Oxfam America hosted a policy discussion to examine aid effectiveness in Haiti within the context of country ownership. As the international community continues to support the rebuilding efforts in Haiti, it should be noted that success in Haiti will ultimately be determined by how well Haitians, and the Haitian government in particular, are able to address long-term challenges.

The distinguished panelists discussed the reality of the situation in Haiti, examined lessons learned from the past year, and explored how to improve country ownership as we move forward towards a stable and productive Haiti. The discussion  specifically focused on how US foreign aid to Haiti is being delivered while identifying ways of strengthening the efficacy of future US assistance. 

Speakers

•   Cokie Roberts, Save the Children’s Member of the Board of Trustees. Opening Remarks.
•   Congressman Albio Sires, 13th Congressional District of New Jersey, Keynote Speaker.
•   Thomas C. Adams, Special Coordinator to Haiti, State Department, Discussant.
•   Russell Porter, Director, USAID Haiti Task Team, Discussant.
•   Robert Maguire, Chair, Haiti Working Group, U.S. Institute of Peace, Associate Professor of International Affairs, Trinity Washington University, Discussant.
•   Ray Offenheiser, President, Oxfam America, Discussant.
•   Dr. Florence Duperval Guillaume, Deputy Chief of Party - Technical Director SDSH/ Management Sciences for Health, Discussant
•   Angela Bruce Raeburn, Senior Policy Advisor for Humanitarian Response, Oxfam America, Moderator.

Join Oxfam America and Management Sciences for Health for a discussion on strengthening country health systems with leading voices from the field. Event is being hosted by Dr. Jonathan Quick, President and CEO, Management Sciences for Health and Paul O’Brien, Vice President for Policy & Campaigns, Oxfam America.

Panelists Include

• Dr. Francisco Songane, former Minister of Health, Mozambique, and former director of the WHO’s Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health
• Dr. Zipporah Mang Kpamor, Chief of Party, Nigerian Indigenous Capacity Building Project, Christian Health Association of Nigeria
• Dr. Sin Somuny, executive director of MEDICAM, a health umbrella network with 120+ NGO members in Cambodia, and sub-committee co-chair of the Global Fund’s Country Coordinating Mechanism for Cambodia

Have doubts about country ownership? Want to hear more about how it works in practice?

Right now, President Obama’s Global Health Initiative, The Global Fund, and the International Health Partnership are all seeking to increase country ownership of donor health funds. Civil society and health ministries in developing countries have experience with a range of donor approaches: from disease-specific initiatives to health system strengthening to direct budget support. Hear first-hand perspectives on country ownership from government and civil society health providers.

Panelists

• Blake Hounshell, Managing Editor, Foreign Policy (Moderator)
• Paul O'Brien, Vice President of Policy and Campaigns, Oxfam America
• His Excellency Raymond Joseph, Haitian Ambassador to the United States (Keynote)
• Joel Dreyfuss, Managing Editor, The Root
• Dr. Robert Maguire, Professor, Trinity College in Washington & Chair, Haiti Working Group, US Institute of Peace
• Paul Auxila, Chief Operating Officer, Management Sciences for Health