MARKET ASSESSMENT

Sustainable Employment &

Enterprise Opportunities for Out-Of-School Youth In

FINAL REPORT Prepared for USAID’s EQUIP III IDEJEN Project in Haiti

1

FINAL REPORT

Prepared for USAID!s IDEJEN Program by EcoVentures International www.eco-ventures.org

EcoVentures International is a non-profit organization specializing in market development and support services around environmental enterprise opportunities for specialized target groups, including youth, worldwide. EcoVentures International conducts market studies, facilitates market linkages, develops curriculum, assists in appropriate technology identification, conducts training, designs programs and manages projects.

Prepared by: Megan Hill Kate Davenport Margie Brand with support from Pei Cheng Marissa Johnson David Sturza

November 2008

Disclaimer: The authors! views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the view of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

Contents

Foreword

1. Project Background 1 1.1 IDEJEN Program 1 1.2 EcoVentures International 2

2. Study Overview and Methodology 3 2.1 Market Assessment Studies 3 2.2 Background to the Process 5 2.3 Key Considerations 6 2.4 Methodology 9 2.5 Tool Development and Testing 12

3. Potential Industries for IDEJEN Youth Participation 13 3.1 Aquaculture 13 3.2 Bamboo / Bamboo for Construction 18 3.3 Clay and Ceramics 23 3.4 Construction 27 3.5 Fruit Processing 32 3.6 Mango Industry 37 3.7 Mechanics 42 3.8 Recycling 45 3.9 Solar Energy Systems 48 3.10 Sugarcane Bagasse and Fuel Briquetting 53

4. Market Assessment Tools to Identify Opportunities for Youth 59 4.1 Sector Selection Decision-Making Checklist 61 4.2 Market Opportunities Decision-Making Checklist 62 4.3 Sector-Specific Assessment Framework 64 4.4 Sector-Specific Assessment Framework – Detailed Questions 65

5. Summary and Final Recommendations 69

Appendices I: Overview of Business Situation of Targeted Geographic Areas 70 II: Illustrative Use of Sector-Specific Summary Tool 72 III: Additional Sectors Reviewed as Secondary Opportunities 76 - Poultry 76 - Sustainable Transport / Bicycles 78 - Food Processing and Essential Oils / Moringa oleifera 80 IV: Key Contacts 84

Glossary

Acronyms

EDC Educational Development Center EQUIP III Educational Quality Improvement Program (EQUIP) funded by USAID under the Cooperative Agreement Leader With Associates (LWA) Mechanism EVI EcoVentures International IDEJEN USAID!s Haitian Out-of-School Youth Livelihood Initiative INFP Haitian Institut National de Formation Professionnelle - The National Vocational Training Institute in Haiti LWA USAID Leader With Associates Award contracting mechanism USAID United States Agency for International Development

Terms

Bagasse sugar cane waste Moringa multi purpose tree

1 Foreword

This final report of the Market Assessment of designing capacity building tools for youth and Sustainable Employment and Enterprise practitioners so that they would be able to continue Opportunities for Out-of-school Youth in Haiti has researching viable market opportunities in the been prepared for the IDEJEN Haitian Out-of- constantly evolving marketplace. This document School Livelihood Initiative, a program managed summarizes the research that was conducted by by the Education Development Center, Inc., EVI over the course of eight months, together with through USAID!s EQUIP III Leader With information on the tools designed and Associates (LWA) Award. This research is recommendations for their use. supporting IDEJEN in achieving its recently expanded mandate to serve 13,000 youth by The research and assessments focused on both 2010, through supporting the program!s key employment opportunities as well as self- objectives of re-integrating marginalized youth into employment enterprise opportunities. The initial society through basic education and livelihood desk-research was conducted from a country-wide training, and improving the ability of local perspective, investigating potential opportunities in Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to all departments of Haiti. The field research, address the programming needs of out-of-school conducted in July 2008, was focused on three youth. specific regions in Haiti for which IDEJEN had particular interest in investigating new The report is an integration of EcoVentures opportunities: , Gros Morne, and Les International(EVI)!s initial desk-study Preliminary . Market Survey for Employment and Enterprise Development Opportunities for Out-of-School Of some twenty different sectors explored, key Youth (March 2008) and field study Market opportunities were found in aquaculture, Opportunities for Youth in Haiti (July 2008). This construction, solar energy systems, bamboo, clay document consolidates the market assessment and ceramics, mechanics, fruit processing, research, describes the assessment and decision- mango, and plastics recycling. making tools developed, and provides recommendations for IDEJEN in the use of these The recommendations and tools developed are tools and the pursuance of next steps in each designed as a basis for continued research and sector. investigation into the various employment and enterprise opportunities. It is our hope that these In January 2008, EVI was contracted by EDC to assessments, tools and recommendations can be research market-relevant and sustainable of ongoing use and look forward to feedback on its businesses opportunities for Haitian youth that use by practitioners and youth alike. they could access quickly and with high growth and employment potential. In order to increase program sustainability, EVI was also tasked with The EVI Team

Project Background

1.1 IDEJEN Program

The IDEJEN Haitian Out-of-School Youth Livelihood Initiative is designed to provide education and job training for youth ages 15-24 with little to no formal education. Employment and enterprise development opportunities to help youth secure their livelihoods are hindered by Haiti!s position as the poorest country in the Western hemisphere as well as its conflict-ridden history.

Making up over 20% percent of the population, Haitian youth face a myriad of obstacles to their development. Key challenges include family instability, lack of mentorship and guidance, absence of father or both parents, domestic violence and insecurity, and abuse (33% of girls ages 5-9 and 43% of girls ages 10-14 have been sexually abused)1. Additionally, the everyday environment is generally highly competitive due to the scarcity of basic resources. At the household level, immediate needs take priority over long-term investment strategies.

These challenges are compounded by the fact that more than fifty percent of Haitian youth aged 20-24 have not completed school2, and 47.1% of the population of age fifteen is illiterate3. At 47%, Haiti has the highest youth unemployment rate in Latin America and the Caribbean, there is a constant shortage of skilled labor in the labor market, and most youth are employed in the informal sector, primarily retail. Many are also involved in physically dangerous or demanding activities such as prostitution, gambling, and manual transport of goods.4

The IDEJEN program, managed by Education Development Center (EDC) under USAID!s EQUIP3 Leader With Associate (LWA) award, aims to address these issues. The IDEJEN program works with cohorts of youth in rural and urban areas across Haiti, each operating within a unique marketplace situation. When the pilot program began in 2004, IDEJEN started by employing a youth mapping process to determine the economic realities of the youth population they would be working with and to understand those youth!s own perspectives of business and economic opportunities. Based on this, EDC planned the initial vocational training tracks,5 working with the Haitian Institut National de Formation Professionnelle (INFP – The National Vocational Training Institute) to adapt their curricula for the IDEJEN model.

The IDEJEN program utilizes a now-renowned livelihood development model by which out-of-school youth are provided with basic education, health, nutrition, life skills, and sports training together with specific vocational and entrepreneurial skills. This typically includes a twelve-month training program in non-formal basic education and vocational training, followed by six months of a Livelihood Accompaniment Phase, which includes peer mentoring and coaching to transition to further schooling and/or employment and small business creation. EDC worked with various organizations to design the initial livelihoods and entrepreneurship curricula. Street Kids International (SKI) adapted its Street Business Toolkit for the entrepreneurship track and Youth Build assisted in reinforcing the curricula for construction training.

The IDEJEN program operates in communities over 8 of the 10 regions with training centers managed by Community Based Organizations (CBOs), as well as one Youth Career Center per region, managed in general by the regional chambers of commerce. In each region, a Field Agent (aged between 20-30 years) acts as the key coordinator between IDEJEN staff and the communities and training centers. Each center

1 Justesen, Michael and Dorte Verner. “Factors Impacting Youth Development in Haiti.” World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 4110, January 2007 2 Ibid. 3 CIA. The World Factbook: Haiti, 2003 estimate 4 Barton-Chery, Erin. “Economic Realities and Opportunities for Haitian Out-of-School Youth In Haiti.” Prepared for EQUIP3/IDEJEN, USAID!s Haitian Out-of-School Youth Livelihood Initiative. July 2006. 5 These include such tracks as masonry, carpentry, artisanal crafts, plumbing, electrician, fruit processing, floral arrangement, dressmaking and tailoring, tiling and painting, shoe making, car maintenance, and others.

1 Project Background

manages two classes of 25 youth who go through the livelihood and vocational training, with the option of returning to formal school (5th or 6th grade), pursuing vocational training, following an entrepreneurial track or taking on an internship or job, following their classroom experiences. Each center trains youth along two vocational tracks.

From the initial stages of the IDEJEN program, youth mapping and rapid participatory appraisal techniques were used to engage youth within their local community contexts and to feed into program design and ultimately implementation. Independence and personal choice have been a hallmark of the IDEJEN program. By empowering youth to look for and identify market opportunities, this youth process provided the program with general information on the local markets as well as the youths! general situation. In 2005, Erin Barton- Chery, a consultant to IDEJEN, adapted a set of the youth mapping and rapid appraisal tools used by IDEJEN and gathered in-depth information from three IDEJEN sites to determine the economic reality of the youth there, as well as to obtain some real numbers in regards to the local markets. This provided IDEJEN with critical information for tailoring their livelihood development programs, including insights into both community members! and youths! perceptions of requirements for success in business; general competency needs; general economic situation in the different areas; and youth participation in the economy. The activity also allowed the youth to independently connect with businesses in their community and to critically think about their own situation.

By 2006, the IDEJEN pilot program had served 650 youth and by 2008, an additional 2,200. Due to the success of the program, it was tasked by USAID to scale up and train some 13,000 youth by 2010. This required expanding within the regions where IDEJEN already operated and diversifying the vocational and entrepreneurial training it delivers. EcoVentures International (EVI) was contracted by EDC to conduct a market assessment to determine high-growth, high-opportunity markets into which youth can successfully enter to find employment or microenterprise opportunity and, therefore, to help provide guidance as to the type of marketable vocational training implementing partners can provide to a large number of youths. EVI was also contracted to develop simple tools that organizations could use to provide decision-making support as they identify and develop potential opportunities for youth.

1.2 EcoVentures International

EcoVentures International, Inc. (EVI) is a non-profit organization specializing in market development and support services around environmental enterprise opportunities for specialized target groups worldwide. A key focus for EVI is on youth engagement in environmentally sustainable business and market opportunities.

EcoVentures International conducts market studies, facilitates market linkages, develops curriculum, assists in appropriate technology identification, conducts training, designs programs and manages projects.

EVI has experience supporting the development of youth micro-enterprise and sustainable markets over the past 5 years, in over 15 countries, including: Bangladesh, Costa Rica, East Timor, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States, and Zambia. EVI!s experience in this area ranges from market development research, tool and curriculum development, youth training and training-of-trainers, youth business mentoring, establishment of youth business support structures, developing support tools and coordination structures for use by NGOs and CBOs, and researching and compiling youth-appropriate technologies for fast-growing sustainable business opportunities.

More recently EVI was recognized as a finalist in the distinguished UNDP, UNEP and IUCN!s International SEED (Supporting Entrepreneurship and Environment through Development) Award 2007.

2 Study Overview

2. Study Overview and Methodology

EVI designed this project with the recognition that youth cannot only be equipped with business training skills and support structures without careful consideration of the type of businesses and industries they enter into, and the appropriate support and market linkages for these businesses. So often youth are guided into enterprises that have low market potential, are not meeting immediate community needs, that are socially or environmentally unsustainable, and that are replications of other businesses that are already run extensively throughout the community.

EVI recognized that IDEJEN needed support in working with youth in setting up employment initiatives and running micro-businesses and that are relevant to the market, fill community needs, and have immediate marketability. Youth trainers need to be provided with training and guidance on how vocational training, technical skills training, and business training need to be focused around initiatives with realistic, high impact, value-added, environmentally sustainable, and appropriate market development opportunities.

2.1 Market Assessment Studies

Gros Morne

Hinche

Les Nippes

EcoVentures International (EVI) conducted Market Assessment Studies across various sectors that showed both growth and competitiveness potential, appeared to be environmentally sustainable, and presented themselves as being relevant to the realities of youth from both a needs and asset-based perspective. EVI also developed tools that could be used by the IDEJEN staff and local implementing partners to review the changing market conditions and reassess and adapt the program to reflect such changes in need and demand. Several steps were involved in the market assessment and tool development process.

EVI initially conducted desk research over a four-month period (which included reviewing over 80 reports and studies on Haiti and conducting over 50 telephone and email interviews with relevant stakeholders – see Appendix V) prior to a three-week field visit to Haiti in July 2008. The initial research identified key potential, cross-regional industries for youth to be involved in that fit into the EVI Sector Selection Framework for Youth. The Framework includes factors such as market relevancy, growth potential, suitability to youth, potential for

4 Study Overview

youth inclusion, training requirements and financial needs, and environmental sustainability – and is described in more detail in the following section.

Sustainable business opportunities for youth refer not only to businesses that incorporate environmentally and socially sustainable business practices into their internal operations, but more specifically, businesses that offer environmentally and socially orientated products and services. EVI supported IDEJEN, by identifying opportunities for youth-run employment and micro-businesses that: can be started with no / extremely low capital; are value-added to initiatives youth are already familiar with; are market relevant (i.e. have viable market potential); are environmentally sustainable – by offering environmental products and services; are youth appropriate; have medium to high growth opportunities; and are geographically, socially and culturally relevant.

The process identified initial industries relevant across most regions of Haiti that seemed to provide particularly good potential for youth employment and enterprise opportunities. These were aquaculture, bamboo for construction, mini-solar panel assembly and distribution, fuel briquetting, poultry, bicycle-related businesses and moringa.

Key Sectors Identified from Initial Research Following the initial desk report, IDEJEN hired an Aquaculture Fuel briquetting independent Haitian consultant, Camoens Rene, to Bamboo (for Poultry make initial contact with key market players in the construction) Bicycle selected locations and identify additional opportunities Mini solar panel Moringa for investigation. EVI worked closely with this consultant to design field questions related to the initial sectors identified by EVI. Through a series of focus groups and interviews, the consultant spoke with members of the local chambers of commerce and with local business people to determine which industries and opportunities were most active locally and would therefore likely show more immediate opportunities for youth employment or small business development. A month later, EVI staff met with Mr. Rene in Port au Prince and, together with him, conducted a two-week rapid field appraisal of the various sectors identified in the initial research.

The preliminary desk research allowed EVI to gain a broader perspective on the current activities in Haiti prior to the field visit, and develop a short list of key sectors to be studied in more depth in the field, initially by the local consultant and later by EVI staff. During the field visit hypotheses and tools could be ground-truthed and tested.

EVI conducted field research in three specific regions of Haiti into which IDEJEN was expanding, on which they had very little information, and where youth mapping had not been done. These were neighborhoods of Gros Morne, Hinche, and Les Nippes (including both Miragoane and Petite Riviere de Nippes).

Key Sectors Identified after Field Research The field research affirmed the opportunities for youth employment and enterprise in certain of the sectors Aquaculture Clay and ceramic identified initially and revealed additional sectors that Construction Fruit processing provided significant opportunity. After the field research Bamboo (for Solar energy the final sectors recommended for IDEJEN to focus youth construction) systems opportunities on were: aquaculture, bamboo - for Mangoes Mechanics construction, clay and ceramics, construction, fruit Sugarcane Bagasse Recycling processing, mango industry, mechanics, recycling, solar Fuel Briquetting energy systems, sugarcane bagasse and fuel briquetting.

