Haiti – Dominican Republic - Disasters and Conflicts - UNEP

. Thematic analysis. Reviewing and analyzingthe collected data. Through triangulation ofthe various data sources, the team identifiedthe key issues in respect to challengesand opportunities for the population in theborder zone that deserved further researchand analysis. Key issues were identifiedbased on: a) issues that have an inherenttransboundary dimension and linked tothe use of natural resources, b) issues inthe border zone that result in increasedvulnerabilities for the people relying onnatural resource dependent livelihoods, c)issues that are a source of tension betweenthe two countries and that affect, or havethe potential to affect, the stability of theborder zone, d) issues that are a currentsource of cooperation which could befurther amplified. This analysis informedthe thematic chapters 4-8. The chaptersall follow the same structure, beginningwith a short general introduction of thetopic in question, before moving on tothe identified key issues, each treated ina separate sub-chapter. The treatmentof the issues identified, however, differwithin and between the chapters to someextent, mainly as a result of their scopeand impacts in respect to transboundarydynamics.c. Strategic analysis. The strategic analysisincluded a comparative analysis of thelisted key issues, and the identification andassessment of underlying and crosscuttingdriving forces. Furthermore, this part of theanalysis included an assessment of thepotential for incidents, disasters and otherdestabilization tipping points. The strategicanalysis also looked at how the identifiedkey issues are linked to underlying drivingforces. These topics are covered in chapter9 of the report.d. Response development. This step includedthe development of an overall proposedstrategy for response, as well as thedevelopment and costing of detailedrecommendations. These issues, as wellas an analysis of how the recommendationslink back to the key issues that wereidentified and a summary of key findingsand conclusions are found in chapter 10of the report.4) Consultation and completion• The final stage of the assessment processbrought government officials and otherkey stakeholders together at two workshops– one in Port-au-Prince and one in SantoDomingo – for extensive discussions aboutthe conclusions and recommendations ofthe project.• The consultation process was followed bya report revision, finalization, lay-out andpublication of the report in English, Frenchand Spanish.The target audience for this assessment is policymakers and planners in the two Governmentsand the international community supporting theGovernments.Report terminologyThroughout this report, the two countries of Haitiand the Dominican Republic are referred toseparately as Haiti and the Dominican Republicrespectively, and together as the two countries.At no point does the latter term refer to any othertwo countries.The terms Dominican and Haitian should beunderstood as proper adjectives pertaining tonational provenance in the most general sense,and not as carrying an association with thegovernment of either country.To further define that difference: the governmentsof the two countries are referred to asthe Dominican Government and the HaitianGovernment throughout the report and not as Haitior the Dominican Republic, nor as Port-au-Princeor Santo Domingo.The border zone, zone, border area, and areaare used interchangeably in the report – to avoidunsightly repetition – and should all be understoodto refer to the geographical area defined in the‘geographical scope’ section of the introduction,rather than to any political or territorial constructthat is exterior to the report, as in the sense of thephrases de-militarized zone or disaster area.The terms Dominican side and Haitian siderefer to the two sides of the border area inparticular and not to the two sides of Hispaniola ingeneral.Haiti – Dominican Republic: Environmental challenges in the border zone17