MaximsNewsNetwork: HAITI: CASH-FOR-WORK U.N. DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (UNDP)

MaximsNewsNetwork: 25 January 2010: UN MINUSTAH - Port-au-Prince, Haiti - The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is employing over 4,000 Haitians in cash for work activities to jump start the local economy and facilitate the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance.

The work focuses on clearing of rubble from the Port-au-Prince streets with an emphasis on cleaning. During the second phase, the program will focus on reconstruction activities and skills training.

UNDPs Match Against Poverty, a soccer match that will be played today (25 Jan) in Lisbon, Portugal between, "Friends of Ronaldo and Zidane and the Portuguese Benfica All Stars team will dedicate all proceeds from the game to the UNDP Cash for Work program.

For the past seven years, UNDPs Match Against Poverty has raised funds for global efforts to reduce poverty while at the same time shining a much needed spotlight on those efforts.

In the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti recently, the organizers and players have pledged that all proceeds from this years game will go toward relief and reconstruction efforts in Haiti.

As the coordinator of the UN early recovery team, UNDP is also working with the government of Haiti and other partners to assess damages and needs, devise plans for rebuilding, and begin these immediate responses.

The first phase of the cash-for-work program will focus on Carrefour-Feuilles, a neighborhood just south of Port-au-Prince.

The initiative will soon be rolled out in other earthquake-stricken locations, including Leogane and Jacmel.

Once fully operational, the project will employ 220,000 people, indirectly benefiting around one million Haitians.

UNDP Administrator, Helen Clark said that the Cash for work program is important very important in the early relief efforts in Haiti.

SOUNDBITE (English) Helen Clark, Administrator, UNDP:
UNDP is leading the early recovery work. We are part of the flash appeal which the UN Humanitarian system has issued. Were looking for around 35 million dollars from donors to support precisely this cash for work scheme. We think its critical for helping et some return back to people getting on with having the money to live, having a job, being focused on the clean-up and rehabilitation of the country. Its got so many positive aspects to do this sort of work.

Past UNDP Cash for Work programs in Haiti have laid the groundwork for this current initiative. After the 2008 hurricanes that killed 800 people and left 165,000 families homeless in Haiti, UNDP worked closely with the Haitian Government on reconstruction efforts, particularly focusing cash-for-work initiatives and watershed rehabilitation. .............................................,,....... .................................................,... ( UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME: UNDP ) ............................................,......... ........................................................MaximsNewsNetwork:
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