RAPID: Supporting Haitian Infrastructure Reconstruction Decisions with Local Knowledge

在2010年1月12日海地地震之后，这一快速提案的目的是检验这样一种假设，即通过利益相关者驱动的过程获得的基于当地知识的基础设施重建优先事项将与受影响地区以外的技术专家制定的优先事项有根本不同。例如，在最近的文献中，Easterly(2007)将“规划者”的发展援助方法与“搜索者”的方法进行了对比。虽然“规划者”在假设他们已经知道答案的前提下就如何应用发展援助作出决定，但“搜索者”承认事先不知道答案，并根据与当地人口的密切互动对当地机会和制约因素进行详细评估，努力寻求创新的解决办法。为了验证这一假设，这项研究将集中在利奥甘的水和卫生问题上。利奥甘是一个人口约4万的小镇，位于首都以西约30公里处，非常接近震中。预计调查结果将对有关海地重建努力的许多迫在眉睫的决定以及在世界各地制定新的多功能基础设施战略产生影响。联合PI包括一名社会科学家，他是海地文化、政治和历史方面的专家。其他三名私人助理/协理私人助理是水利基础设施方面的专家。他们都有在发展中国家的国际经验，都有法语技能。小组中的两名顾问是海地国民和利奥甘土生土长的人，他们对纽约市有深入的了解，并能流利地说Kreyol语。这项工作将教育和外联工作纳入研究计划，并将为海地重建工作提供重要信息。地方利奥甘利益攸关方委员会的参与者将参与关于关键基础设施问题的横向讨论，这将使他们能够更积极地参与地方基础设施决策。两名Drexel研究生将把实地调查和启发练习的结果纳入他们的论文工作。研究结果将在即将举行的由国家科学基金会赞助的海地问题特别研讨会上传播，并将在各次会议上介绍，并提交同行评议的期刊发表。此外，还安排了与美国国际开发署和疾病控制与预防中心的联系。结果将被用于创建新的无国界工程师(EWB)项目。这个奖项之所以紧迫，是因为关于如何投资于海地地震后发展援助的数亿美元的决定正在迅速做出。已收到IRB对该奖项的审查和批准。提议团队在海地的交通、住房、食物和水方面做出了具体安排。该奖项由美国国家科学基金会国际科学与工程办公室美洲项目共同资助。布鲁斯·汉密尔顿2010年3月11日

In the wake of the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the objective of this RAPID proposal is to test the hypothesis that infrastructure rehabilitation priorities based on local knowledge elicited through stakeholder driven processes will differ fundamentally from those developed by technical experts based outside the impacted area. In the recent literature, Easterly (2007), for example, contrasts the "planner's" approach to development aid with that of the "searcher." While "planners" make decisions about how to apply development aid assuming that they already know the answers, "searchers" admit not knowing the answer up front, and exert much effort to seek innovative solutions based on a detailed assessment of local opportunities and constraints based on close interaction with local population. To test the hypothesis, the research will focus on water and sanitation issues in Leogane, a town of approximately 40,000 people located about 30 km to the west of the capital and very near the quake's epicenter. The findings are anticipated to have implications on many imminent decisions regarding Haitian reconstruction efforts as well as for the development of new multifunctional infrastructure strategies throughout the world. The co-PIs include a social scientist who is an expert in Haitian culture, politics, and history. The other three PI/co-PIs are engineers who are expert in water infrastructure. All have international experience in developing countries, and all have French language skills. Two consultants on the team are Haitian nationals and Leogane natives with intimate knowledge of the City and fluency in Kreyol. The effort integrates education and outreach into the research plan, and will contribute critical information to the Haitian reconstruction effort. Participants in a local Leogane Stakeholder Committee will partake in cross-cutting discussions about key infrastructure issues, which will enable them to more actively participate in local infrastructure decision making. Two Drexel graduate students will incorporate the results of the field findings and elicitation exercises into their thesis work. The results of the research will be disseminated at an upcoming special NSF sponsored workshop on Haiti, and will be presented at conferences and submitted for publication in peer reviewed journals. In addition, arrangements have been made for liaison with USAID and CDC. Results will be used to create new Engineers Without Borders (EWB) projects.This award is urgent because of the rapid pace at which decisions about how to invest hundreds of millions of dollars of post quake development Haiti aid are being made. IRB review and approval has been received for this award. The proposing team has made specific arrangements for transportation, housing, food, and water in Haiti.This award is co-funded by NSF's Office of International Science and Engineering, Americas Program.Bruce Hamilton3/11/10