Revenue Creation for Women in Rural Haiti

The state of affairs in Haiti continue to worsen at some levels:  While insecurity has reved up and access to fuel for transportation is difficult at best, it is essential that there is continuity and opportunity to create revenue while unemployment is so high across the nation, reported at 70% by the World Bank in 2016.  In general the cost of living is unaffordable and the rate of exchange to the USD has shifted from 60 gourdes (HDG) to 1 USD  .  

An effective alternative is community credit among grassroots organizations.  The partnership of the Lambi Fund with rural farmers has prioritized community credit to assist women to access gainful activities.  

2018 is a commendable year as we have reached 498 women farmers whose harvesting capacities were enhanced at two levels:

a. Having access to low interest loan  (2-3%) that benefit the growth of their membership organizattion and substantially support sustainable agriculture

b. Assuring timely repayment so that the opportunity is available to other members of the organization, thereby sharing and extending opportunity; and

c. Lambi Fund further serves the community by assuring the training of those who receive the loans to bring a product or a service needed by the community for the community dwellers; like availing school supplies in a remote village without a formal store. The availability of the loan motivates creativity and diversity in supplying in the local market the needed goods.  Small entrepreneurs define the season for the product and invest in the season accordingly.  It is a marketing process and a pattern of supplying for the demands of the community.  It is also focussed on increasing and enhancing revenue, it is profit based activity.  These women are managing, needs, seasonal investment with profit focus, reaching population in need and improving their investment.

The Lambi partnership resulted in 498 women from 9 rural farming communities who initiated their own businesses and create revenue that allowed them to meet their payment schedules in a timely manner and meet some of their family responsibilities in the off season of planting.  These women have great pride of their capacity and level of responsibility to the organizations and the solidarrity of the membership.

Links:

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