Forum Partnerships: Supporting Reconstruction in Haiti

It has been a year and a half since the 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, killing over 300,000 people and injuring hundreds of thousands more. Recovery has been slow, with many still living in makeshift tents and temporary housing. The approaching hurricane season has the potential to compound the situation.

While largely off the media’s radar screen, many organizations, including the World Economic Forum, are continuing to support the Caribbean nation’s reconstruction.

Several weeks ago, Nicolas Mariscal (second from top left in the photo), Executive Director of Grupo Marhnos (a leading Mexican-based general contractor) and head of the Forum’s Disaster Resource Partnership (DRP) initiative in Mexico, visited Haiti to follow up on a number of reconstruction activities initiated through his involvement in the DRP. This includes building schools in Port-au-Prince and providing material for a number of projects being carried out by the Messengers for Peace Association. Many of the projects are supported through Unidos Por Ellos – a consortium of representatives from industry, government and civil society that responds to disaster-related events in Mexico and elsewhere.

“The main purpose of my visit was to get a full perspective of the country’s situation 18 months after the earthquake,” said Nicolas Mariscal. “We will continue to contribute in our engagement with Haiti and its people.”

In recent years, there has been a significant shift in the humanitarian space, which has seen the private sector go from being not just a donor but also a doer, providing expertise and capacity to help rebuild communities in the aftermath of a disaster.

The Disaster Resource Partnership draws on the strengths and existing capacities of the World Economic Forum’s Engineering & Construction community to mobilize during and after crises. Early engagement in the relief and recovery phases means that E&C companies are well placed to contribute strategically to longer term planning of reconstruction, playing a critical role in mitigating the risk of future disasters.