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The Haiti Hope Project
The Haiti Hope Project was a five-year, $ 9.5 million partnership between companies, multilateral development institutions, the US government. and nonprofit organizations, designed to create opportunities for mango farmers and their families.
Context
Once known as “the Pearl of the Antilles”, throughout its history Haiti has been an important exporter of coffee, vanilla, sugar, cocoa and essential oils. Unfortunately, the deforestation, soil degradation, overpopulation and political instability of recent decades have meant a high cost for the rural areas of Haiti. The trade embargo in 1994 resulted in the disappearance or severe reduction of several industries, and the 2010 earthquake had a severe impact on people, markets and the already deficient infrastructure of the country. However, the disaster provoked the action of the Haitian people and their international allies, and in the last three years, there have been significant improvements in road infrastructure, access to financing and support for business and foreign investments.
Opportunity
The reconstruction and recovery of Haiti require long-term sustainable solutions to increase agricultural productivity and income. Haitian producers produce around 250 thousand tons of mangoes per year, but less than 5% reach the lucrative export markets due to inefficient harvest practices and challenges to transport production. With better agricultural skills and commercial practices, producers can increase their income, and the mango sector can generate broad economic growth in the country.
Strategy
The Haiti Hope Project was a five-year, $ 9.5 million partnership between companies, multilateral development institutions, the US government. and nonprofit organizations, designed to create opportunities for mango farmers and their families.
Launched in 2010, the company helped face the challenges that until recently limited the potential of the mango industry in Haiti. The goal of Haiti Hope was to increase mango income for 25,000 Haitian farmers through training in production and marketing, access to finance and markets. In keeping with the TechnoServe approach, which seeks to promote business solutions for poverty, the project instructed farmers, traders and exporters how to earn more with their usual efforts and resources.
Working with Haitian farmers, farmer groups, mango exporters and the Haitian government, the project helped build new companies, accelerate existing ones and build relationships with the industry that benefited producers. In addition to coordinating among stakeholders, Haiti Hope provided direct and practical training on mango tree production and care, collection techniques, quality control, negotiation and marketing, financial and credit management, traceability and food security.
In addition, the Haiti Hope project had a comprehensive approach to gender issues, ensuring not only equal participation between men and women but also equitable benefits of project activities. The participation of both sexes was followed up in all the services offered by the project, as well as the benefits and adoption rates of the new skills.
Results
SKILLS TRAINING: More than 25,100 farmers received training on techniques to manage their trees and produce better quality fruits, as well as sales and negotiation skills. In addition, specialized training in cultivation, grafting, nursery production and business skills helped fill gaps in skilled workers across the industry.
EMPOWERING WOMEN: The project incorporated gender equality in every aspect of its design and implementation. As a result, women comprised more than 30% of the producer group leaders, participated in each type of training and activity in a number equal to that of men, including those traditionally dominated by men, and adopted the skills learned. at similar rates.
CONNECTING FARMERS WITH MARKETS: The project helped more than 262 commercial groups of producers to sell 2,523 metric tons since 2013. The total export value (FOB) of the sales of farmers assisted by the project since 2011 is estimated at $ 7.49 million. In 2015, 94% of the groups made a profit while they paid their members the best prices in the industry. They did it without any subsidy, just for commercial acumen.
SUPPORT FOR CREDIT ACCESS: In partnership with the local commercial bank, Sogesol, more than 9,352 farmers have received more than $ 3.25 million in credit disbursements. The return rates of 96% far exceed the industry average.
MODERNIZATION OF THE INDUSTRY: By working closely with the government of Haiti and the exporters, the project designed safe handling practices and rigorous traceability systems, which were adapted to the only supply chain in Haiti. Through these efforts, the project served to bring world-class food safety practices to the mango industry and to open new markets.
MAKING A SUSTAINABLE CHANGE: The project made sure that the knowledge, skills and systems it created will be preserved well after its completion in December 2015. Taking steps such as the transition from the support of the commercial group of producers to the exporters, and training the staff of the Ministry of Agriculture on traceability, the project delivered the management to ensure that the industry continues to grow in the coming years.
Allies
The Haiti Hope Project is a public-private partnership formed by The Coca-Cola Company (Coca-Cola); the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group; the US Agency for International Development (USAID for its acronym in English); and TechnoServe. The Project also has the support of the Soros Economic Development Fund and other international and local organizations.
Coca-Cola is the largest beverage company in the world, with a portfolio of more than 500 brands and a distribution rate of 1.6 billion portions per year. Coca-Cola is committed to creating sustainable communities, focusing on initiatives that protect the environment, conserve resources and increase the economic development of the communities in which the company operates.
Founded in 1959, the Inter-American Development Bank supports economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean, providing solutions through partnerships with governments, companies and civil society organizations. The Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF) , a member of the IDB group, promotes poverty reduction through the development of the private sector, with emphasis on micro, small and medium enterprises.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency that provides economic, development and humanitarian assistance around the world in support of the goals of US foreign policy.