EVI designed several tools for use by IDEJEN staff and implementing partners, as well as potentially by youth themselves. These include a Sector Selection and a Market Decision-Making Checklist and a Sector-Specific Assessment Framework. EVI designed the sector selection and assessment tools to facilitate understanding

4 Study Overview

among IDEJEN staff and youth participants of appropriate market opportunities for youth. The tools also supported the staff in understanding how EVI had identified and short-listed different sectors, an important part of EVI!s role in building local staff capacity.

The IDEJEN program operates training centers in each of the regions where it operates, which provide training and support to youth and local IDEJEN training partners

Avoiding Market Distortion Potential of Income-Generating Activities in Training Centers In order to promote sustainability of the program post-funding, IDEJEN encourages the strongest centers to be engaged in an income-generating activity related to its vocational training tracks, while simultaneously providing youth with on-the-job training as part of a value-added experience. As part of its research, EVI identified income-generating opportunities for the centers. In doing so, EVI gave careful consideration of the subsequent market role to be played by these centers and highlighted the need to avoid the potential for market distortion, particularly if the centers are not able to continue delivering products or services to the market directly, after project funds have ended.

2.2 Background to the process

EVI approached the assessment with key pieces of information in mind: that the informal sector in Haiti has the most immediate demonstrated potential for growth (as discussed further below), that specific generic skills are needed in the workforce in order to help Haiti achieve its development goals, and that there is a recognized need for the country to become more self-reliant, particularly in terms of food and energy security. The initial study and the resulting identification of key markets into which to link youth and/or develop further, reflects this perspective, and the field research aims to identify immediate opportunities within or related to markets outlined in the initial studies. The primary markets identified and researched were selected for a number of reasons. They address everyday needs (food, shelter, energy, transportation), provide opportunities for microenterprise, and require cross-cutting skills applicable to numerous jobs, therefore increasing long-term employability on the job market.

According to the 2007 KATA (Konbit ak tet ansanm) Haiti Workforce Gap Analysis, the informal sector not only has the most demonstrated potential for growth, it also provides the most opportunities for and is the largest employer of the poor. The analysis also states that in the next three years, the microenterprise sector is projected to be the only group of all the enterprise sectors in Haiti to significantly increase hiring across the board. The informal sectors that these microenterprises operate within are also the most difficult in which to obtain quantitative, unbiased information on. For this reason the pre-field visit work by Mr. Rene played a key role in identifying some of these opportunities. Time in Port au Prince during the field visit provided EVI with additional perspectives on how different sectors investigated would have market relevancy in a number of different locations.

Background research included a literature review on topics ranging from youths! perceptions of employment opportunities to trade regulations between Haiti and the United States. In particular, EVI looked to understand the role of the informal versus the formal sector, Haiti!s current development goals, and the industries that are currently a focus on the national level and/or part of large development projects. Additional research was conducted on ongoing, recently completed, and future programs and projects that might impact different sectors of the Haitian economy, so as to find opportunities to link with other projects in such a way that might

5 Study Overview

support and leverage both projects and have the greatest impact.

EVI investigated different industries and specific products by identifying value chain functions and supporting market roles that may be underdeveloped. These underdeveloped functions and roles provide an opportunity for business entry, while roles that are that are redundant or add little value and are thus flooding the market should not be a focus at this point in time.

EVI developed and continuously updated a database of key informants with expertise in Haitian social, environmental, and enterprise development issues, the Haitian economy in general, as well as specific knowledge of sectors in which EVI identified opportunities. Key informants varied in their expertise from business and technical to community development. EVI conducted key informant interviews by phone and email from Washington DC and in-person during the field research phase. EVI expanded its key informant database to include contact information for players in the sectors identified in this report - these contacts are provided in the Appendices.

2.3 Key Considerations

An important step to beginning the sector analyses was mapping out the different product value chains with known, assumed, and unknown information in order to identify connections between different chains and actors within those chains (e.g. necessary support services and input materials), and to understand what waste materials from one product!s chain might feed into the supply side of other chains.

EVI analyzed opportunities based on several key considerations

o Market relevancy o Growth potential o Suitability to youth o Potential for youth inclusion o Employability versus income generation o Vocational training requirements o Environmental sustainability o Financing needs

Market relevancy - In terms of market relevancy, EVI focused on markets that address everyday needs, predominantly: food, shelter, energy, and communication. This is largely due to the high levels of and small amount of disposable income for things beyond everyday needs. Microenterprises in Haiti generally address this daily market.

Growth potential - EVI focused on the broader growth and sustainability potential of sectors, considering both longer-term economics and environmental opportunities and constraints. (A simple example of this: charcoal production and selling can be a lucrative business in Haiti. This is however not environmentally sustainable as at some point in time, if charcoal production is promoted, Haiti will rapidly deplete the number of trees from which charcoal is sourced. The charcoal producers will therefore no longer be able to continue their work and will go out of business.) EVI focused rather on options that would allow for the long-term sustainability of the business opportunity environmentally and economically, which also results in greater national security for a country that is currently extremely dependent on external resources. (As an example, an alternative to charcoal might be bio-mass briquette production. Biomass briquettes are produced from the organic waste from farm and office activities, such as paper and leaves – these are used as a fuel for heating

6 Study Overview

and cooking. These resources will not necessarily be depleted as the paper is the reuse of material that already exists, resulting from our day-to-day activities, and the leaves are a by-product of natural ecosystem activities.)

Suitability to youth - EVI!s primary considerations for market opportunities that are suitable to youth are listed below. Unfortunately, due to the slow market conditions and levels of poverty in some locations, not all of these criteria can be optimally met in all circumstances, but this does not negate the importance of considering these criteria. (See Table 2.2 for a full justification of these criteria):

Indicators of Suitability to Youth in Haiti • Amount of training necessary for a particular skill to be usable in the workforce • Transferability of skills • Amount of monetary or non-monetary assets necessary for business generation • Access to financing and capital • Personal safety of the youth while working or operating the business • Safety of business physical assets • Family obligation (financial, social, and time considerations • Health considerations and physical ability • Peer perception of business activity • Long-term employment potential

Potential for youth inclusion - As over half the Haitian population is under 20 years of age, potential for youth inclusion in sectors was less of a limitation than it would be in other countries with a higher median age and larger older (and more competitive) working population. However, EVI did consider types of more advanced skills that might be necessary for successful business generation in different levels of the value chain, focusing more on those enterprise opportunities that do not require more advanced skills for initial success.

Employability versus income generation - EVI considered opportunities for youth entrepreneurs as well as youth employment and/or income generation. Recognizing that not everyone has the same level of entrepreneurial skill, we found opportunities that could be headed by youth and/or provide youth employment. Additionally, we considered opportunities in which youth could be employed by other youth, or microenterprises.

Additional considerations: Environmental sustainability – As noted, there is a focus on sectors and technologies that are both environmentally and economically sustainable. Like many of the economic sectors in Haiti, these sectors are not very developed and need additional development and support. However, skills necessary for success in these sectors are necessary for the general development in Haiti and, therefore, will provide youth with skills that can be applied to a number of different areas, depending on their own prerogative and the opportunities available.

Trends in fuel-efficient technologies and needs – Energy-efficient technologies are generally agreed upon as necessary for the sustainable development of most Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and one of the most universally promoted and constantly developed technologies is fuel-efficient stoves. There are a number of different designs for these stoves, but in general the same skills are needed for the production of these: metal-working and, potentially, pottery skills. Both of these skills are currently being trained at the IDEJEN centers and it would not take much additional input in order to adapt these to produce fuel-efficient stove products. EVI did not conduct extensive research in this area; however, in the appendices, there are

7 Study Overview

lists of current activities in Haiti that could be connected with in the future. Testing the market with different stoves produced at the IDEJEN centers could provide indicators for the youth as to which products to specialize in, in regards to metalworking (stove types) or construction (furniture, machinery tools, etc).

Vocational training – Some of the enterprise opportunities highlighted in the study require specific skills that may not necessitate a great degree of training. Additionally, many of the highlighted skills in the study demonstrate applicability to other sectors and increase employability in other sectors. For example, the machinery necessary for briquetting is either constructed of wood or metal, so training in construction or metal working together with training in fuel-briquetting would provide youth with the skills to build, maintain, and fix their own machinery for their own microenterprise of briquetting or, if they are not interested in briquetting in particular, for applying those construction or metal-working skills in perhaps furniture construction or stove construction.

Financing Needs – Access to finance has been identified as a key area necessary for the upward movement of informal microenterprises to become small businesses. In general, this can be a challenge for Haitians and in particular for youth who have even greater challenge accessing loans. EVI attempted to focus on enterprise opportunities that will not require large capital investment, but recognize that this will be necessary for sustained business growth. Additionally, Development Alternatives International (DAI) has been working on the Support to Haiti!s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Sector program, in which they are exploring ways to further develop the country!s financial services sector in order to promote employment generation, improve livelihoods, and boost the economy. They are working on a joint financial services strategy with other USAID programs in Haiti, including IDEJEN, and opportunities for these developments, including geographic locations of services should be considered when choosing viable business opportunities for particular centers.

Table 2.2: Suitability to Youth Indicators (continued on next page) INDICATOR Recognition Amount of training Recognizing that youth do not have much time for training and necessary for a skill to be should be encouraged to continue schooling rather than incentivized usable in the workforce to stay away from school, it is important to consider market opportunities requiring lower levels of training while providing immediate income generating opportunities.

Transferability of skills Recognizing that markets and economies are dynamic, as well as the transitional nature of the youth population, transferability of skills across sectors is key in identifying viable opportunities that can produce sustained income generating and/or employment options for youth over the long-term.

Amount of monetary or Recognizing that youth have extremely low access to many tangible non-monetary assets assets for business start up, EVI focused on market opportunities necessary requiring low start up assets.

Access to financing and Recognizing that there is low access to financing and capital capital because of perceived high risk dealing with youth and high levels of poverty, EVI focused on market opportunities needing extremely low or no start up financing. Personal safety of the Recognizing child protection considerations, EVI focused on youth while working or enterprise activities that are more safe for youth to be involved in. operating the business Safety of business physical Youth are particularly vulnerable to robbery and enterprises that assets require high-value stock would be at high risk.

8 St udy Overview

Family obligation (financial, Recognizing that in many circumstances youth play support social, and time functions in the household, are often head of households considerations) themselves, and should be encouraged to include social development activities beyond continuous work, EVI focused on market opportunities that would not be too demanding and time intensive. Health considerations and Recognizing high incidence of various illnesses and infections physical ability amongst youth in Haiti, EVI focused on market opportunities that took this into consideration. Peer perception of Recognizing the need for self-motivation and confidence building as business activity integral to youth development, EVI focused on market opportunities that would be highly likely to be viewed as positive within the community and amongst the youths! peers. Long-term employment Recognizing the need for sustained income potential, EVI considered potential market opportunities within sectors that are more likely to be able to grow and develop in the future to increase potential for long-term employment.

2.4 Methodology

EVI!s research methodology is based around the fundamentals of the continually evolving market assessment and market development methodologies in the international economic development industry.

The USAID Microenterprise office provides a succinct summary of these fundamentals in their Enterprise Development resources on Microlinks.org:

- The Value Chain Framework presents a conceptual model of value chains as a market system and the various factors that determine its overall competitiveness and flow of benefits. These factors include: end markets, business enabling environment, inter-firm horizontal and vertical linkages, supporting markets, and upgrading.

- Market Analysis examines the links between actors operating in the same industry and the final markets for the products of that industry. It outlines different market channels and their characteristics and driving forces.

These fundamentals, combined with EVI!s key considerations in youth enterprise development and environmentally sustainable enterprise development, were key bases of EVI!s research and tool development approach for this program.

2.4.1 Desk Research

EVI began the study with desk research from Washington DC that included a review of more than eighty reports and studies and interviews with over fifty experts via email and telephone. The process began with a review of IDEJEN-related publications that identified some of the key constraints and opportunities that youth are currently dealing with in Haiti, including that “youth are most often self-employed merchants. A smaller percentage is also involved in high-risk activities such as prostitution, stealing, and gambling as well as very

9 Study Overview

physically demanding work like porting goods and pushing barrels.”6 An additional useful starting document was the previously mentioned KATA Haiti Workforce Gap Analysis, which provided information on gaps in skilled workers in various industries as well as insight into what types of training is most important to fill these gaps.

From these initial points and an ongoing review of Haitian news, including industry development, political and trade news, natural resources issues, and international development programs, EVI delved into its own knowledge bank of innovative environmental enterprise solutions and best practices in youth enterprise development to expand the search and question viability and relevance of each prospective enterprise or industry. Key questions that the team asked itself are encapsulated in the Sector Selection Decision-Making Checklist and Market Opportunities Decision-Making Checklist tools, available in the Appendix.

The primary goal of this first step was to understand what the current situation is and what potential industry and enterprise opportunities might be for further exploration during the field research. The sectors that were selected for further investigation included: mini-solar panel assembly and distribution; aquaculture; bamboo and bamboo construction; fuel briquetting; poultry; bicycle-related businesses; and Moringa tree cultivation and processing. Of these, four are included in the recommendations section and the three that were eliminated are included in the Appendices.

2.4.2 Preliminary Site Visits and Research

In April of 2008, IDEJEN hired consultant Camoens Rene to conduct preliminary site visits and interviews in order to provide further understanding of the local conditions in the three locales of focus: Hinche, Les Nippes, and Miragoane. Due to poor communication and road infrastructure, these activities provided key insight prior to the EVI team!s field research. An additional visit occurred in June 2008 to further narrow down key sectors identified by Mr. Rene from seventeen categories of economic activity, with one to 23 sub-categories each, down to four key opportunities in each location.

For the first phase of this research, Mr. Rene undertook qualitative methods, including focus groups and individual interviews, and quantitative methods, in the form of a census of the individual businesses within each sector, conducted over 2 days in conjunction with the focus groups. For the second phase, a qualitative approach with more in-depth interviews occurred over 2 days in each location. The final sectors identified include the following, identified by specific location:

Sectors identified by community focus groups Hinche Petite Rivière de Nippes

1. Fruit processing 1. Fruit processing and conservation 2. Poultry 2. Ecologically-sound marine fishing 3. Clay and ceramics 3. Construction 4. Fishing and aquaculture 4. Mechanics Miragoane Gros Morne 1. Construction 1. Mechanics 2. Mechanics 2. Construction 3. Fruit processing 3. Mango industry 4. Electro-mechanics 4. Sugarcane industry

6 Barton-Chery, Erin. “Analysis and Report – Realities and Opportunities for Out-of-School Youth in Haiti.” Prepared for EQUIP3/IDEJEN Haiti July 2006

10 Study Overview

There were interesting overlaps and connections between the results of Mr. Rene!s preliminary research and EVI!s desk research, leading to additional insights into ways that training in particular vocations can have application in other industries or ways that the development of particular local industries can support the growth of other related sectors. For example, in the mango sector there are few direct year-round employment opportunities for youth; however, in order to grow, the sector needs support in electronic communications, which may occur through mini-solar cell-phone chargers, and transportation, which could be an eventual market for recycled plastic crates created through recycling centers slowly emerging in different parts of Haiti.

