Empowerment of Vulnerable Women

through Income Generation

Activities

Port-au-Prince March 2012

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The Approach

1 - Building national capacities and policies for sustainable development Twoyearsaftertheearthquake,Haitiisrebuilding.2011markedthetransitionfromthe humanitarian to the recovery phase andHaiti is now looking towards long termgrowthandsustainabledevelopment.UNDPseekstosupportthisvisionbyprovidingincreasingsupporttostrengthennationalcapacities.Developingsoundpublicpoliciesongrowth,employment,housing,socialprotectionandreconstructionarekeyprioritiesonthepoliticalagenda.Thegoalistoestablisha

national context in which people’scapabilities can flourish; in whichbothmenandwomen,ofallages,candevelop their full potential and leadproductive, creative lives inaccordance with their needs andinterests.The Ministry of Women’s AffairsandWomen’s Rights is the Haitiangovernmental entity mandated topromotegendermainstreaminginallof theHaitian Government’s policies.UNDP is currently supporting the

MinistryofWomen’sAffairs in thedevelopmentofpublicpolicies to reduceviolenceagainst women and promote women’s economic empowerment. UNDP has alsodeveloped partnerships with other governmental bodies, such as the Ministry ofCommerceandIndustry,inordertopromoteinclusiveeconomicpublicpolicies.In parallel to the support provided to Government counterparts, UNDP is alsosupporting 8 job creation interventions in the field throughpartnerNGOs to offerimmediate livelihoods support. The best practices and lessons learned from theseinitiativeswillbeusedtofeednationalpolicies.

2 - Inclusive growth and inclusive markets UNDP wants to ensure that the reconstruction process and the correspondingeconomicopportunitiesare inclusive,beneficial toallwomenandmenofHaitiand are supportive of MDG commitments. Women and girls must benefit from theincreased training, entrepreneurial and employment opportunities of the

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reconstructionprocesswhichwilleventuallyleadtoanincreaseinincome.TheholisticapproachemployedbyUNDPmeans that careful consideration is given to the realitythat increased paid work for women can intensify the strain on domesticresponsibilities.Assuch,appropriatemeasuresmustbedevelopedtoensurethat thewell‐beingofthewomenandtheirfamiliesisnotadverselyaffected.In support of the revitalization of the Haitian economy, UNDP applies the GrowingInclusivemarkets approach. The objective is to ensure that business significantlycontributestohumandevelopmentbydevelopinginclusivebusinessmodelsadaptedtopoor people as potential consumers, aswell as including them in the value chain asproducers, businessowners or employees.To this end,UNDPwill identify successfulsimultaneous pursuits of revenues and social impact by private actors, from socialentrepreneurs –womenandmen‐ to local small andmedium‐sized enterprises, largedomesticcompaniesandmultinationalcorporations,butalsostate‐ownedcompaniesandcivilsocietyorganizations.Thesesuccessfulinclusivebusinessmodelswillbethenusedtobereplicated,andeventuallycontributetothedevelopmentofpublicpolicies.

3 - Participation and economic empowerment of women The reconstruction phase presents continuing opportunities to re‐build socialstructures and processes so that they reflect and articulate not only the needs,interestsandcontributionsofwomenaswellasmen,butalsocurrentbestpracticeonhumanrights,participation,transparencyandprotection.Thisisalsoanopportunitytotransformsystems so that they recognizeandembody the rightsandneedsof grass‐roots women. UNDP is therefore supporting numerous actions to ensurewomen’sexpanded participation at all levels of governmental and non‐governmentalgovernance bodies, such as the communityplatforms in the neighborhoods or theurban planning exercises linked to the reconstruction process. In addition, socialcohesion will be supported through concrete gender‐based violence preventionmeasures, such as, for example, the installation of solar lighting systems in isolatedareasintheneighborhoods.Women’seconomicempowerment is about rights and equitable societies, but it isalso a prerequisite for sustainable development, inclusive growth and theachievement of all the MDGs. Achieving women’s economic empowerment is not a“quick fix”. It takes sound public policies, a holistic approach and long‐termcommitment from all development actors, starting at the design phase of theprogramming.UNDPisfocusingitsactionsonwomen‐ledmicrobusinesstomediumsizeenterprises,particularlywithintheconstructionvaluechain.Inparallel,UNDP’sapproachistosupportthelinkbetweenthevocationaltrainingopportunitiesofferedtoyoungpeople,especiallyyoungwomen,andthedemandofthemarket.

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Partnerships building on female entrepreneurship 1 - The development of a shared strategic analysis and vision UNDPhas amulti‐sectorapproachand seeks to create dynamic networkswith theparticipation of many partners from different backgrounds in order to enrich theknowledge management process.In support to the Ministry ofWomen’s affairs, UNDP issupporting the creation of anetwork of interested partners tofacilitate exchange on women’seconomic empowerment, with afocusonmicro, small andmediumscale enterprises. The objective istodevelopajointstrategicvisionfor partners, based on theevidenceofthefieldexperiencesand conclusions of inclusivemarketsstudies.

