HAITI UPDATE: Interview with Oikocredit regional project coordinator Eduard Walkers

I received a news flash on the internet approximately half an hour after the earthquake. I immediately tried to call the project, but communication was impossible. Seeing the images on CNN was very difficult and painful. In the past three years, I've been to Haiti several times. I really noticed Haiti was showing improvements on all fronts ... but the earthquake is devastating; it will take years before the country is on track again.

There is no emergency plan for these extreme kinds of situations. Decisions are made on an hourly basis. Are our personnel ok? How can we help those in trouble? Where can we get fuel for the motorcycles, find a temporary office, get the branch offices and the IT system operational again? Those are ad hoc, but essential, decisions which are made by local management on a day to day basis. Slowly we are receiving information on clients, but we still don't know how many clients are affected.

What difficulties and challenges do you foresee for the country recovery?

Difficulties and challenges for the country recovery; this is probably a very long list of health, education, environmental and economic issues.

What is the recovery plan of Fonkoze?

It is still too early to say. We need more information on clients. From there we can decide whether to set up a special product for those affected by the earthquake and restructure part of the loan portfolio.

After four hurricanes hit Haiti in 2008, Fonkoze successfully managed programs in restructuring loans and 80% of the affected clients - most of whom lost everything - paid back their loans. The foundation, on the other hand, received many donations so development programs in health, literacy, etc will definitely continue.

We do not know the real consequences yet. I´m convinced that Fonkoze is part of the solution in the medium-term for Haiti. At the moment, donations are crucial but in a few months more sustainable support like microcredit is necessary.

What is the role of shareholders like Oikocredit under these circumstances?

To put all trust in local management. Although it is frustrating, there is no way of helping from the outside now. Several board members are in the USA, and I am in Costa Rica. We must wait until the overall picture is clear without interfering at this delicate moment. Likewise, we can't overwhelm the organization with large lists of questions: there are other priorities right now.

For now, our role is to try to inform the outside world about Fonkoze and their status and bring in other organizations to support them in the medium term. 

Click here for the FAQ concerning Oikocredit's view on donations for Haiti.