Following receipt of the results from Mr. Rene, EVI worked to do background research on the additional sectors identified prior to the field visit.

2.4.3 Field Research

The EVI team met with IDEJEN and Mr. Rene in Port au Prince in early August 2008. EVI planned meetings with specific experts in each location to complement the focus group meetings set up by Mr. Rene prior to the visit. For those sectors that the team was not able to cover on-site, additional expert resources were sourced in Port au Prince, including international development practitioners, private sector players, and government institutions.

The information gathering process occurred through informal conversations, with the aim to understand real opportunities for youth, connections between opportunities, and to narrow down specific opportunities and leads in each region. A set of key information points was the basis of this conversation, and are included in the Sector-Specific Assessment Framework available in the Appendices, as a tool for the IDEJEN team and its local partners.

Sectors reviewed during the field visit, per location include the following:

Port au Prince Miragoane Petite Rivière de Nippes - Construction - Auto Mechanics - Fruit Processing, - Mini-solar - Electronics - Construction, with specific - Fruit processing - Construction focus on bamboo and cement - Mango - Clay blocks - Plastics recycling - Auto Mechanics - Dairy - Fishing - Poultry Hinche - Aquaculture - Fruit processing Gros Morne - Clay and ceramics - Construction - Aquaculture - Mango industry - Sugarcane - Briquetting

As mentioned, due to time constraints, the team was unable to cover all of the sectors that were of interest and those that were covered had a very small local sample. On-site time during the field visit was limited and therefore not all sectors could be studied in each location, and time for each was extremely limited. Methods of investigation during this appraisal included interviews with industry leaders and laborers, visits to production sites or points of distribution, and visits to independent (non-IDEJEN-related) training centers. EVI also spoke at length with other development organizations and projects to identify learning and potential areas of collaboration or synergy. Key challenges included time limitations, compounded by the need to speak through a translator for most interviews. It is recommended that further research is done, following the Next Steps guidance provided at the end of each specific sector recommendation.

11 Study Overview

2.5 Tool Development and Testing

EVI was tasked to develop a set of tools for use by the IDEJEN implementing partners and IDEJEN headquarters staff, as well as guides useful for the youth themselves.

EVI used an assessment questionnaire in its own field work to test its utility as a market assessment tool for IDEJEN. EVI then consolidated the information gathered in the research and documented our own analysis steps so that a tool could be developed to take IDEJEN staff through the same process. The section of this report which analyses specific market opportunities for youth in Haiti reflects this process and is written in the same format as the associated Sector-Specific Assessment Framework and its more detailed version, Sector- Specific Assessment Framework: Detailed Questions. The tool guides users through a basic analysis process and creates an outline for the information to facilitate determining the level of opportunity in each sector analyzed.

Taking a step back from the Sector-Specific Assessment Framework, the EVI team recognized that before doing such a thorough analysis it would be important to have a tool to guide selection of the sectors on which to do the analysis. By thinking through the basic questions that one asks about a sector to decide whether to pursue analysis of it, we designed the Sector Selection Decision-Making Checklist. This should be a first step in the market analysis process, covering key considerations to examine when deciding which of many sectors to investigate further. Both of these tools are provided in later sections in this document.

12 Potential Industries for Youth Participation

3.1 Aquaculture

Overview Aquaculture is the cultivation of aquatic organisms under controlled conditions, which may occur in the ocean or in natural or man-made freshwater bodies of water. Freshwater aquaculture is being pursued in Haiti by commercial and community development organizations to address Haiti!s shortage of locally produced protein sources, increase nutritional content of the diets of rural villagers, and to increase Haiti!s presence in the Caribbean fish export market. As with any food product, there are a number of small enterprise opportunities that can be developed in association with fish production, including transportation, processing, and providing support services necessary for the profitability of the product. Additionally, due to the intense national and international interest in scaling up aquaculture activities in Haiti, there are additional job opportunities emerging in the construction and maintenance of the lakes that will hold the fish, and, consequently, maintenance of the machinery necessary for these activities.

Current Activities in Aquaculture in Haiti Aquaculture is an emerging sector in Haiti with interesting developments in both small scale, local production and large scale commercial production in regions that IDEJEN is involved in, primarily Hinche and Miragoane. Fishing in marine waters has occurred for hundreds of years, however the intentional farming and feeding of fish is a recent development. There are two large-scale models of aquaculture currently being pursued in Haiti:

1. The Haiti Fish Development Project (HFDP) is a public-private partnership linked with the commercial ventures Caribbean Harvest / Prodesela and overseen by the Ministry of Agriculture. This program, initially funded by the International Development Bank (IDB), is operating a commercial venture in Lake Azuei in partnership with seven villages surrounding the lake as well as Gataphy, an organization that specializes in small scale water projects in Haiti. Run by Dr. Valentine Abe, the program is focused on community-based producer and harvester networks that link directly to Caribbean Harvest!s fingerling production for inputs and imported fish feed inputs in order to produce the fish size demanded by restaurants and supermarkets in Port Au Prince. Fingerling (baby fish) are produced for the program in Croix des Bouquets by Caribbean Harvest. The project is still sourcing investors in order to establish an export business to produce some 1 million pounds of tilapia fish per year. Currently the project is producing an eighth of that amount through labor-intensive cage farming on the lake, providing employment for young men who might otherwise be illegally employed in the sugarcane fields in the Dominican Republic. All the fish is consumed domestically with primary sales in Port au Prince.

2. Les Freres d!Incarnation in Hinche, a monastery with many community programs including a

13 successful school that incorporates vocational training, is working on lake construction and the creation and training of producer networks on fish production for consumption in the local market. Because they are focusing on the local market and not working towards commercialization, there is no need for imported fish feed within this system. However, Les Freres d!Incarnation indicated that the Haitian League in the United States is interested in beginning to secure export markets for their fish.

Les Freres d!Incarnation has been contracted by the Haitian government and donors to build 150 lakes across Haiti, with a budget of some 75 million gourdes (roughly 2.15 million US dollars) per month. They expect many jobs to be created during the time of construction, with more livelihood opportunities from the lakes once they are functional.

In addition to these large-scale programs, smaller scale aquaculture is being promoted in the mountains of Cormier by the Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative, conducted as a program by the Comprehensive Development Project (CODEP), with support from the Marine Biological Lab!s Marine Resources Center (MRC, located in Massachusetts). Other smaller projects and organizations involved include the Edem Foundation in Maissade, the Bois de Lance Community (North Region), and the Native Fish Conservancy in Port-au-Prince. These smaller programs, though positive for the local community involved, are costly and lack the economic sustainability of the larger programs of Les Freres d!Incarnation and Caribbean Harvest.

Linking with both Caribbean Harvest and Les Freres d!Incarnation provides a wider range of opportunities that can diversify the type of activities which youth become involved in with regard to aquaculture.

Market relevancy Domestic Markets Haiti as a nation imports large quantities of meat products and is simply not able to meet current domestic demand. This in and of itself provides an opportunity for young entrepreneurs to feed into the development of a growing and necessary industry, especially with the recent commercial and infrastructure developments led by Caribbean Harvest to support domestic consumption and export potential. Added value processing (through drying or salting, for example) can increase income generation by extending shelf-life of the fish products in areas where refrigeration is not available, and such processing is being explored in and .

Export markets Currently Haiti is not exporting any fish as there is no capacity for such and the domestic market is nowhere near saturated. Caribbean Harvest / Prodesela has made it a goal to begin exporting, and has linked to potential buyers once production has reached exportable volumes, however they do not foresee this happening for five to ten years.

Growth Potential With a growing population and current food requirements unmet, there will likely be an increasing market for fish protein. The primary challenge and barrier to growth, as with other food products, will be competing with imports from the United States that are not taxed and can be produced at a much lower cost due to its intensive farming practices. Additionally, due to the depletion of Haitian fisheries and the country!s political history (by which slaves were provided with plantains and rice from the fields, rather than meat), fish is not a staple in the mainstream Haitian diet. Despite these factors, fresh fish have had significant success on local markets, particularly in Port au Prince, with a greater percentage of sales going to smaller-sized, cheaper fish and slower sales for larger fish that require a greater monetary investment per meal.

14

Suitability to Youth: Key considerations for aquaculture Small-scale fish farming generally requires longer term training due to the very different nature of the activity in comparison with traditional animal-raising activities. However the large-scale methods pursued currently by the HFDP and Les Freres D!Incarnation do not require such intensive training, as individuals are not responsible for maintaining the full life-cycle of the fish. Additionally, the longer-term, intensive nature of the IDEJEN program might lend itself to the type of training necessary for small scale aquaculture. This remains to be seen, as none of the centers has had the opportunity to train for such a long period of time.

It should not be difficult for trained youth to find employment with the growing aquaculture programs, which will allow long-term opportunities in fish care and harvesting as the HFDP grows and more lakes are built through the work of Les Freres d!Incarnation. The associated activities also require less specialized skills or skills that require less intensive training than a full course in aquaculture.

It is likely that youth will not be able to build their own small scale ponds due to the high amount of capital and labor needed to invest in such an activity, but this could be an eventual goal. Connecting with the aforementioned programs, however, should provide sufficient opportunity to begin to build a life.

Recommendations • Youth employment and micro-enterprise opportunities exist both within the aquaculture value chain and linked to aquaculture support sectors. • Immediate opportunities for involvement of IDEJEN youth specifically within the sector are limited, but coordination with involved businesses and organizations would allow IDEJEN to prepare youth as jobs emerge.

Center Income Generating Projects and Practical Training Activities • Intensive aquaculture cage farming o Next Step: Contact Dr. Valentine Abe of Caribbean Harvest to identify which areas would be best to start such an activity. Considering that the Caribbean Harvest model is centered on a community-based enterprise model, exploring this partnership would be the best first step.

Immediate Opportunities for Youth • Private Sector Employment o Lake Construction Project Employment: ! Unskilled and semi-skilled temporary employment ! Machine and equipment operation with potential to receive employment in the construction sector ! Machine and equipment repair with potential to receive employment and/or start a micro-enterprise servicing the construction sector, mechanic repairs, and food processing sectors. ! Next Step: Contact Les Freres d!Incarnation in Hinche to immediately link IDEJEN Youth into current lake construction projects and adjust vocational training to meet skill needs for employment for future IDEJEN graduates. o Fish Feeding and Harvesting for Caribbean Harvest ! Contractor for Caribbean Harvest to harvest fish for the primary wholesaler and retailer, Caribbean Harvest. Receive upfront training and credit to purchase fish feed, fingerlings, and cages. ! Next Step: Contact Dr. Valentin Abe of Caribbean Harvest to identify specific existing areas of business in which youth can join producers groups and identify regions with existing lake structures where Dr. Abe would be interested in potentially building new

15 producer groups. There could be particular interest in Petite Riviere de Nippes which has natural mangrove and marine habitats.

• Small Enterprise Opportunities ! Fish Cage and Net Construction • Produce fish cage and net materials to sell to fishermen – Input Supplier. • Next Step: Specify fish net and cage materials and quantity specifications and from Les Freres d!Incarnation and Caribbean Harvest. This information can inform Career Centers on the quantity demand for these products in order to determine the number and location potential for Fish Net and Cage small business producers. ! Fish Feeding and Harvesting • Fish feeding and harvesting in local lakes to sell on the local market and potentially to restaurants and grocery stores, with additional assistance to secure such market linkages that will require a certain quantity and quality of fish. • Next Step: Link with Les Freres d!Incarnation in Hinche to incorporate relevant skills such as net and cage maintenance, fish feeding and health, and fish harvesting into IDEJEN trainings. Ensure that IDEJEN trainings include preliminary consultations with fish producer groups linked to Les Freres d!Incarnation to incorporate best practices. ! Fish Smoking and Sale in Local Market • Receive basic training in sorting for quality fish and fish smoking techniques. Assess market locations and type of customer to set-up sales of smoked fish. Market the fish as a significant source of protein and health. • Next Step: Career Center Staff and Youth in Entrepreneurship Accompaniment Track perform basic surveys of local population to formulate sense of the demand for smoked fish and decide upon a price range for smoked fish. Youth in Entrepreneurship Training could run 2-4 day test businesses selling smoked fish to get a better sense of the market for smoked fish in the area.

Medium-term Opportunities • Private Sector Employment o Fish Canning and Packaging ! Sorting and fish knowledge provides base skill for employment in the growth of the fish industries ! Next Step: IDEJEN Central Staff remain aware of the development of larger scale processors initiating operation in Haiti. o Fish Buyer and Wholesaler ! Receive knowledge and capacity to potentially upgrade sales links from producer-to- individual buyers and wholesalers, upto to supermarkets and restaurants. This role is currently being played by Caribbean Harvest who would eventually be interested in building capacity for another player to take on the role. ! Next Step: IDEJEN Central Staff remain aware of the development of wholesalers initiating operation and linking youth to employment opportunities.

• Small Enterprise Opportunities o Fish Feed Producers and Sellers • Produce and sell local, nutrient rich fish feed to fingerling production centers and fishermen. • Next Step: Connect with research and experimentation into local recipes for fish feed that supports productive fish growth. Information and lessons learned from aquaculture projects in Asia and Africa could be relevant in this instance. o Construction and Maintenance of Boats • Receive advanced carpentry and welding skills specific to boat construction and repair.

16 • Next Step: Contact boat repair and welder experts in Les Nippes to identify avenues for incorporation of boat carpentry and welding into the existing carpentry and welding vocational training curriculum used by IDEJEN. Coordinate internships with boat repair and welders in Les Nippes to build youth experience to eventually own small boat repair business.

Vocational Training Recommendations • Fishing and aquaculture techniques that align with the current large-scale aquaculture approaches in Haiti. • Machinist repair and operation skills • Basic carpentry and assembly with a sub-focus on fish net and cage construction and maintenance • Construction with an advanced sub-focus and internship placement related to boat construction and repair • Welding with an advanced sub-focus and internship placement related to boat construction and repair • Food processing and quality control with a sub-focus on sorting, selecting, and smoking fish. Food processing training should include sections for participants to understand the differences in quality and which products and markets demand specific qualities and quantities and why. For example, restaurants may demand a larger size of fish then consumers on the local market. • Basic mechanisms of supply and demand, how to market and determine where to sell products

Examples of additional potential related enterprise opportunities: • Small-scale pond construction and maintenance • Pond rental • Cleaning of ponds • Production of fish feed • Provision and selling of fish feed • Solar dryers for fish drying

Additional Resources MRC!s Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative and CODEP Fish Ponds: http://www.mbl.edu/mrc/outreach/sustainable_aquaculture/news.html Olin, Paul G. “Regional Review on Aquaculture Development: Latin America and the Caribbean 2005.” FAO Fisheries Circular No. 1017/1. Available online at http://www.thefishsite.com/articles/222/regional-review- on-aquaculture-development-latin-america-and-the-caribbean-2005.

17 Potential Industries for Youth Participation

3.2 Bamboo / Bamboo for Construction

Overview Bamboo has traditionally been used as a building material and food source in East and South-East Asia and has gained popularity around the world for the same purposes. In particular, it can be used as a very lightweight, durable building material, particularly well-suited for scaffolding and furniture construction but also used for bridges, fences, and even for housing construction. More recently it has been used as an environmentally friendly flooring and cabinet-making material, and is even being used for textile creation. In addition to these uses, bamboo has an extremely deep taproot and is often planted as a soil erosion control tool. There are a number of different varieties of bamboo, each best suited to different types of uses. For construction, particularly useful are those from the genus Phyllostachys, which are also known as “timber bamboos.”