2 - Joint partners initiatives : Championship for Young female entrepreneurs TheChampionshipforyoungfemaleentrepreneurswillbelaunchedonMarch8,2012in 15 neighborhoods (in 5 departments) around the theme “connecting girls,inspiringfutures”.Theobjectiveistopromoteandstimulatetheemergenceofyoungfemale entrepreneurs at the community level and sensitize the public on the greatunusedpotentialsofthe1000000Haitiangirlsbetweentheageof18to35.This championship createsalso an excellent opportunityto launch a joint initiativelinking all partners at a veryoperational level: theMinistryof Women’s Affairs, theSecretary of State of Youth,Chambers of Commerce, UNagencies, NGO partners,communityplatforms.

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Partners projects in the field FEMMES EN DEMOCRATIE (FED) Thisfoundationwascreatedin2000withthemissionofempoweringHaitianwomento fulfill their true potential in the domains of economic and entrepreneurialopportunity,politicalparticipation,andlegal/humanrights.FEDorganizesworkshopsonentrepreneurshipandagriculturalproductionandpromotestraditionalcraftsmadebywomenbyorganizinganannualhandicraftfair.FEDhassupportedmorethan37500women, all of themmicro and small business owners andmembers of associationsand/orproductivecooperatives.The FED project, “Promotion ofeconomic opportunities foryoung women in Canapé Vert”,consistsinprovidingwithtrainingand support to 200 women. Thetrainingcomponent,basedonthedemand, consists of threesections: personal development,professional training(cosmetology, crafts, bakery andfood preparation) and businessmanagementtechniques.Afterthetraining these women will eitherreinforce and existing microenterpriseorstartanewonewiththesupportofasmallgrant.

SOFONIAS Foundedin1979inGuatemalainacontextofpost‐earthquakereconstruction,Sofoniashas coordinated actions of physical reconstruction, built schools and communityhousing, supported micro enterprises in post‐catastrophe situations in Nicaragua,Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Jamaica, El Salvador and Sumatra. SofoniasarrivedinHaitiaftertheJanuary2010earthquake.TheyworkinpartnershipwiththeHaitian organization APPEL (Association des Parents et des Professeurs d’ Ecole deLiancourt).Through the project, “Manufacturing and commercialization of constructionmaterialsbyyouthandwomen”, Sofoniaswillprovide training toyoungwomen toproduceandcommercializeconstructionmaterialsinordertobuildaffordablehouses.

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JP/HRO NGO founded by Americanactor Sean Penn following the12 January 2010 earthquake.JP/HRO main efforts includeproviding emergency medicaland primary care services,delivering medical equipmentand medicine, rubble removalfacilitating communityregeneration, management ofInternally Displaced Persons(IDP) camps, distributing foodandwaterpurificationsystems,improving communicationsystems, and developinghousing and education facilities. Furthermore, JP/HRO has started a livelihoodsprogram to help those people who have an artistic potential and the capacity totransformitintoabusinessproject.Theproject“HandsTogetherCooperative”isthecontinuityoftheprogramstartedinOctober2010withthePetionvilleClubandMaxocampscraftcooperative.Theprojectconsistsinestablishingaworkshopof48artisansfromtheNeretteandMorneHerculeneighborhoodstoproduceandexhibitthecraftsandtrainingtheminmarketing,thusallowingthemtobettercommercializetheirproducts.Attheendoftheprojectthe48artisanswillbeable toaskFonkoze foracredit increaseandeventually relocateandleave the camps.This firstgroupof48artisanswill transfer theknowledgeacquiredduringtheirtrainingtoanewgroupof25upto40artisans.

INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMITEE (IRC) Founded in1933at therequest of AlbertEinstein, the IRC offerslifesaving care and life‐changing assistance toconflict and crisisaffected populations.The IRC has beenworking in Haiti sincethe January 2010

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earthquake, providing holistic programming in the areas of children and youthprotection, women’sprotectionandempowerment,protection,economic recoveryand development andenvironmental health. SinceJuly2010,theIRChasworkedto address the specificprotection needs of womenand children in earthquake‐affectedPort‐au‐Prince.ICR’s project consists in apartnership with ZanmiTimoun, a Haitian NGOfounded in 2001 which is aleaderinchildprotectionwork,particularlyontheissueofchildrenlivingindomesticservitude. 100 vulnerable youth (at least 70% girls) from the communes of Delmas,TabarreandPort‐au‐Prince(neighborhoodsofSaint‐Martin,Delmas3,Solino,Village Solidarites and Cite Soleil), will be equipped with the skills necessary toestablish their own enterprises or to access more meaningful employmentopportunities.Ultimately,theIRCaimstoincreasetheeconomicselfsufficiencyandselfconfidence of the youth through tailored business and life skills training, marketknowledge,mentoringandaccess to financial services and start‐up support.The IRCwillenableZanmiTimountoprovidethesesupportservicesdirectlytoyouthinordertoensuresustainabilityofprojectinterventions.

