Publication

Estimates of the number of nongovernmental organizations operating in Haiti prior to the earthquake range from 3,000 to as many as 10,000. According to the UN, Haiti had the second highest number of NGOs per capita in the world. The devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010, highlighted the critical role many of these NGOs play in providing essential services in health care, education and job creation. However, in the aftermath of the earthquake, the crucial work of these NGOs was tarnished by issues concerning NGO regulation and accountability. Concerns about NGO oversight and donor coordination have been present in Haiti for decades. With the proliferation of organizations in Haiti, this Caribbean country has been called the “Republic of NGOs.”