Haiti - Earthquake Response

Project Overview:
In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, Heifer Haiti quickly stepped in to provide assistance to more than 2,000 earthquake victims. Complementary to its emergency relief actions, Heifer developed a framework establishing its long-term reconstruction strategy, resulting in the design and launch of the Haiti Umbrella Project. This comprehensive program sets out to rehabilitate the rural livelihoods and foster the sustainable food and income security of 12,000 families over the next three years.

Haiti Earthquake Response

The goals of this project are to train affected communities in values-based community and economic development; improve family's income and nutrition with the distribution of livestock, seeds, and agricultural training; and strengthen project participants resiliency to future disasters.

Over 3,000 families have been directly assisted by this project and these families will serve as an anchor for further development within their communities.

Key Updates:

Food and water aid for 1,200 families.
Transportation for 251 people migrating from Port-au Prince to the rural areas.
Construction of a communal road in Dupré linking farmers to market, benefiting approximately 3,000 families.
Distribution of 913 heads of livestock (cows, goats and sheep) restoring lost assets and providing a means of income generation for 353 families.
Construction of four water cisterns benefitting 20 families.
Inventory of 787 earthquake-damaged or destroyed homes belonging to project participants. Repair and reconstruction of these houses is currently under way.
Assistance to 200 families in the Artibonite in response to the cholera outbreak through the provision of first-aid kits, cholera prevention training, water filters, treatment and replacement of goats.

Project Story:

In March 2010, Heifer deployed a team to carry out a five-month post-earthquake assessment. Their findings were compiled in the Strategic Guidelines for Heifer's Intervention in Haiti, framing Heifer's rural livelihoods development strategy for 2010-2020. The assessment was conducted in all ten departments and included consultations and briefings with community groups, donors, Haitian government officials and non-governmental organizations.

Trainings were held with more than 60 local organizations to identify potential project partners and build the capacity of organizations in project development. As a result, Heifer received and reviewed 60 proposals and selected nine for implementation.

The country-wide post-earthquake assessment and extensive stakeholder consultations resulted in the development of Heifer's Haiti Umbrella Project, From the Ground Up: Re-establishing Sustainable Agriculture-Based Economic Opportunities in Rural Haiti. This three-year program (FY11-FY13) aims to make small-holder farming an ecologically sustainable and economically profitable activity in Haiti within the country's national postearthquake reconstruction framework. The program will improve the nutrition and income security of 12,000 smallholder households -- 6,000 original families and 6,000 through Heifer's Pass on the Gift (POG) -- through the sustainable production of staples for household consumption and the production and trade of livestock, fishing and cash crops. The Umbrella is comprised of sub-projects and has a budget of $7,615,882.

Umbrella Project Objectives:

To reach its core goal of achieving increased food and income security of 12,000 rural families, Heifer will focus its efforts in four main areas:

60 percent of agricultural producers diversify production to include staples for family consumption and cash crops for sale.
Farmers increase yields of targeted crops by 30 percent.
60 percent of livestock producers improve the health of their herds and reduce animal death and disease.
At least 40 community vet technicians are trained in improved livestock management, animal health and nutrition, forage production and breeding techniques.
The supply of indigenous seeds is increased through the establishment of 50 local seed banks.
Sustainable wood production is strengthened through the establishment of 40 tree nurseries.
Families in 10 communities improve resiliency to disaster risk through the stabilization of ravines.

60 percent of agricultural and livestock producers are linked with new market opportunities in targeted sub-sectors.
Revenue generated from agriculture and livestock increases by at least 30 percent.

Heifer project partners fulfill 90 percent of planned objectives.
Project evaluations are documented and disseminated to share best practices.

1,000 original and 300 POG families improve access to water through the construction or repair of water cisterns.
Four communal micro-irrigation systems are built and functioning, benefiting 100 families.
445 damaged homes are repaired, and 342 destroyed homes are rebuilt in Heifer project area.