Haïti DEED Quarterly Report – January to March 2010

The project targets two watersheds, Limbé in the north and the river systems around Montrouis in the west, and is planned to be implemented for five years from January 2008 to February 2013. The project envisions a market-based approach that integrates improved management of lands and other natural resource assets with expanded enterprise and job opportunities in the production of suitable high-value crops. DEED links the management of natural resources to sound conservation while simultaneously offering livelihood options that provide the essential stimulus for promoting sustainable watershed management. The project works across six integrated technical components, including strengthening community-based producer groups, associations, and enterprises; promoting alternatives to hillside farming; promoting and improving community-based natural resources management; assisting the Government of Haiti in developing sound NRM policies and management systems; developing watershed restoration and management plans with watershed stakeholders; and promoting alliances with the private sector to leverage DEED resources. Key project results include a 20 percent increase in household income in target areas as a result of improvements in agriculture, marketing, and off-farm employment; at least 50,000 hectares of fragile land under environmentally sound management; at least 2,500 hectares of priority conservation areas under improved and sustainable management; at least 15,000 households deriving improved livelihoods from sound NRM; and at least $7 million leveraged from the private sector for investment in enterprise development and watershed management. During the ninth quarter, from January to March 2010, the project faced significant challenges due to the magnitude 7 earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010. Despite the challenges, the project continued to implement its activities, including launching Kout Lanbi Agrikol, a SMS information service targeting farmers and agricultural enterprises in the two watersheds; conducting assessments of the CNIGS, a national facility severely impacted by the earthquake; adding 24 new producer groups to the associations already working with the program; and implementing 27 grants and PPAs representing a total project commitment of over $4,000,000 of project funding and another $5,000,000 in leveraged partner funding. The project continues to submit regular USAID-format Success Stories for its achievements, including the development and strengthening of community-based producer groups, associations, and enterprises; the establishment of marketing agreements between producer groups and hotels; and the implementation of grants and PPAs.