Haiti Aid Facts

Haiti Aid Facts January 15, 2010

By David Roodman in Global Development

Note: David Roodman usually blogs at his Open Book Microfinance Blog.

CGD does not have data on how much public and private aid is responding to the Haiti earthquake. (But see this.) As background, here are a charts on recent patterns in Haiti’s aid, debt, and remittance receipts. Post comments to request others. The graphs and data shown here are in this spreadsheet (2006–08 version). Aid figures come from the Paris-based Development Assistance Committee (DAC), which collects its data from donor governments. The latest aid figures—just released—are for 2008.

The graph above shows “Net Official Development Assistance” (Net ODA), the standard DAC measure of aid quantity. Source: DAC Table 2a. 2006–08 version

The graph above shows Net ODA to Haiti in 2008 divided by population of sending country. The red bars are for aid that went to Haiti via international organizations such as the World Bank and UNICEF. Sources: DAC Table 2a, U.S. Census Bureau International Database. 2006–08 version

The graph above shows recent developments in the Haitian government’s debts to foreigners. This post explains. (And this post argues that debt cancellation for Haiti should not be a priority now.)

The graph above compares Haiti’s debt payments, aid receipts, export earnings, and receipts of money from Haitians living abroad, using the most recent available data. Sources: IMF, World Trade Organization, DAC Table 2a, and World Bank

The graph above compares total foreign aid from governments to “remittances,� mainly money sent home by Haitians living abroad. Sources: DAC Table 2a, World Bank. Figures are adjusted for inflation, into dollars of 2008.

Most of the remittances must come from the United States:

The table above shows that in 2000 (the last time censuses were taken in many countries), 57% of Haitian natives living abroad lived in the United States. Sources: Migration DRC, U.S. Census Bureau International Database.

For more on the significance of migration for Haitians, watch CGD fellow Michael Clemens.

The graph above shows “gross disbursements� of aid. It is from a different data set, which is less comprehensive but more detailed. So aid totals do not match those in the previous graph. This one shows government aid channeled through private charities, but not true private charity, for which data are unavailable. Data are also missing for two large donors, the InterAmerican Development Bank and the IMF. Source: CRS. 2006–08 version

The graph above returns to the “Net ODA” measure. DAC defines humanitarian aid as “assistance designed to save lives, alleviate suffering and maintain and protect human dignity during and in the aftermath of emergencies.” Source: DAC Table 1. 2006-08 version Also in the spreadsheet, but hard to embed here, is a table on aid giving to Haiti by sector (health, education, etc.).

For real perspective, see these graphics.

On ways to help, read Good Intentions Are Not Enough, GiveWell, Sasha Dichter, Tales from the Hood, Wronging Rights, Philanthropy Action, and Aid Watch.