Decentralization and local government is provided for in the Haitian constitution of 1987 subdividing the country as well as instating local councils. The country is divided into 10 departments, 41 arrondissements and 133 communes or municipalities. Municipal councils are elected every 4 years most recently in 2006 and 2007 after encountering many obstacles in the preceding decades . The next elections are tentatively planned for 2011 but no definitive date has been set due to, amongst other things, capacity problems still present after the earthquake of 2010. At the head of the municipality is an elected mayor, on the higher administrative levels government appointed prefects that oversee department planning.
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After the political unrest which occurred between 2001 and 2004 a transitional government made plans to re-energize democratic reform. After the devastating 2010 earthquake, international aid efforts focused on the comprehensive and challenging rebuild of Haiti. Local government was put at the forefront of the reconstruction of Haiti. Although no true legal reforms were made and/or planned efforts were made to increase the scope of existing legislation concerning local authorities.
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Development relied heavily on international aid but was strongly supported by the national government. The Action plan for national recovery and development of Haiti focuses more specifically on a regional approach where urban centers play a pivotal role in redistribution of economic activities and population. This regional approach will create basic and necessary infrastructure, nutrition and healthcare facilities. Within these regional development plans specific local development is being supported in for example the construction of Town Halls and providing training in water- and wastemanagement.
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