BRAC ONGfoundedin1972inBangladeshwithapresencein10countriesinAfricaandAsiaand inHaiti.BRAC’smission is to empowerpeople and communities in situationsofpoverty,illiteracy,diseaseandsocialinjusticedevelopingsupportservicesintheareasof human rights and social empowerment, education andhealth, economicempowerment and enterprise development, livelihood training, environmentalsustainability and disaster preparedness. BRAC arrived to Haiti 6 years ago andprovides Fonkoze with technical assistance within the framework of the program“Chemenlavimiyo»,anadaptationofaBRACspecialprogramthatreaches10%ofthepoorestpopulationwhodon’thaveaccesstofinancialservicesandotheraidprograms.The objective of BRAC’s project “Economic capacity development of vulnerablewomenvictimsoftheearthquakeinsuburbanareasofPort‐au‐Prince(Clercine)”

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istoestablishincomegeneratingactivitiesfor150vulnerablewomenfromClercinebydevelopingeconomicactivitiesrelatedtotheclothingmakingandchickenbreed.Theproject activities will consist of training the 150 women, providing them with thenecessary inputsandequipmentviadonationsandassisting themoveraperiodof6months.

SECOURS ISLAMIQUE FRANCE (SIF) ONGfoundedin1992basedinFrancethathasthemissionofassistingandprotectingvictimsofnaturalcatastrophes,armedconflictsandeconomiccrisis.SIFismemberoftheIslamicReliefWorldwidegroupand ispresent inmorethan30countriesallovertheworlddeployingprogramsofemergency,post‐emergencyanddevelopment.SIF’soffice inHaitiopened in January2010focusing itsactions in thecamps fordisplacedpeople.SIF’sprojet, “Livelihoodsprotectionand improvement intheurbanareaofPort‐au‐Prince”, will consist of training 200 people (80% women) in food preparationaccordingtofoodhygienestandardsandinfinancesmanagementsotheycanincreasetheir productivity, aswell as training them in the use of solar stoves and ovens, andproviding them with a set of cooking material. The project will focus on 4neighbourhoods:ChampsdeMars,Carrefourfeuilles,LalueetTurgeau.GOAL IrishONG thatarrived toHaiti in January2010 in response to theearthquake.GOALactivities includewater, food and sanitationdistributions, aswell as theprovisionofemergency healthcare, and emergency and transitional shelters. Additionally, GOALresponded to the emergency cholera outbreaks by providing additional water andsanitationfacilities,hygienepromotionandcholeracasereferralfor50,000earthquake‐affectedbeneficiariesin20temporarysettlementsinPort‐au‐Prince.GOAL’s project, “Women’s economic empowerment and social support throughcapacity building of a local women’s association in Villa Rosa”, consists in apartnershipwith a local women organisation: COFAD (Collectif des Femmes pour leDéveloppement deVilla Rosa). This partnership aims, on one hand, to reinforce 200women capacities through workshops on business planning development andmicrocreditprograms,andontheotherhand,torecruit25womenfromVillaRosaareaandprovidethemwithvocationaltrainingforaperiodof6months.Afterthetraining,theywillhaveaprofessionthatwillallowthemtoaccessthelabormarket.Theywillbeencouragedtodeveloptheirbusinessplanandtoapplyforamicrocreditloantosetuptheirownenterprise.ThebestbusinessplanwillbenefitofadonationofUS$500.

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Fondation Kole Zepol (FONKOZE) Fonkozeis“Haiti’sAlternativeBankfortheOrganizedPoor.”Itwasfoundedin1995bycatholic Haitian priest Joseph Philipe and is the largest microfinance institution inHaiti,servingmorethan56,000womenborrowers,mostofwhomliveandworkinthecountrysideofHaiti.FonkozeisafamilyofthreeinstitutionsworkingtogethertowardshelpingHaiti’spoorremovethemselvesfrompovertyandcreateademocraticeconomyin Haiti. These institutions are: Fonkoze the Foundation, Fonkoze Financial ServicesandFonkozeUSA.Fonkoze’s project,“Project to supportmicro enterprisesrun by women”,consists ofintegrating 30additionalwomen tothe program tosupport tosmallandmedium enterprises«Zafen». Thesewomen, who mustalreadyhaveamicroenterprise and befrom themetropolitan area,will get business training. They will be recruited through a network of womenorganizations such as COFAVIV, SOFA, KAY FANM and FED. The program consists oftraining these women on credit management with the objective of enlarge theirenterprisesandgivingamaximumof$3000tothefemaleentrepreneurs.

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16/6 Empowering women through the rehabilitation of neighborhoods