of a sustainable education system within Haiti?
With this question in mind, the project aimed to (1) study existing and potential relationships between Haitian Diaspora groups and development in Haiti, (2) make recommendations to the government of Haiti, diaspora organizations, and international development agencies to develop Haiti‘s education system, and (3) enhance diaspora engagement and contributions to Haiti.
Press Release:
State of the Planet blog (http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/03/24/haitis-charcoal-challenge/)