Before use, bamboo must be treated by either chemical and non-chemical methods in order to extend its lifetime. Non-chemical methods include soaking the bamboo in running water, such as a river or creek, for two to three months, before air drying; smoking, in which culms are cut into desired lengths and placed above the a fire or stove until they turn sooty black; whitewashing, in which round or split bamboo is painted with cooked lime to prevent the entry of moisture which favors fungal growth; and mud coating, in which the bamboo culm is coated with mud to prevent beetle harborage.7

Fondation Seguin, a Haitian organization with two bamboo furniture construction training institutes and a number of bamboo plantations totaling 300 hectares, grows seven varieties of bamboo. The organization trains apprentices to treat the bamboo by leaving cut poles to dry in the sun for two weeks, followed by one week soaking in freshwater pools, sometimes treated with insecticide, fertilizer, or salt.

Current activities in bamboo in Haiti Bamboo has been cultivated in Haiti since at least 1999, when Partners for the Americas and the Peace Corps brought improved varieties of bamboo to Haiti in order to combat soil erosion. Currently there are a number of large organizations working with the propagation and use of bamboo in Haiti. These include the Organization for the Rehabilitation of the Environment (ORE), which grows bamboo for distribution to farmers for prevention against soil erosion, and the aforementioned Fondation Seguin, which together with a

7 Liese, Walter and Dr. Satish Kumar. “Bamboo Preservation Campodium.” CIBART Technical Report No. 1/INBAR Technical Report No. 22. New Delhi, India, for Indian Bamboo Resource and Technology. 2003.

18 Taiwanese partner propagates bamboo for use for construction of a number of different high-end products, including, furniture and handicrafts.

Fondation Seguin!s two bamboo transformation workshops are in , in , and Macary,, in the -Est, a few miles from Seguin. They are primarily producing for sale in Port-au-Prince and are looking at export opportunities, however they have not yet been able to scale up their production processes in order to capitalize on such market openings. Aid to Artisans (ATA) attempted to work with Fondation Seguin in the past but had difficulties because the workshops were unable to consistently meet deadlines and quotas and achieve standard quality. Yet according to ATA, if the workshops can improve their production capacity, including potentially converting to a more efficient assembly-line system, they would be interested in working with them again to bring the products to an international market. It would be interesting for IDEJEN to explore partnership opportunities with Fondation Seguin and MarChE in order to improve the bamboo workshops and provide more youth with useful training while opening up new market channels for the industry.

Since bamboo was initially introduced to Haiti, use of the plant has spread organically from Marmelade to Cap Hatien and into Les Nippes, with untreated bamboo being used for short-term purposes such as for carrying parcels or as poles. Bamboo is being planted within a number of communities around Fondation Seguin!s plantations, and the workshops will purchase culms from individual farmers. The use of bamboo is already occurring in Les Nippes, Cap Hatien, and is potentially occurring in other areas that were not visited during the field visit by EVI. It was noted that the bamboo that is currently being used for these needs is not always treated and therefore can be used only for short-term projects. Future opportunities may exist in preparation and treatment of bamboo poles and, separately, construction techniques with bamboo.

Formal bamboo production and processing in Haiti, sourced from the various plantations as well as from some local producers, has mostly been used for the production of the mentioned furniture and high-end craft products, yet bamboo can act as a support sector for the construction industry in providing low cost permanent building materials as well as filling additional construction needs such as scaffolding.

Market Relevancy Domestic Markets Based on the recent spread of use of untreated bamboo in a number of locations in Haiti, there is potential for youth producing high quality, treated bamboo, to find ready markets in the construction and transport industries. Some construction companies have begun to work with bamboo, but complain that because it is not treated it does not have a long useful life. If further market research is done by youth who have the capacity to provide treated, high-quality poles, these youth could tap into these markets, providing a cheaper alternative to wooden poles for the construction industry, potentially driving a shift towards use of more environmentally sustainable building materials.

Export Markets As mentioned, Fondation Seguin has attempted to tap into the US market and significant demand was generated through a trade show sponsored by ATA; however they were unable to meet production schedules and have lost that consumer opportunity. In general, demand for bamboo products for use in construction, flooring, and textiles is increasing over time and due to the island!s proximity to the US, there could be a price advantage for American companies using bamboo to source from Haiti rather than Asian countries.

Growth Potential The construction industry has been repeatedly cited as a high-growth industry in Haiti, for both the formal and informal sector.8 Training youth in the use of bamboo for a constructive material would ease the sustainable growth of this sector in terms of reliance on locally produced materials rather than imports.

8 Guerrero, Cesar and Andre Deschenes. Vocational Education and Training: It!s link to the labor market. Final Report to the Inter- American Development Bank. ATN/CT-8790-HA. March 2005; Haiti Workforce Gap Analysis 2007, by A.C.T., prepared by Caroline Kroeker-Falconi, Ph.D et al.

19 There is also a demand for bamboo plantations in regards to environmental issues. Between 1990 and 2000, forest plantations grew by 5%9 and recent development projects in Haiti have been putting more efforts into erosion control, as a response to extensive deforestation. Fondation Seguin!s bamboo work was in fact initially funded by the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund with goal of erosion prevention while creating employment opportunities. With an increasing focus on erosion control and reforestation, particularly in the wake of recent natural disasters, and the mentioned growth of bamboo in the construction and handicrafts sectors, there is substantial growth potential for the bamboo sector if pursued from a profit-making perspective.

Suitability to Youth Fondation Seguin provides a 3-month intensive training course on bamboo growth and construction for youth at its training centers. These courses can also be conducted over the course of a year, which indicates that such a training course could be adapted to the IDEJEN schedule.

As part of this training, the organization supplies graduates with a set of basic bamboo processing tools so that they may continue their bamboo work independently. This would likely be necessary for IDEJEN centers as there are currently no private contractors who work specifically with bamboo, and youth trained in bamboo treatment and construction would likely have to work together as a business start-up or enter the private sector.

It would be necessary for youth involved in bamboo construction to be physically able and to have solid literacy and numeracy skills in order to succeed. In terms of peer perception, this would likely be a profession looked upon with admiration by peers as it is both unique and useful, with strong potential for growth and long-term employment. Promotion of bamboo was originally a project of President Preval, and those familiar with this project associate high-end bamboo with the President.

Other considerations Of note: according to Abari, a socially and environmentally committed research, design and construction firm that specializes in bamboo and adobe (www.abari.org), “The quality of craftsmanship, especially for bamboo, is generally poor due to several reasons: bamboo used for construction is not mature enough, bamboo is not treated, improper handling, lack of knowledge about jigs, poor jointing and lack of finishing materials and skills.”

In terms of employment versus income-generation, it is important to note the growth rate and current going price rate for bamboo. Fondation Seguin pays farmers 30 gourdes (approximately 77cents) for an untreated, four-year can that is 10 feet long and 3 feet in diameter. Once the cane is treated, it is then sold for 10 gourdes per foot, more than tripling its value. There is a wide range in terms of density of canes that can be planted on a hectare, based largely on species and desired size, with numbers ranging from 4,000 to 20,000 canes per hectare.

Recommendations • Introduce the treatment processes in local bamboo preparation for added longevity of bamboo products. This process could address the needs of the construction companies who have identified low quality and quick deterioration of bamboo products as a constraint, while presenting income- generating opportunities for youth. • Linking into the bamboo furniture and craft sector does not present the immediate microenterprise opportunities that bamboo as construction materials does. Nonetheless, further conversations with Aid to Artisans, in relation to the MarChE Project, would be advised to considering stated interest to further investigate the potential of linking trained youth into the further development of the bamboo furniture and craft sector.

Center Income Generating Projects and Practical Training Activities

9 World Resources Institute EarthTrends Country Profiles. “Forests, Grasslands, and Drylands: Haiti.” EarthTrends, 2003. http://earthtrends.wri.org/text/forests-grasslands-drylands/country-profile-80.html.

20 • Bamboo Harvesting (Cutting) and Treatment Facility o A Center would initiate a Bamboo treatment facility and work directly with bamboo producers on techniques for harvest (cutting) bamboo from the roots. A key consideration would be whether the Center would compete with an eventual youth-run business for bamboo cutting and treatment. A strategy to address this consideration would be to develop a project for Bamboo Cutting and Treatment with a focus for the youth on product demonstration and marketing. This would include building customer relations in order to understand better the dynamics of supply and demand as well as knowledge about production cycle planning to meet the ebb and flow of demand. As the market for bamboo develops, there could be room for youth to start spin-off bamboo cutting and treatment businesses that would not push the Center Income Generating Project out of the market. o It is recommended that the centers work with an individual in the business field to develop this option. Contact Foundation Seguin to identify such an expert.

Immediate Opportunities for Youth • Small Enterprise Opportunities o Treatment and Processing Bamboo for Construction and Sale of Bamboo Scaffolding • This is noted as an opportunity specifically for Les Nippes but with potential implications nationwide. • Construction companies in Les Nippes, particularly Miragoane, noted a current use of bamboo for scaffolding in construction and that companies pay around 200 Haitian Gourdes for 1 dozen bamboo poles. Companies would prefer to utilize metal scaffolding, but it is currently too expensive. The current challenge with utilizing bamboo is the short-life span of the material; however this life span could be expanded if the bamboo was cured to prevent decay and disease. The harvesting (cutting) and treatment process could be incorporated into vocational training programs and youth could initiate individual or group-based enterprises growing, collecting, and/or treatment bamboo for sale in the construction market based from IDEJEN Career Centers. • Next Step: Link with Foundation Seguin or ORE to discuss receiving training and technical expertise on bamboo treatment and incorporate this training into vocational training in Les Nippes, with the potential to expand this to other areas. Initiate group- based businesses of youth to sell cured bamboo to construction companies. Prior to sales by youth, Career Center staff should initiate further discussions with construction companies to gauge the amount of bamboo demanded and the frequency for such demand. Career Centers should consider the effect this could have on small businesses selling wood for scaffolding and consider engaging with these businesses to assure that bamboo based businesses do not completely push such players out of the market and thus bring harm or ill-will towards the youth.

Medium-term Opportunities • Private Sector Employment o Employment in Bamboo Furniture and Crafts Factories ! Foundation Seguin has already begun bamboo processing for furniture and crafts production, primarily for the high-end Port au Prince market and is making some exploratory end-roads into the international market, particularly in the Caribbean region. Current constraints center around efficient production flows in terms of holding enough stock of bamboo and flexibility to change production processes for new designs. Aid to Artisans has expressed interest in exploring assisting the bamboo sector to address these constraints. Aid to Artisans has specifically noted an interest in working with IDEJEN youth to provide them with the technical training to provide the labor force in the further development of the bamboo furniture and crafts industry. ! Next Step: Link with Anne Pressoir of Aid to Artisans to discuss next steps.

21 Vocational Training Recommendations • Bamboo selection and cutting • Bamboo treatment techniques • Construction and assembly

Associated skills related to enterprise opportunities: • Carpentry • Furniture construction • Agriculture/farming • Landscape design for erosion control

Examples of related enterprise opportunities: • Transportation of bamboo • Carpentry tool supplier • Briquette production for smoking treatment • Other carpentry and construction-related enterprises

Additional Resources Organization for the Rehabilitation of the Environment (ORE): http://www.oreworld.org/bamboo.htm • No direct contact was ever successfully made despite numerous attempts, however Haitian experts continually referred to ORE!s work in Camp Perrin and it is highly recommended that IDEJEN continue to try to get in touch with the organization. In 2006 the organization collaborated with USAID!s Farmer to Farmer Program to propagate twelve new species on the island and provide training in the multiple benefits of bamboo.

22 Potential Industries for Youth Participation

3.3 Clay and Ceramics

Overview Hinche is the capital of the Central Department, an area traditionally known for its abundant reserves of clay. Clay extraction and processing are the main economic activities of the region, with production of clay-based bricks, ceramic tiles for flooring and roofing, ceramic bowls, and small pellets with a high mineral content that are produced for consumption.10

Land used for mining is typically owned by the Haitian government; however, in the case of Hinche, most of the land is owned by private landowners who sell or lease the clay pits.11 Pit owners typically hire approximately 4 men from ages 18-45 to dig the clay out of the pits. Different types of clay can be found depending on the depth of the pit. Red clay, which contains a high amount of silica and iron and is suitable for skincare and cosmetics, can be found at depths of 16 feet deep. White clay, typically used for tiles, ceramic tableware, and decorative items, is retrieved at depths of 25 feet. White clay is the preferred clay type in zones of Hinche such as Sapaterre, as red clay extraction can be complicated and has come across issues of financing. 12

Operations Main operations for the clay sector include digging and extraction, followed by processing, transport, and sale. A clay pit around 30 to 50 cm in diameter is dug in the mining location. The workers each use a peat spade for digging and extracting the clay, and a rope is used to descend into the hole, which can reach more than three meters in depth. These men are paid by quantity collected – 20 gourdes per bin, averaging 10-14 bins per day, and most make 200 gourdes per day. Brickmakers, who knead the clay by hand and mold it with wooden molds, are paid one gourde per small brick made, 3 gourdes per large brick and can produce around 400-500 bricks per day. Daily production is limited by the number of kilns available, which may lead to a brickmaker working every-other-day on brick production.

Clay transporting and bagging are key activities in the clay production chain. Out-of-school male youth are often hired to transport buckets of extracted clay to set bagging areas. 8 buckets often correspond to one "charge!, or a unit of measurement corresponding to carrying capacity of one horse, and can generate about 3 to 6 gourdes for each charge.

The bags of clay are transported to almost anywhere in the country by truck, with most directed to Port au Prince. Transportation is difficult due to poor road conditions and producers say a high portion of this (unknown percentage though estimated at 30%) is lost during transport. Currently there are no alternatives to such transport, so maintaining and improving the roads and better packing the trucks are the only foreseen developments.

In Port au Prince, dealers purchase the clay for resale or for processing into tablets. Artisans also purchase clay to produce decorative objects. One bag contains 80 pots and can be sold for 1000 gourdes, at approximately 12.5 gourdes per pot.

Current Activities in Haiti Opportunities in clay and ceramics in the area of Hinche were brought to our attention by Mr. Rene through his field visit to the region. Clay products from Hinche are utilized by the construction sector locally as well as in Port au Prince, with the primary market being ceramics stores in Port au Prince. The tiles seem to fill a

10 Clerger, Gaspard. “Caractérisation des activités autour de la filière argile dans le Haut Plateau Central : RAPPORT PRELIMINAIRE DE FIN DE STAGE." Prepared for FAES. October 2003. 11 Ibid. 12 Ibid.

23 niche in the market for poorer-quality ceramics, as most of the tiles fired in Hinche are fired in a wood-burning kiln, which does not provide even heat and therefore the strength of each tile is not uniform and they are prone to cracking. Producers are interested in investing in a gas / electric-powered kiln, which would fit many more bricks and tiles and would raise their quality and value, though they do not have enough capital to invest in this.

