IFAD in Haiti

IFAD is a major technical and financial partner in rural development in Haiti. The organization began operations in Haiti in 1978. Since then IFAD has approved loans totalling US$90 million for seven programmes and projects with a total cost of US$160.3 million. Through a participatory, community–based approach, IFAD invests in building the capacities of communities, promoting production initiatives and providing poor rural people with access to financial services. Programmes and projects under way and planned by IFAD are in line with the government’s poverty reduction strategy.

IFAD operations target rural communities that are geographically isolated and have weak communication links. The organization works to improve the incomes and living standards of poor rural people who are dependent on subsistence agriculture and have a limited role in the local economy. Their communities are disadvantaged by a lack of support from public institutions and the limited presence of private operators in all sectors.

Throughout the history of IFAD’s operations in Haiti, the organization has supported the government in improving small-scale irrigation. For example, days after the devastating earthquake, IFAD provided US$5.66 million grant to support agricultural production in some of the poorest regions located in the North of Haiti.

The most recent Small-scale Irrigation Development Project builds on lessons learned in the past and in particular from the recently completed Small-scale Irrigation Schemes Rehabilitation Project. The project will strengthen the capacities of the government for the management of water resources. With a grant of US$745,000, effective in 2007, IFAD supports a technical assistance programme that works with water users’ associations and the Ministry of Agriculture to coordinate approaches and methods.
 
There are two other ongoing projects. The Food Crops Intensification Project (Phase II) includes a focus on empowering community-based organizations, such as women’s groups, by the direct transfer of resources. The Productive Initiatives Support Programme in Rural Areas provides a model for development of community-based financial services.

IFAD has contributed US$80,000 to a grant totalling US$340,000 to Fonkoze, Haiti’s leading microfinance institution. The aim is to develop remittances services between Haitian Home Town Associations in the United States of America and community development projects in Haiti. The grant was made under the IFAD-InterAmerican  Development Bank Remittances and Rural Development Programme.
 
Since 1978, throughout years of political turbulence and transition, IFAD has maintained its presence in Haiti, supporting the government‘s efforts to reduce poverty in collaboration with other donors and partners such as the Inter-American Development Bank, the French development agency, and the World Bank. IFAD has actively supported policy development, and the organization contributes to debt alleviation for Haiti under the HIPC process. In 2008 IFAD opened a country presence unit in Port-au-Prince to contribute to better and quicker supervision of its country programme and also to improve dialogue and coordination with the government and other donors.
 
In 2008, IFAD and the Government of Haiti reprogrammed funds to support Haitian smallholders faced with the challenges of the global food price crisis and the disastrous effects of the hurricane season on the agricultural sector. With a total of US$10.2 million, IFAD is helping to boost agricultural production and productivity by providing agricultural input (seeds and tools) to over 240,000 farmers across the country over three planting seasons in 2008 and 2009. This support is being implemented in collaboration with IFAD's sister agency, FAO.

IFAD’s strategy in Haiti
 
The overall strategic objective of the organization is to achieve a sustainable improvement in the incomes and food security of poor rural people. The aims of the country strategy are to:

• boost the participation of rural grass-roots organizations in the development process, enabling agricultural producers’ associations to develop the services and skills needed to provide their members with quality support
• improve small-scale farmers’ access to water resources to increase the availability of local foodstuffs, stimulate growth and reduce inequalities
  
• improve small-scale farmers’ market access, enabling them to add value to their products and access remunerative markets
  

In line with the government’s poverty reduction strategy, IFAD invests in activities that contribute to:

• promoting sustainable agriculture, particularly through improved land use management
• revitalizing agricultural production by facilitating access to production factors for small-scale producers
  
• modernizing rural infrastructure, particularly irrigation infrastructure
  
• revitalizing agro-processing by supporting rural microenterprises
  
• establishing a new marketing strategy
  
• strengthening production support structures by strengthening rural organizations financing agricultural development by supporting the creation of rural financial services
  

Projects have harmonized approaches to making decentralized rural financial services available to poor people, and they regularly organize and cofinance joint activities and learning and sharing events.

Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP, 2009)

Source: IFAD