Haitian National Coalition for the Environment

Our structure is focused on creating a network where the people at the grassroots in the movement can always have a voice in decision-making for the coalition.

The first level in the coalition is coalition member. Each organization that decides to participate in the coalition and that meets the criteria for membership, will designate one representative. In this way, all the members of the coalition will be equal, whether it is a small grassroots group or a large institution.

As members, they will have these benefits:

• Your organization will be listed in the national directory of organizations featured on the Coalition’s website (www.haitienvironment.org), and you will receive a copy of the directory.
• You can send a representative to participate in departmental meetings.
• You can send one representative to the annual national meeting to participate in decision-making for the Coalition.
• You will receive monthly reports about what is happening in the country, and you can contribute news to include in the monthly reports.
• You will have access to all the resources on the coalition’s website and can feature your own work and resources there.

Criteria for membership in the coalition:

1. Members must be active in environmental work.
2. Organizations must sign a declaration agreeing to the coalition’s mission and structure.
3. Members must be willing to collaborate together.

The coordinating committee will assure that the coalition is aware of the success and failure of national environmental initiatives, national policy, and national funding opportunities. All representatives of member organizations are eligible to serve on the coordinating committee. Representatives can volunteer and there will be a vote during the national meeting to elect one representative for each department, ten in total. The coordinating committee will be responsible for the day-to-day work of the coalition but will bring major decisions to the coalition for a vote. In other words, the coordinating committee cannot make a decision to change the mission of the coalition, and it is the members of the coalition who will choose and replace the coordinating committee members.

Coordinating committee members will:

• Live in the department they represent, or travel there regularly.
• Participate in coordinating committee meetings. Missing more than 25% of meetings in a six month period will be grounds for replacement.
• Maintain regular contact with the departmental director for the Ministry of the Environment in his/her department.
• Work with the coordinator to collect information on all existing environmental initiatives in his/her department.
• Work with the coordinator and local agencies to organize a departmental meeting with donated space when possible.
• Work with the coordinator and local agencies to inventory the environmental situation in his/her department to include: major rivers, lakes, mountains, and strategic places for tree planting.
• Contribute to the coalition website with reports from the department.
• Contribute to a blog about severe weather when appropriate.
• Participate in planning for the annual meeting.

The coordinator will work with the coordinating committee to fulfill the goals of the coalition. The coordinator can call the coordinating committee together to meet and helps the committee follow its action plan. The coordinator will: travel to seek out new members, especially in currently un-represented departments; support the work of committee members in their departments; maintain and update the coalition’s website; and produce general monthly reports.