In the neighboring locality of Wanikètè, a cooperative known as the KOSMIKA (Konbit Sèvo Men ak Kè Ansanm, MPP) has ceramics workspaces that manufacture clay products ranging from building materials, such as bricks and tiles, to pottery, including flowerpots and jugs. These workspaces feature several pieces of equipment such as an oven used for baking decorative objects, molds, and an electrical tester used to determine the quality of the clay and its field of use (building materials or pottery). These products are sold in “Mache Lakay” in Hinche, and at a showroom in Port au Prince.13

Market relevancy: Domestic Hinche-produced clay products and clay in its natural state are in demand in neighboring regions as well as Port-au-Prince. However the quality and competitiveness against other materials is lacking due to the need for an upgraded kiln that produces higher quality, standardized bricks.

International Beyond domestic construction uses, there may be opportunities for production of artisanal crafts, although the specifics of this are unknown and it would be recommended that IDEJEN speak with MarChE partner Aid to Artisans to determine the realities of this as an opportunity. There is currently no known activity by international organizations in the development of the sector.

Growth Potential: Production of clay products from Hinche is declining despite the demand, and the reason for this is not entirely clear. Small business owners of clay production facilities indicate that there is a lack of training and competency in clay production, which could be one cause. The business is not extremely lucrative and requires training and hard work, which may result in a lack of interest by young people. However, if an upgraded kiln that produces a better quality brick were available, the competitiveness on the market could potentially be improved, resulting in increased levels of profitability per brick, making the occupation more desirable.

Suitability to Youth: Brick or tile production could offer employment as well as entrepreneurship opportunities for youth and is significantly less dangerous and strenuous than clay extraction. Yet in order to generate income, one must produce physically exhaustingly high quantities of brick and tile each day. Clay extraction is not recommended due to the dangers of digging in the pits.

Artisanal production of clay products may be an opportunity in the future if a real market is established, which has the possibility of happening through MarChE.

In terms of training, youth can be trained in brick and ceramic tiles making as an ongoing income generating activity, and might also be trained in artisanal craftsmanship and manipulation of clay to produce decorative objects. There is also a need for training in gaining a general understanding the different types of clay and their uses as well as technical training on kilns and quality control.

Recommendations • Involvement in manipulation and transformation of clay in Hinche offers immediate opportunities for youth employment and small business creation. To maximize this opportunity there needs to be

13 Clerger, Gaspard. “Caractérisation des activités autour de la filière argile dans le Haut Plateau Central : RAPPORT PRELIMINAIRE DE FIN DE STAGE." Prepared for FAES. October 2003.

24 investment in an electric or gas-based kiln, which could be the base of a Career Center Income Generating Activity. • There could be opportunities for both boys and girls in clay manipulation, though currently it is primarily done by men.

Center Income Generating Projects and Practical Training Activities • Production of ceramics products using a gas- or electric-powered kiln o The Career Center could invest in the building at least one gas- or electric-powered kiln to be used to produce ceramics made by IDEJEN youth. o Use of the kiln could be rented to other producers in the area in order to build the capacity of the regional sector and not create ill-will from existing ceramic producers. o Career Centers should highlight how use of the kiln can lift the quality and quantity of production in the area and the Career Center could serve as a marketer to ceramics buyers in Port Au Prince. o It is recommended that a businessperson provides ongoing leadership of such an income generating workshop. o Next Step: IDEJEN contacts Port au Prince-based kiln manufacturers to determine cost and difficulty of building the gas- or electric-powered kilns in Hinche. Career center staff should meet with ceramics producers to determine if rental of such a machine is something that would be of interest to them (potential challenge may be distance between local workshop and Center kiln).

Immediate Opportunities • Private Sector Employment o Production of ceramic bricks or tiles • Small Enterprise Opportunities o Ceramics workshop • A group of youth with access to a kiln could join together to run a ceramics workshop. This would require access to a kiln as well as to transportation to end markets in Port au Prince. Youth may be able to rent space in the trucks of current ceramics workshops. • Providing packing services to ceramics businesses in order to decrease loss in transit o Innovative youth might be able to design a packing system that reduces loss during transit. For example, waste materials such as paper or leaf waste packed in bags could provide needed cushioning to help to reduce loss and increase income for producers. o Next Step: IDEJEN youth might investigate what price ceramics producers or transporters would be willing to pay for such a service, perhaps based on the percentage decrease in loss.

Medium-term Opportunities • Private Sector Employment o Production of artisanal ceramics ! Some of the clay workshops are currently producing artisanal pieces, thought these are few as the market for tiles and bricks is so strong. However if the USAID MarChE program moves into ceramics there may be growth in this sector and potential for youth trained in ceramics to work in artisanal workshops linked to this. ! Next Step: Continue to follow-up with Aid to Artisans to learn whether or not artisanal ceramics may be a focus field for them through MarChE. • Small enterprise o Production and maintenance of gas or electric kilns ! If there are enough ceramics workshops in Hinche interested in investing in a gas or electric kiln, there may be opportunities for youth to learn to construct such and provide this locally.

25 ! Production of kilns would likely be an opportunity for only one business and may be too advanced for IDEJEN youth, however there is always need for maintenance and youth may be able to focus skills on this area. ! Next Step: Inquire into competency needs to build and maintain the gas- and electric-powered kilns to determine if any maintenance is needed and, if so, of what type (e.g. small machinist or diesel motor mechanic or can maintenance be successfully conducted by the kiln owner?).

Vocational Training Recommendations • Differentiation between types of clay and their uses • Clay transformation for production of bricks and tiles • Kiln construction and maintenance for gas or electric-heated kilns

Additional Resources Clerger, Gaspard. “Caractérisation des activités autour de la filière argile dans le Haut Plateau Central : RAPPORT PRELIMINAIRE DE FIN DE STAGE." Prepared for FAES. October 2003. • This previously noted document is an analysis of the clay sector in areas surrounding Hinche conducted by a student in 2003 for FAES, which is interested in finding specific investment opportunities that will help reenergize the sector.

26 Potential Industries for Youth Participation

3.4 Construction

Overview The commercial construction industry in Haiti is based on the use of block, cement, and metal beam as basic construction materials, with some woodwork and ironwork to support the basic structures for such things as interior paneling and metal gates. Ceramic tiles or corrugated metal are typical roofing materials. It is widely acknowledged that those people who know how to construct well in the urban areas are never without work. Typically builders are not kept on staff by a contractor, but the names of good builders are well-known and continually drawn on as jobs arise. The industry is primarily a domestic, location-specific sector in which production management occurs at the contractor level, with more than 300 contractors country-wide.14

There is a general dearth of builders who understand how to read and execute an architectural plan; often this is something that is learned over time by those individuals who are more adept to such activities and typically have the basic literacy and numeracy skills to support this understanding. Skills are also lacking in woodworking and ironwork.

Lower income homes are typically constructed with wooden poles as the interior support system. In some municipalities, including Gros Morne, it is now necessary to submit a plan of any structure to the local government for approval, including houses, that will be built within municipal boundaries. Therefore skills in working with wooden poles are also important, and there is room for potentially shifting from wood to bamboo, as noted in Section 3.2.

Current Activities in Haiti The construction sector provides immediate and medium term opportunities for youth in all regions, but with even greater prospects Gros Morne, Gonaives, and Miragoane, in comparison to other sites visited by the EVI team in July 2008. There is significant activity in construction within the governmental, non-governmental, and private sectors alike, as all are responding to demand for housing by Haiti!s rapidly growing population and demand for providing the

14 Blum, Rachel, Tracy Gerstle, and David Angeles. “Value Chain Tools for Market-Integrated Relief: Haiti!s Construction Sector.” Produced by CHF International for USAID under the AMAP Small Grant Facility. microREPORT #93. March 2008.

27 infrastructure necessary to support Haiti!s economic development. In order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of infrastructure development programs, build the technical skills of the labor force, and provide employment opportunities, numerous aid programs are focused on the construction sector. In response to a recognized need to improve the technical skill sets of the construction labor force, several international programs are currently working to build the capacity of vocational schools to deliver market-driven services and match labor supply with demand. The following is drawn from the CHF Construction Value Chain Analysis:

• KATA is working with several training institutions to improve and match the skills of Haiti!s workforce with private sector demand and to provide employment services to help students find and keep jobs in the construction and other industries. Much of this work involves establishing accreditation programs in key sectors, starting with construction specialization certificates in plumbing and electrics by using and adapting curricula developed in Haiti. In addition to in- class training and certification, students are eligible to participate in apprenticeships, work-study opportunities and general life skills training. KATA is coordinating with other USAID implementing partners to refer construction jobs to out-of- Photo courtesy of Fondation Seguin school youth who are graduates of adult literacy and basic education programs. There is considerable opportunity for these institutions to develop and improve construction industry professionals. • The IDB has recently invested substantial resources in the physical upgrading of vocational training centers around the country, providing additional construction job opportunities. • LNBTP (the National Laboratory of Building and Public Works of Haiti) proposes to publish and sell a booklet on material standards. A small number of firms interviewed about these booklets indicated that they might be willing to pay for such information.

Based on our conversations with members of the construction industry (including a contractor, engineer, supplies store owner, and brickmaker, among others), vocational training and small enterprise development related to the construction sector must include hands-on learning and practice to address concerns of construction companies that vocational training programs do not give enough opportunity for hands-on learning. The key competencies in demand by the construction industry include masonry, welding, woodworking, electricians, plumbers, and specifically construction plan literacy and implementation. A specific challenge for IDEJEN is to assist youth to achieve the skill level to read, understand, and implement construction plans.

Market Relevancy There is significant demand for competent builders throughout Haiti. Construction companies and construction supply companies noted employment opportunities for individuals with skills and training in woodworking, carpentry, masonry, electrical fields, and plumbing. One individual in the construction sector in Gonaives noted a shortage of up to two hundred woodworkers in the local sector.

Growth Potential According to CHF!s Construction Value Chain Analysis, the construction sector is one of Haiti!s fastest growing, though experts differ on exactly what that rate is.

28 Suitability to Youth: Considerations for Construction As noted, there are particular problem-solving and application skills that are in high demand by contractors. Developing these skills requires experiential training opportunities as well as more investment in on-the-job training. Many of these skills are highly transferable between sectors, particularly electronics.

As builders often work on a per-job basis and contractors invest considerable money into construction tools and complex drafting skills, this is generally more of an income-generation or employment opportunity rather than enterprise development. It would also require less capital investment as such, though it is recommended that youth are provided with a set of their own tools for on-the-job use.

A real risk for youth involved in construction is safety hazards, and on-the-job safety must be included in any training program. Additionally, any contractors that partner with IDEJEN for on-the-job training opportunities should be required to meet high safety standards. If youth undergoing construction training are severely injured on the job, their chances of a successful livelihood are greatly reduced. Additionally, youth who become involved in construction should be in very good health as it can be a very physically demanding job.

Recommendations • The construction sector provides very immediate employment opportunities for youth. • Specific competencies that have been highlighted in all regions as areas of need include masonry, welding, woodworking, electricians, plumbers, and construction plan literacy and implementation. • A specific challenge for IDEJEN would be to achieve the skill level in youth to read, understand, and implement construction plans. • Interviews with individuals in the construction industry, the KATA workforce gap analysis, and the CHF construction sector value chain analysis have all indicated the need to improve vocational training programs to include more practical and less theoretical training. It is recommended that IDEJEN staff communicate with individuals in the construction sector to ensure that the training received by youth includes the skills and competencies that they are specifically looking for in their labor force.

Center Income-Generating Projects and Practical Training Activities • Cement Mixer Operation o Centers could purchase cement mixer equipment, a key component to producing quality cement as an ingredient for quality concrete blocks. Youth can work with the cement mixer to learn to produce high quality blocks by trying different recipes. These might then be sold to construction companies, and the Centers might support the youth to start concrete block businesses by providing the high-quality cement as an input, thus assisting youth to effectively differentiate their concrete block products in terms of quality in the market. Simultaneously, other block makers might be able to rent out or otherwise utilize the mixer so that they likewise have the opportunity to improve product quality. o Centers could purchase and rent out a cement mixer for on-site use by construction companies. o The Center could act as a Sub-Contracting agent for trainees, assisting youth with the administrative and contracts and negotiations side of contracting and receiving temporary employment from the private sector. Additionally, the centers could provide multiple skilled tradesmen to a construction company and thus decrease the construction companies costs in regards to hiring, contracting, and administration. By playing this role, the Center assists in building the name and trust in the youth graduating from the IDEJEN vocational training, provides youth on-the job experience in a specific trade, and sets an example for construction contracting and employment negotiations. Simultaneously this allows IDEJEN to collect statistics on trends in demand for types of construction employment which can inform the training and accompaniment choices of future IDEJEN youth, creating a symbiotic feedback loop on market and training demands between the Centers and the construction industry. It would be very important to ensure that the services provided by the center in do not distort the market by taking on additional roles, such as serving as a subcontractor to youth who are

29 not direct beneficiaries of the program or becoming a necessary contractor within the local construction industry.

Immediate Opportunities for Youth • Private Sector Employment o Employment by Construction Companies: Woodworking, Masonry, Electrics, and Plumbing Trade in Gonaives and Gros Morne • Electricians: Construction companies in Les Nippes noted that in their view a good electrician should have at least 2 years and ideally 3-4 years of experience. Electricians can also use skills in cross-over sectors to fix computers and vehicle electrical systems. The applications of electrical skills for vehicle electrical systems or solar energy systems, perhaps as separate mini-tracks, could also be incorporated into vocational training. Youth ideally would be trained on how to view their electrical skill as having potential application in multiple sectors so as to increase opportunities for employment and income generation, and to improve their problem-solving skills. • Iron Workers: Construction companies in all three regions visited noted a need for good iron and metal workers. IDEJEN centers could set-up demonstration events with construction companies and youth in vocational training to receive feedback on the quality and utility of work that is coming from the youth. Additionally, youth should be trained to think of iron working skills as also applicable in the crafts sector as a means for additional income generation. • Next Step: The Gonaives Career Center staff should continue conversations with the local construction industry players to coordinate internship and employment opportunities for graduating IDEJEN youth. The Training Centers in Gros Morne and Gonaives should review construction vocational training curriculum with the local construction industry to ensure that the skill base in the curriculum matches the skill base demanded in the market. These consultations could occur on a regular basis (every three months) to ensure that the vocational training centers are aware of the most recent labor and skill needs as projects and dynamics change in the market.

Small Enterprise Opportunities • Contract Tradesman in Masonry, Electrics, Plumbing, and Iron Work • Masonry / Concrete Block Construction o Produce quality concrete blocks to sell to construction companies and construction supply companies. Because there is so much activity in construction, cement blocks are consistently in demand. Individuals who learn cement block construction might also learn general masonry and be able to find work both in the production of and construction with cement blocks. Construction companies and construction supply companies continually note a need for quality concrete blocks that come from producers that understand the proper ingredient mix and production process. In Les Nippes, construction companies noted that currently most construction companies go to Port Au Prince to buy blocks, which adds to transportation costs. Generally, a buyer pays 20-22 Haitan Gourdes for one high quality block and 18 Hatian Gourdes for a lower quality block. (Production of blocks requires only small o The Centers should work with the youth to emphasize the need to continually produce quality blocks in order to promote trusting, quality relations with their customers, the construction companies. o In order to prevent saturation of the market, the Career Centers could keep track of the number of concrete block businesses started by the youth and the trends in sales. In Petite Rivere de Nippes, construction companies noted that five to six concrete block producing companies would satisfy the market and that more then that would saturate the market. o Next Step: Incorporate concrete block construction and training on the proper ingredients and process for producing quality concrete blocks. The Unibank Foundation and Cemex project would be a good source of information on quality block construction. Training Centers should link to construction companies in each area where there is construction vocational training in order to get exact specifications on the type of concrete blocks demanded and any additional

30 technical assistance. Career Centers should facilitate initial linkages between youth concrete block construction businesses and construction companies in the local area.

Medium-term Opportunities • Private Sector Employment o Employment by Construction Company in Construction Plan Reading and Implementation and Project Management ! Project management and construction plan literacy is a skill that construction firms, large and small, have a need for. The ability to implement construction plans, even if on a small scale, is in high demand. This is particularly true in Gonaives where the city requires all new building projects to submit plans for approval. Members of the construction community indicated that in the past, youth from the IDEJEN program who joined their teams were not yet able to read a plan, which put them at a disadvantage. A continued focus on this skill would put IDEJEN youth ahead and offer greater job opportunities and a higher level entry job. ! Next Step: Incorporate introductory training on plan literacy into construction vocational training tracks to build the foundation for growing these skills over time and work experience after graduation from the IDEJEN program. In all areas where construction vocational training exists, encourage youth who have performed well in construction vocational training tracks to enter internship programs and mentor relationships, which could build his/her capacity to read and implement construction plans. This capacity may take several years to build; therefore, IDEJEN and the Career Centers should focus on identifying youth with the potential to build such skills, communicating with and training them to utilize internship and work experience to build skills towards the goal of plan literacy and implementation, and matching them with appropriate jobs and internships (communicating the objectives clearly to the internship so that it sees working with the youth as an investment in the growth and ability of the specific firm).

Vocational Training Recommendations • Carpentry • Masonry • Electrician • Plumbers • Woodworking • Cement Block Production • Construction and Assembly Techniques • Project Management and Construction Plan Literacy

Additional Resources Blum, Rachel, Tracy Gerstle, and David Angeles. “Value Chain Tools for Market-Integrated Relief: Haiti!s Construction Sector.” Produced by CHF International for USAID under the AMAP Small Grant Facility. microREPORT #93. March 2008.

31 Potential Industries for Youth Participation

3.5 Fruit Processing

Overview Fruit processing is a form of added- value processing that is pushed in many emerging economies as a simple way to add value to a product that is regularly in abundance. The success of fruit processing as a real form of income generation often depends less on the production methods than on the distribution methods. It also depends on the working capital available, which varies significantly in different locations. Haiti!s fruit processor association, ANATRAF (the Association Nationale des Transformateurs des Fruits) recognizes this, as well as the need to enforce quality standards across the various regions in order to achieve the quantity and quality needed for export. ANATRAF is working to develop a country-wide, corporate-like structure to overcome some of these challenges.

Currently most fruit processing centers in Haiti fit within the FAO!s definition of “intermediate-scale” fruit processing: “In this scale of processing, a group of small-scale processors pool their resources. This can also be done by individuals. Processing is based on the technology used by small-scale processors with differences in the type and capacity of equipment used. The raw materials are usually grown by the processors themselves or are purchased on contract from other farmers. These operations are usually located on the production site in order to assure raw materials availability and reduce cost of transport. This system of processing can provide quantities of processed products to urban areas.”15 Most of the processing technologies for these groups are simple machines coming from Brazil

Fruit processing does present an opportunity for IDEJEN centers in Hinche and Les Nippes to explore, with stronger opportunity in Les Nippes due to the number of independent programs involved in fruit processing and the focus of these programs on markets and industry development. Key challenges include: identifying and understanding the realities of the market; achieving consistent quality with a variety of seasonal fruits; finding market financing for packaging and production materials; and determining how to best work with the large number of individuals who have already been trained in fruit processing.

The most immediate market opportunities are in local consumer markets, schools, and large institutions. Packaging costs are a key hurdle for expansion of fruit processing programs as they limit the order size a processing facility can handle. Packaging costs regularly make up more than half the product cost. IDEJEN could design initial assistance programs to invest in bulk orders of packaging materials. Significant focus on market linkage development is necessary, such as identifying supermarkets in Port au Prince who are willing to pay in advance for large orders, providing necessary financing for purchasing packaging for large

15 Dauthy, Mircea Enachescu. “Fruit and Vegetable Processing.” FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin No. 110. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome. 1995

32 production orders. Exact potential in terms of number of microenterprise opportunities and the role of these in the value chain needs further investigation. In Hinche for example, 500 women and youth have already been trained in fruit processing, yet there is little production occurring. At the same time, they have not tapped into potential fruit juice markets in schools.

Current Activities in Haiti ANATRAF, with a membership of over forty small fruit and food processing groups, has become increasingly more active over the past few years. In 2006, a Farmer-to-Farmer project worked with ANATRAF to begin designing a strategy to reach the export capability and increase domestic sales. Their primary marketing concern is packaging, and organizationally they are continuing to work to achieve the organization of the single structure

In both Hinche and Les Nippes there are existing projects that can provide additional information, training, and market access, particularly through linking youth into existing producer networks and processing centers and services.

In Les Nippes, Oxfam has a market study in progress on fruit transformation and processing, results of which could be a key resource for IDEJEN. In this region, schools are the primary buyer and provide significant market opportunity for fruit juice; however, concerns arise with ensuring timely payment and arrangements need to be made to manage the decrease in demand over the summer break. The seasonality of fruit availability remains a challenge to production of a consistent and readily available product. Input fruits include lemon, mangos, carrots, and chadaq and there has recently been a greater focus on breadfruit (also known as veritable) as it is available nine months out of the year and is the most consistent fruit source.

Products include fruit juice, jam, liqueur, and jello. Breadfruit can also be processed daily and served unpackaged, in the form of fried or boiled breadfruit, which provides additional opportunities that don!t require machinery or packaging. The bottles, caps, and plastic packaging needed for packaged food are a significant cost to producers, often making up more than half the final product cost. This proves a challenge for small-scale producers trying to access the national markets in Port au Prince, because they do not have the capital to invest in the large number of containers needed to meet big orders. This also provides an opportunity for market financing, such as supermarkets paying in advance and providing capital for purchase of these materials up-front.

In general, there is a significant amount of training of fruit processors occurring, as it is a traditional method for providing women and children with income-generating opportunities. Yet it is very common that trainees do not go on to use the skills developed in these trainings, as reflected by interviews with fruit processing trainees in Hinche. Of the twenty-five girls EVI spoke with at one training center in Hinche, none said that

33 they planned to pursue fruit processing as a career or income generating option, yet the trainer said that what the center needed was “to get funds to provide more training.”

In September 2008, the Inter-American Development Bank approved a half-million dollar program “Competitiveness and Profitability of Fruit-processing Microenterprises” designed to improve the competitiveness and profitability of 51 cooperative micro-enterprises located throughout the country, improving the income of 1100 “fruit transformers.” It is recommended that IDEJEN connect with the IADB to determine if there are ways that the programs might connect. In this way, IDEJEN centers currently providing fruit processing training could benefit from the efforts of this program and the IADB!s program could increase its impact.

Market Opportunities Domestic Markets The initial assumption of the ongoing fruit processing programs in Les Nippes was that there would be a ready market in Port Au Prince. Yet the costing around packaging, refrigeration, and transportation have not been conducted to identify potential profit margins. Markets for dried fruit products may have slightly more potential in Port au Prince supermarkets, though the demand in Port au Prince is still unclear. Some national jam producers already exist and it is undetermined if market demand warrants more.

International Markets Substantial investment would need to be made for dried and processed fruits as well as fruit juices to be sold on international markets, particularly because of quality demands and packaging and marketing. An international exporter noted that internal investigation did not present significant profit margins coming from such added-value. Oxfam, the national-level organization, has been successful in accessing US and Canadian markets for dried mangoes.16

Growth potential We were not able to get significant information on export market growth potential; however, interviews indicated that fresh fruit juice production is becoming increasingly popular, with fruit juice stands gaining popularity in wealthier portions of Port au Prince as well as near bus stands. This may be an interesting trend to pursue for income generating opportunities and could also encourage improvement of health, as fresh juice is a much healthier replacement of processed sodas and juices.

Suitability to youth: Considerations for fruit processing IDEJEN has successfully adapted the INFP curricula to the IDEJEN model for training in fruit processing. A challenge, however, is that these skills are not particularly transferable because they are specific to small- and medium-scale fruit processing. It would also be very difficult for a youth to find the capital needed to start his or her own fruit processing business, though having a fruit juice stand might be a realistic goal. Current fruit processing associations do have difficulty providing wages or generating real income for their members and the activities are more of an additional form of income generation than real employment. Typically it is also perceived as work for a woman or girl rather than man or boy and, as trainings in mechanics are clearly more typically frequented by male youth, the reverse is true for fruit processing.

Recommendations • Fruit processing presents a viable opportunity for IDEJEN centers in Hinche and Les Nippes to explore, specifically focusing on assessing end markets as well as interviewing currently successful producer groups in order to further determine viability. EVI!s research thus far shows there is a stronger opportunity in Les Nippes due to the number of programs there and the focus on markets and industry development. • Key challenges include: identifying and understanding the realities of the market; achieving consistent quality with a variety of seasonal fruits; finding market financing for packaging and production materials; and determining how to best work with the large number of other individuals who have already been trained in fruit processing.

16 Refer to Mr. Rene for the contacts of these organizations.

34 • Most immediate market sector is local consumer markets and school institutions. • Exact potential in terms of number of microenterprise opportunities and the role of these enterprises in the value chain needs further investigation. In Hinche for example, 500 women and youth have already been trained in fruit processing, yet there is little production occurring. At the same time, they have not tapped into potential market of schools for fruit juice. • Packaging costs are a key hurdle for expansion of fruit processing programs as they limit the order size a processing facility can handle. Packaging costs regularly make up more than half the product cost. • A significant focus on market linkage development is necessary, particularly to overcome packaging- related financial hurdles and sharing of market information. It is recommended that if IDEJEN pursues fruit processing, it attempts to work with supermarkets in Port au Prince to encourage advance pay for orders so as to provide financing for purchasing packaging for large production orders.

Center Income Generating Projects and Practical Training Activities • Fruit juice processing for local schools o This activity could provide training for youth to do small scale fruit juice processing and retail on local market while contributing to income generation for the center. o Next Step: IDEJEN contacts private schools or Haitian school system to determine if there is a market there for fruit juice and, if so, what the necessary specifications are for providing them with such a product. Particular importance might be put on volume, packaging, and ability to pay on schedule (would IDEJEN be able to continue to operate if dependent on payment by the school system, which might very well be late?)

Immediate Opportunities • Private Sector Employment o Fruit producer associations are producing value added products for sale and youth could be involved in those associations, however specific private sector employment opportunities have not yet been identified. o Next Step: Contact Haitian jam and jello companies to determine opportunity for jobs as well as necessary competencies. • Small Enterprise Opportunities o Boiling and frying breadfruit for the local market • Youth prepare and sell breadfruit in an outdoor or roadside market. • This opportunity is particularly for Les Nippes where there have been ongoing promotions of use of the breadfruit. • Next Step: Youth run trial businesses with breadfruit to determine demand, pricing, and reality of profitability. o Fruit juice processing and retail • Youth prepare fresh fruit juice for daily consumption and sale in the local market, perhaps at a juice stand or producing daily to supply to identified local restaurants who are interested in selling such product to their consumers. • Next Step: Youth conduct an initial market assessment to assess demand. Running test fruit juice businesses for 2 – 5 days could reveal valuable information regarding type of fruit juice, packaging (individual bottles, on-site glasses, large bottles for restaurants, and/or plastic packaging), and pricing. (This is also a good exercise for in learning about supply and demand and preparing materials to meet estimated or known demand.)

Medium-term Opportunities • Private Sector Employment o Jam and jello production for Port au Prince market ! If there is successful linkage between Port au Prince supermarkets or other local retailers, jam and jello production facilities may become profitable and grow to the point of needing to hire skilled workers.

35 ! Next Step: IDEJEN should connect with ANATRAF to continue to be aware of the work they are doing to promote the fruit processing industry in order to determine best timing and locations to mobilize youth in this sector. o Collection and preservation of breadfruit ! Youth preserve collected breadfruit by submerging in cold water for collection by breadfruit exporters. ! JMB S.A. is beginning to expand into breadfruit processing, with the goal of providing prepared frozen breadfruit for both the local and export market. The first step in production is collection and preservation of breadfruit. ! Next Step: Connect with Olivier Buteau, who is leading the IQF “quick freeze” branch of JMB S.A. to determine if this is something they would be interested in, what the specific competencies needed are, and if the company would be willing to feed through any necessary financing. o Supplying fruit for existing jam and jello companies ! Similar to collecting and preserving breadfruit, youth could act as a collection agent of fruit in the community to supply existing jam and jello companies. ! Youth would need access to transportation as well as links to the different companies. ! Next Step: IDEJEN contacts Haitian commercial jam and jello companies to determine current supply sources and needs. Investigate the type of quality and quantity of fruit needed and assess the capacity of current producers to meet such demands and/or adjust to demands.

Vocational Training Recommendations • There are currently a large number of organizations conducting training in fruit processing. It is recommended that IDEJEN connect with these organizations to provide any training for IDEJEN youth. A key role for the IDEJEN centers to play would be to engage youth to do assessments of local demand for added-value fruit products, as interviews with market players demonstrated a need for more in-depth research.

36 Potential Industries for Youth Participation

3.6 Mango Industry–Related Opportunities

Overview Mango production presents opportunities for youth income-generation in that it links youth into a functioning and developing sector that would allow for professional growth. However, it is unlikely that the opportunities identified within the sector would suit the specific goals of the IDEJEN program in terms of providing full-time self-sustaining employment or enterprise.

Haiti!s mango industry is organized in a series of cooperatives that work directly with exporters. Their focus is increasing overall income from mangoes through increasing production and decreasing loss. The cooperative structure provides members with access to market information and educational opportunities related to care of mango trees, proper planting and grafting techniques, etc. As the sector continues to grow and develop, there will likely be increasing opportunities for small enterprise development and income generation. Participation in cooperatives would allow youth direct access to market information – something difficult to obtain in many industries – as well as information on the needs and interests of the producers. Such participation would provide youth with access to a number of potential end markets: the mango producers themselves, the local and national mango markets, and the mango export market.

However, in terms of immediate prospects for ongoing youth employment and small business development as reflected in the goals of the IDEJEN program, there seems to be a low level of opportunity for youth for a few key reasons. These include:

• The fresh mango season lasts only three months, so employment in cutting mangoes or transporting mangoes would be available only during this time. • Though producers understand a need for specific skills in disease prevention and tree care, they are not yet at a point at which they will pay for these services but rather conduct these activities on their own or not at all. • The industry development needs primarily involve improving transportation, which does not appear to offer ongoing opportunity for youth involvement, as described in greater detail later in this document. • There does not appear to be great opportunity for small- scale added-value fruit processing due to the nature of local market demands and therefore the low margins of profit generated.

37

Despite these challenges, the mango sector continues to develop and mango trees can provide significant income to leverage other income-generating activities of the youth. The mango cooperatives have significant control over the production process and the services needed by mango producers to reach the export market. These include: maintaining nurseries of Madame Francis variety mango tree seedlings, which can be purchased from the cooperative; providing grafting services to farmers who wish to graft Madame Francis to other mango varietals; training members in “sanitation,” which includes prevention of insect infestation throughout the year; an organized collection system; and direct linkages to five export companies who interact with producers through the cooperative.

Youth who are members of the cooperative could potentially earn additional income from providing these services to other members. IDEJEN would need to follow up with the cooperative to determine the financial structures around these services. Other services in the production process that are either not controlled by the cooperative or are needed by the cooperative are outlined in the opportunities section.

Current Activities in Haiti The Haitian mango industry is currently focused on production for the export of fresh mangoes of the Madame Francis type. Significant work has been done in the past and continues today in improving the industry through a variety of activities centered on development of functioning producer cooperatives, linking these groups to exporters, and ensuring key information sharing throughout the portion of the chain that leads to fresh mango export. This has led to increased income for producers, encouraging a continued focus on identifying ways to increase production, add value, and ultimately to expand opportunities for income- generation from mangoes beyond the three-month period of fresh fruit production. Some of the cooperatives have also gained organic certification through work with exporters, during the DAI Hillside Agricultural Program.

The next phase of investment in the mango sector will be through USAID!s MarChE program, run by CNFA (Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs), whose agricultural value-chain development focuses include mango, cocoa, essential oils, and coffee. They are still developing their strategy in terms of the mango industry, but it would be worthwhile to continue to converse with them regarding mutually beneficial program opportunities that could involve IDEJEN youth.

Market relevancy Local Markets No substantial information was gathered on local mango sales during EVI!s field research. Mangoes are a part of a very informal food market around the country. ANATRAF (Association nationale des transformateurs de fruits) could be a source for this information, and their contact information is available Appendix F.

Export Markets Mangoes are one of Haiti!s major agricultural export products, along with coffee and cocoa. According to the National Bank of the Republic of Haiti, from April 2007 – March 2008, mango exports brought in 7.0 million USD, nearly 25% of total agricultural exports, not to mention the high amount of domestic trade of the fruit.17 They are a staple in the Haitian diet.

Growth potential The mango market continues to grow steadily worldwide, with demand from the US alone increasing approximately 10% per year18, though there was a decline in 2007 when US customs agents discovered a shipment contaminated with fruit flies. As mentioned, there has been and continues to be significant investment in the sector by local and international organizations and governments as there is much hope that development of the sector can have positive impacts on much of the two-thirds of the Haitian population that depend on the agricultural sector19

17 Data taken from the Banque de la Republique d!Haiti!s “Bulletin Statistique,” January-March 2008. 18 Fintrac, Inc. HAP Publication Haiti Export Product Bulletins. November 2000. 19 CIA World Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html. Last updated November 6, 2008.

38

Suitability to youth: Considerations for the mango sector For immediate employment in the mango sector, there are no significant training requirements, and joining the mango cooperatives would provide continued opportunities for learning. Growing mangoes would provide youth with a sense of investment in their future and connection to a larger world economy, which could be a positive stabilizing force. However, as mentioned, a challenge is that it would be difficult for youth to make a living year-round from working directly in the mango sector, though immediate and medium-term opportunities are elaborated below.

Recommendations • Mango production is a viable opportunity as a component of a production-based agribusiness system in rural areas of Haiti. The mango industry is a functioning cash-crop sector with ongoing development activities and potential for growth at producer and export levels. Participation in mango production cooperatives would link youth to opportunities for professional growth in a potentially high- growth industry, as well as to three different parts of the mango value chain: input supplies for the producer members of the cooperatives; the export end market; and local fresh mango end-market. • Due to the well-organized structure of the cooperatives, the cooperatives! effective and efficient access to market information, as well as past and current investment in cooperative capacity building by donors and the private sector, it would advantageous for youth to participate in the cooperatives. • Participation in the mango cooperatives does require individuals to own a mango tree, growing it on ones or ones! family!s own land, and to pay an annual fee. Seedlings can be purchased from the cooperative for 15-20 gourdes each. • All cooperative members are involved in other income-generating activities throughout the rest of the year that related to either other agriculture-based activities or unrelated private business. Participation in cooperatives by youth could therefore lead to their earning a supplemental income, but at this point in time it is unlikely to provide a substantial annual income for youth. • Outside of the cooperative, youth can run enterprises that provide inputs and support services for the mango sector, thus growing together with a leading sector in Haiti. IDEJEN!s access to key sector players provides youth with an opportunity to access information about the need for sector support services as well as information about the type of skills and potential enterprise support needed in cooperatives.

Center Income Generating Projects and Practical Training Activities • Plastic crate rental service o In order to decrease loss of mangos during transportation from tree to collection center, producers need stackable crates that protect the mangos from damage due to both bruising and puncturing of skin. These crates are currently imported from the Dominican Republic and exporters are looking at finance schemes to make these readily available to the cooperatives, as well as opportunities for production of these crates in Haiti. There may be business opportunity in investing in crates and renting them to cooperative members during production season. This is an idea for a project that requires additional exploration to determine viability. EVI has not yet spoken with individuals in the mango sector regarding crate rental as a business opportunity. o Next Step: IDEJEN speaks with exporters about whether this is a service that they would utilize or be willing to provide initial market financing for, so as to improve export supply. IDEJEN speaks with mango cooperatives to determine their interest in and willingness to pay for renting crates. o Additional thought: Effective packaging and transportation of fruits for sale on the export market is a key component to increasing profits both for producers and the exporters. Much of the harvest can be damaged in transportation because of lack of adequate packaging; thus requiring producers and transporters to investigate innovative packaging methods. Understanding the concept of the role of packaging can be a competitive advantage for any business in determining how to ensure product longevity and increase the amount of sellable

39 products. Thus, training activities introducing the concept and building the capacity of youth to think innovatively about packaging should be explored. An example of such an activity could be youth brainstorming different packaging techniques and running 2-3 day tests: lining the baskets used to transport mangos on donkeys, particularly with cloth of banana leaves to prevent the basket straw from poking the mangos. The youth could assess how many more mangos were export quality; thus sparking the understanding for the need for constant innovation in business.

Immediate Opportunities for Youth • Private Sector Employment o Seasonal harvesting of mangos: • Cutting mangos at the tree requires understanding of quality of mango needed and specific cutting technique. • Transporting mangos from tree to collection center. • Next Step: Connect with mango cooperatives to determine what training youth specifically need and who within the cooperative might be able to provide it. It is likely to be minimal training for mango harvesting, and perhaps just a seminar could be possible so that youth can access this as an income generation stream.20 Simultaneously, the cooperative member can inform the youth on the structure of the cooperative, the services it provides, the way that market information is shared, and how all of these aspects benefit the member producers and the industry.

Medium-term Opportunities • Private Sector Employment o Agricultural sanitation worker • Provide disease and insect infestation prevention services to producers. • Employment potentially provided from within the Mango Cooperative. • Next Step: IDEJEN Centers monitor the demand for such services from current producers and exporters. A meeting with the cooperative indicated that this is a needed service, though not yet something that producers are willing to pay for. Exporters, on the other hand, may be willing to pay to hire such individuals to ensure better supply. o Tree grafting specialist • Graft Madame Francis mangos to traditional mango trees so that more mango producers can produce for the export market. • This is one of the functions of the cooperative and there may be employment opportunities for youth within the cooperative with this expertise. • Next Step: Talk to mango cooperatives about how these functions are financed within the cooperative and if there is room for more potential members to provide these services on a full or part-time basis. o Small enterprise o Mango production • As a component of a production-based agribusiness, youth may invest in Madame Francis mango trees. • After 4 years trees begin to produce fruit. In a tree!s young years it may only produce US$10 per season; however, as they age this increases to US$60 per year. This dollar value will likely increase over time as the industry continues to improve and the percentage of mangos removed during the selection process declines. • Next Step: Speak with mango cooperatives about obtaining seedlings and information on caring for mango trees and opportunities for youth to participate in the cooperative.

20 It will be important to ensure that youth who become involved in mango harvesting are addressing a labor demand. IDEJEN youth should not replace other laborers who then go jobless.

40 Vocational Training Recommendations • Tree grafting • Disease and insect infestation prevention • Crop cycle management for agribusiness • Packaging and transportation techniques for commodity fruits

41 Potential Industries for Youth Participation

3.7 Mechanics

Overview There is very little written information on the mechanical sector in Haiti, and there was very limited time to investigate this during the field visit. A much deeper analysis will be needed to have a full understanding of the sector.

As of 2000, Haiti had a total of 1,011 kilometers of paved roads, and 3,149 km unpaved roadways,21 though the kilometers of paved road has significantly increased since then since the work on rebuilding Route #3, connecting Port au Prince and Cap Hatien via Hinche. These roadways are frequented by tap-taps, the public transportation system of trucks that carries people distances that are unwalkable. Many of the roads, however, are in too poor condition for these vehicles. Most cars are second-hand and manual drive, requiring a considerable amount of maintenance. Thought there are fewer vehicles in Haiti in relationship to population than many other countries (7.2 vehicles, not including motorbikes, per 1000 people22), auto and motorbike mechanics remain in demand.

Different localities in Haiti have different models of producing a successful mechanic industry. For example, in Petite Rivere de Nippes, the players in the mechanics sector have recently merged together into one auto- shop in order to create more efficiency and lower costs for all, whereas shops work independently in Miragoane. Yet because of the intricate relationships, participation in the mechanics sector will require on- going discussions and communications with the existing mechanics and construction projects and industry in the area to ensure that these sectors are getting the type of mechanic demanded and that youth are not pushing existing mechanics out of business (creating adult unemployment) and creating ill-will within the community.

In addition to vehicle mechanics, business persons from every site visited mentioned the need for machinists, for small machines (such as a sugarcane press) and large machines (such as a Caterpillar bulldozer) alike.

Current Activities in Mechanics There are no known recent developments in the mechanical vocation or industry in Haiti. There are a number of vocational training programs in mechanics scattered throughout Haiti. These include: the Haiti Education Foundation, which has a vocational school in Cherident, Sud-Est., the SOS Children In Haiti!s vocational training school in Cap Hatien, and of course IDEJEN!s own programs in Carrefour-Feuilles, Petite Place Cazeau, and Gonaives, to name a few. More vocational schools that will also teach mechanics are in construction as the need for such expertise has become clear throughout the country.

Market Relevancy There is a constant demand for competent mechanics in Haiti. The amount of demand in each locale, however, primarily depends on how much traffic that location gets, as the majority of Haitians travel by foot unless going long distances. Even now, horses and donkeys remain a common form of transportation. Mechanical training is much more relevant in Miragoane, for example, which is a port and key location of transport, than it is in Gros Morne, which receives little traffic but the mango trucks that come through regularly during the mango harvesting season.

Demand for individuals skilled in mechanics for automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles was noted in all of the regions visited. In terms of non-vehicle mechanics, there is additionally a high demand across the board for

21 CIA World Factbook: Haiti. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html. Last updated November 2008. 22 Haiti Facts and Figures. MSN Encarta. http://encarta.msn.com/fact_631504778/haiti_facts_and_figures.html. Original source: World Bank Database, www.worldbank.org.

42 machinists who have the ability and resources, in terms of parts and tools, to repair machines and equipment utilized in agricultural processing and construction. Particularly there is a demand for individuals with skills that can bridge these two areas, indicating a distinct need for on-the-job training that can teach youth problem-solving skills so that they can adapt to different machine and engine situations.

It was noted that individuals entering the sector can gain additional advantage by acquiring training in both diesel and petrol engines. Knowledge of automobile on-board computer systems is key as more and more cars are imported with on-board computer systems that control mechanics and electrical workings of the vehicle and familiarity with engine scanners, which are frequently used in more modern vehicles to diagnose engine failure and repair needs, is also a desired competency.

Growth Potential As Haiti becomes increasingly more industrialized, there will be more and more opportunities for mechanics. The only threat would be that the number of individuals trained in the coming years overtakes the growth of the sector, flooding the market with mechanics.

Suitability to Youth: Key considerations for mechanics It takes many years to become an expert in such trades as mechanics, and the initial training provided by IDEJEN, though laying an important foundation, will not be the primary arena of training – as that will be on- the-job or as an apprentice.

One of the most important skills for a mechanic to have is problem solving capabilities. Youth trained in mechanics have an opportunity to have such problem-solving skills nourished within them from the beginning of their training. The on-the-job training that the youth participating in IDEJEN will receive is a critical part of their education and they would be well-served if they have the opportunity to work in a number of different types of shops, with different types of machines. This would also provide them the opportunity to make connections with potential employers as it would be exceedingly difficult for youth to start their own shop or mechanics business without the necessary tools and parts, all of which requires capital. Youth involved in mechanics will also have to be strong and in good health, as their day-to-day activities would depend on both sound mind and sound body.

Employability versus income generation Those youth who have the capability to excel in mechanics, and have a sound business mind, will likely eventually be able to find steady employment or start their own business. In the immediate-term, however, it is likely that youth will only be able to generate small income off of their efforts as they continue to learn and apprentice.

Recommendations • Develop vocational training programs that provide youth with a variety of mechanical skills including diesel motors, petrol motors, and non-auto machinery. • Connect youth into existing mechanic sector to incorporate a complimentary skills instead of a competing skill • Survey local businesses to understand the type of machinery in the area and focus sub-vocational training tracks on this machinery

Center Income Generating Projects and Practical Training Activities • Engine Scanner Leasing o Career Centers could research the purchase of engine scanners, which are used to diagnose engine problems in more modern vehicles. Career Centers could then lease this device to auto-mechanics (youth or other) in the region, who sometimes have to travel to Port Au Prince, with the broken part in hand, to receive a diagnosis. Career Center research should look at the size of the area of demand to decide how many scanners needed and how large of a area the customer base could come from. o Next Step: Research suppliers of engine scanners in Port au Prince and work with IDEJEN Youth to market lease options for the scanner to mechanics in the area in order to gain

43 marketing skills as well as costing, as participating in discussions around how much to charge for the scanner. • Oil and Auto Parts Recycling o Centers could initiate small businesses collecting waste engine oil and auto parts in order to recycle the oil, reuse auto parts, and recycle auto part metal. This is a particular interesting opportunity considering the rise in oil prices. o Next Step: Further investigation would have to be made into the potential buyers for waste engine oil, and recycle auto part metal. Additionally, IDEJEN should ensure to link with experienced auto mechanic shops in Port Au Prince to look at the safety measures and environmental measures need to be considered with recycling metal and engine oil.

Immediate Opportunities for Youth • Private Sector Employment o Auto-Mechanic Shops and Construction Projects • Youth may be able to find employment with various mechanic shops and construction projects needing skilled labor for equipment repair. • Next Step: Career Centers continually maintain contact with local construction companies and construction projects to assess what type of employees needed at the moment. • Small Enterprise Opportunities o Machinist Repair Business

Medium-term Opportunities • Small Enterprise Opportunities o Auto-Oil Collection and Recycling ! Next Step: See Career Center Recommendation Above o Auto-Parts Collection and Recycling ! Next Step: See Career Center Recommendation Above

Vocational Training Recommendations • Engine scanner usage and automobile computer system knowledge • Auto-oil collection, transportation, and recycling • Machine repair as a complimentary skill to automobile repair • Diesel and Petrol engine repair

44 Potential Industries for Youth Participation

3.8 Recycling

Overview In most developing countries the ongoing use and reuse of materials has evolved from merely a daily necessity to a burgeoning economy. A large part of this is due to (1) needs of developed countries for low cost input materials (plastics, for example) and (2) a lack of infrastructure to produce materials that have become everyday necessities in the modern world (industrial metals, for example). In Haiti the recycling industry is only in its nascent stages, and there remains great opportunity and risk. If the recycling businesses can be developed in a manner by which the work the community recognizes the higher value in work that could be perceived simply as refuse collection, the industry will find greater success.

Plastics recycling is a rapidly growing industry for a number of reasons, most significantly due to the rapidly increasing costs of petroleum, the raw material for plastic. Yet there are a number of obstacles to its development, including that new recycling businesses often are not able to produce the high volume of plastic that is desired by their clients unless there is significant investment in the early stages of the business.

A key challenge to getting youth involved in these activities is poor peer perception. There are, however, ways to overcome this with different approaches to plastics collection business, for example by a business structure in which younger, less experienced youth do the collection and older youth are involved in managing the business and operating machinery to press and package the plastics for shipment.

Current Activities Recently, the US-based non-profit CHF International and the Port au Prince-based private GS Industries partnered to collect plastics in Gonaives. GS was contracted to a company in Canada and has invested in a plastics pressing machine to ship pressed plastics to them. They have worked with CHF with the goal of training youth to do the collection and sorting of the plastics. CHF is interested in training IDEJEN youth in the collection process in order to provide the supply GS needs to meet their contracted supply of plastic, which they have not yet been able to meet. This is reflective of one of the major challenges in entering the recycling industry: the need to collect enough materials to supply the large demand.

Beyond GS Industries, Haiti Plastics, a Port au Prince-based container manufacturer, has been contacted by the IDB to provide technical support for the development of a recycling facility, including crusher and pelletizer, in Gonaives. Haiti Plastics would use the recycled pellets in hard products such as hangers and plastic crates (like those used for fruit transportation).

Other small plastics recycling projects in Haiti are being initiated by non-profit organizations in order to combat sanitation problems due to street litter. One example is the Engineers Without Borders – University of Minnesota chapter which is working in partnership with SOIL (Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods – based in Haiti) to develop a method of recycling plastic bags used for water into portable sani-pots for human refuse.

Suitability to Youth Plastics recycling has been an appealing industry for those interested in youth employment due to the simplicity in the acts of collecting, sorting, and cleaning the plastics. There is little training needed than an understanding of the different types of plastic polymers and safety precautions for collectors, and an understanding of machine operations for potential machine operators. Safety is a critical aspect of both activities, and extremely important to emphasize for youth. Such skills in machine operations and differentiation between materials can be very useful to manufacturing or machinist industries. However, as the recycling industry is yet in very early stages of development, there is risk that it may not succeed and it would

45 be even more important for youth to learn application of these skills in other areas of their life and other industries.

A key concern for suitability to youth may be peer perception of the activity and it would be useful to discuss the potential activities with youth prior to beginning any training program

Market Relevancy There is ample market opportunity for plastics processors to develop, and the key for IDEJEN youth would be to link up with a growing plastics processor. There are a number of different opportunities emerging here, including the immediate opportunity with GS Industries, but until these larger businesses are established the true relevancy of this sector as a long-term career opportunity for Haitian youth cannot be ultimately determined.

Growth Potential As mentioned, the recycled plastics market is continuing to grow, with increasing prices for the raw materials. Virgin resin now sells for approximately US$1,705.00 per ton, and recycled plastics only 5% less – a 10% increase over the past year.23

Recommendations • If there is enough opportunity for profit, and trial businesses show quick returns on lesser amounts of effort, there could be incentive for youth to be involved. • Youth might run trial businesses (2-4 days) in plastics collection to learn about the realities of the process and understand how much money they might be able to generate. There will be a market for these plastics through GS Industries whether or not the youth continue on with the business. Training in plastics collection is also a good lesson in terms of reuse of material and maintenance of a sanitary environment. • The basic structure of a plastics recycling collection center is similar to that of metals recycling, of which there is a significant amount in Haiti, though this has yet to be explored by EVI. Therefore any movement into plastics recycling would provide opportunity for product diversification. • There may be opportunity for collection of high-quality scrap metal for sale to artisanal workshops. • IDEJEN should continue to be aware of the activities of CHF, GS, and Haiti Plastics in the plastics recycling industry so as to understand existing opportunities for income generation and employment.

Center Income Generating Projects and Practical Training Activities • Recycling collection and processing center o Low cost recycling balers may be produced locally to facilitate collection of a high volume of plastics. o Most applicable in towns where there is a high volume of available plastic waste, such as Gonaives.

Immediate Opportunities for Youth • Private Sector Employment o Collection of waste plastics o Next Step: Discuss training needs with GS Industries • Small Enterprise Opportunities o Collection and baling of plastics o Simple small scale baling machines can be manufactured for low cost (US$100-150) and youth could produce and use these machines to run small-scale plastics collection and baling facilities for sale to GS or other emerging recycling companies.

Medium-Term Opportunities for Youth • Private Sector Employment

23 Butler, Sarah. “Waste: Oil price fuels expansion of plastic recycling.” The Guardian. September 15, 2008. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/15/waste.recycling

46 o Processing of waste plastics o Repair of plastics recycling machinery

Vocational Training Recommendations • Plastics sorting • Baling of plastics • Construction of small-scale balers • Internship in recycling facilities for better understanding of process and purpose behind sorting

47 Potential Industries for Youth Participation

3.9 Solar Energy Systems

Overview Solar energy is often cited as a vast resource for energy production in developing countries, but the technology to harness it is often not economically viable. Though costs are rapidly decreasing. solar remains quite an expensive technology and technicians for repair of such systems are scarce. However, mini-solar panels (also known as “do-it-yourself” or DIY solar) have had significant success in local, urban communities as an economically viable option for individuals to use as portable chargers for cell phones, batteries, radios, and small lights. The indirect results of the use of such small solar panels include increased interpersonal communication, greater access to information for businesses, and greater personal safety in addition to creating additional job opportunities for skilled youth.

Technology for mini solar panels has evolved significantly, most recently with a shift from the traditional glass crystalline panels to plastic amorphous polycrystalline panels. These are more suitable for saline climates such as that of Haiti, which in the past has had issues with corrosion of glass panels. These panels are shipped to the small business with or without the additional necessary materials which include clips and wires. The panels are assembled by the small business and connected with any small electronics. They can also be rented out for use by those who prefer not to purchase a charger but, for example, need to charge their phone when there is no electricity available.

Current activities in solar in Haiti Solar has a growing market in Haiti as there is limited and inconsistent access to grid-based electricity, particularly in rural areas. A limitation to the growth of the industry is the expense, as most systems are imported complete from China, including solar panel, inverter, and battery. The solar energy is collected and stored in a battery by which electrical appliances such as computers, refrigerators, and lighting systems can be powered during times when the sun is down. Most solar panels in Haiti are large, high-cost panels and are inaccessible to the general public. There are a number of NGOs around the country that utilize these same large panel systems, commonly provided through donor programs.

There is a significant number of untapped opportunity in utilizing solar for small enterprise development to serve the energy needs of the lower-class, and IDEJEN could take advantage of these income-generating and employment opportunities for boys and girls alike. There have already been a couple of DIY solar programs in Haiti, including a partnership in 2006-2007 between AMURT-Haiti, BioDesign, and Engineers Without Borders that introduced solar panels to Anse-Rouge in North West Artibonite. The solar panel systems were in high demand, yet the necessary business market linkages were not developed between

48 international panel suppliers and local businesses, and the program therefore lacked sustainability though the demand for the systems was higher than what they were able to supply during the project period.

Mouvement Paysans de Papaye, a farmers! group just outside of Hinche, has been involved in solar panel assembly for some years and is assembling panel systems consisting of imported photovoltaic cells that youth piece together in different size panels using liquid silicone. Much of the training and materials comes from the Maine Solar Energy Association and Fenix, a Nicaragua-based NGO. Fenix has also recently helped launch Enersa S.A. in Port au Prince, which is a youth- based business that does small solar work.

Beyond microenterprise, there are at least four companies in Haiti that have been identified that provide solar photovoltaic systems, based in Port au Prince (3) and Leogane (1). These could provide potential private- sector employment for youth trained in solar and electrical technical fields.

Also of note is the demand for solar cell phone chargers. Digicel has recognized the opportunity for use of solar by their many customers in rural areas with limited electricity access and is currently testing a solar cell-phone charger in the Port au Prince market and through businesses that need access to communication with their suppliers in the rural areas. In essence, the more ability people have to keep phones charged, the more likelihood for increased purchase of cell phone minutes. Additional industry interest comes from mango exporters, such as JMButeau, who want to have direct contact with off-grid producers for more efficient transportation and delivery from farm to processing station. There is also specific interest in solar by the tourism industry for powering off-grid hotels and lodges.

Market Relevancy Domestic Markets The primary markets of this sector include youth, small business owners, and those who do not have access to electricity but do own electronics, such as cell phones and radios. Mini solar panels can fill a need in the market to support the recent explosion of the communications sector and use of cell phones that has occurred without the simultaneous support of the electrical infrastructure necessary for the continued use of these tools. Additionally, a main constraint to the use of radios in Haiti has been the high cost of batteries. By connecting radios to mini solar panels, the initial cost will be higher but will save customers significant amounts of money over time while allowing them uninterrupted access to information—especially key in an area where a large portion of the population is illiterate. There are numerous examples of leasing schemes and “pay as you go” usage models related to mini-solar panels that could be adapted to the Haitian context.

Export Markets This is a specifically domestic, local opportunity.

Growth Potential With increasing usage of electronic devices, there can be an expected increase in the use of money-saving energy products.

Suitability to Youth: Key considerations for solar-related opportunities Solar panel assembly and any related activities are extremely youth-oriented as youth are a main consumer and innovator of technology. Throughout the world, youth are one of the largest consumer bases for cell

49 phones and radios and spend much of their disposable income on communications-related technology, though in Haiti fewer youth have access to cell phones because fewer are economically active.24

In terms of training necessary, typical DIY solar programs run for a couple of weeks rather than the months that are available for the youth at the IDEJEN centers. At the same time, the skills required for work as an electrician are related to the skills needed for solar panel construction, and training for solar panel construction could be incorporated into current electrical training.

Primary challenges might include the amount of monetary assets necessary for business generation, as well as protection of those assets once obtained. Due to the need to import parts, it will be important to have an established, reliable business connection with an importer – which is a role that the IDEJEN centers may be able to effectively play. An additional issue might be that the materials are high-value, so there is greater risk for theft and more need for the youth to have a place to securely store and protect their business assets.

Another very positive aspect of opportunities in solar energy is that the activities involved, such as putting together small panel parts, do not require much physical exertion and can easily be done by those with physical ailments.

Other considerations Often these projects are conducted without making the necessary market linkages between local business and panel producer, leading to unsustainable market relationships. In order for any solar program to succeed, it is important that these connections are made and can be sustained without the support of the IDEJEN program.

Recommendations • Solar energy presents an opportunity for development of a variety of small businesses. • It is critical to develop a relationship with an input supplier (company supplying the solar components) that is sustainable and accessible. This could initially be a role played by the IDEJEN centers or as a center income generating activity. • Training in solar panel use and assembly could be combined with traditional electrical training or conducted as part of an accompaniment phase for youth interested in solar-based small businesses. • It is important to be aware of activities of other players in the solar energy industry in Haiti, most particularly and perhaps specifically in Port au Prince, to maintain good relationships, be aware of developments, and identify potential employment or new small business opportunities for IDEJEN youth.

Potential Center Income Generating Projects and Practical Training Activities • Solar panel assembly o Centers could import solar panel components for assembly and sale of solar systems serving a variety of purposes, which youth could utilize for small business opportunities. A sustainable business linkage could then be formed between the center and the international components provider(s). o Next Step: IDEJEN contacts potential suppliers to determine best options for importation of solar system materials. IDEJEN contacts experts in Haiti in mini-solar to assess opportunities for providing training in systems in terms of type of training and location. IDEJEN should contact Chavanne Baptiste of Mouvement Paysan de Papaye to learn from and connect to their work with solar in Hinche.

24 Barton-Chery, Erin. “Economic Realities and Opportunities for Out-of-School Youth in Haiti.” Perpared for IDEJEN and USAID. July 2006.

50 Immediate Opportunities • Private Sector Employment • Installation and repair of solar systems o Youth may be able to find employment with the various solar panel companies in Haiti to provide services to their current and future customers. o Next Step: IDEJEN contacts solar companies in Port au Prince and Leogane to determine labor and competency needs. • Employment in the electrical industry o Youth trained in solar will also have introductory experience with electrical systems, such as basic wiring and inverters. Youth could receive additional training to be able to apply these skills within the electrical sector. o There is demonstrated need for technicians skilled in repair of inverters. o Next Step: IDEJEN and/or Center Staff contact individuals in electrical industry to determine opportunities for youth employment in various areas and any opportunity for applying solar skills within the general electrical industry.

• Small Enterprise Opportunities • As there are a number of potential opportunities, we are listing here a sampling of potential applications of use of solar as a launching-pad for small enterprise. Next steps for most include testing of the technology and working with contacts already made, including Graham Knight of DIYSolar and Philippe Tassy, engineer with AMURT-Haiti!s 2006-2007 mini-solar program in Anse-Rouge. Work out the financial viability of some of the options and conduct product demonstrations to assess demand. • Cell-phone charging station o As an alternative to petroleum-powered charging stations. • Assembly and sale of individual mini-solar systems o For individual use to charge radios, batteries, cell phones, etc. • Assembly and sale of solar-powered refrigeration systems o For use by daily merchants of unstable food products. • Assembly and sale of small solar lighting systems o For individual use in the home, solar systems can be as small as one light. • Solar panel system assembly and repair technician • Inverter system repair technician

• Medium-term Opportunities • There is immediate demand for all of the services of solar energy. Therefore all opportunities may be considered immediate, though some may take more time in establishing than others.

Vocational Training Recommendations • Electrical techniques with a concentrated focus and accompaniment in solar photovoltaic systems • Assembly and repair of solar photovoltaic systems • Additional related and useful skills include: o Repair of electrical inverters o Refurbishment of batteries o Skills focus in marketing and distribution

Associated skills related to enterprise opportunities: • Electrician • Any type of small technical construction

Examples of related enterprise opportunities: • Wire and clip supplier • Radio sale and repair • Cell phone sale and repair

51

Additional Resources Komp, Richard. “Return to Haiti – 2007.” Maine Solar Energy Association Newsletter. Downloadable at: http://ellsworthme.org/MESEA/Haiti07.pdf Contains information on the photovoltaics of Mouvement Paysans de Papaye (Hinche) and Enersa S.A. (Port au Prince)

Bellanca, Raffaella. “Mini Solar Panels Project Haiti – 2006-2007.” Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT). September 2007. Downloadable at http://www.worldecoengineering.org/MyPdfs/SolarPanelsHaiti.pdf. Contains information on the DIY Solar project conducted by AMURT in Anse Rouge 2006-2007.

52 Potential Industries for Youth Participation

3.10 Sugarcane, Bagasse, and Fuel Briquetting

This section covers merging of three different topics: the sugarcane industry and its prevalence throughout Haiti; bagasse, the waste product of sugar production; and production of fuel briquettes using biomass waste. Different aspects of these topics were identified as opportunities by EVI and Mr. Rene in the initial assessments. As involvement in the production of sugarcane is not recommended for youth, the recommendations made are in regards to fuel briquetting specifically, drawing from the waste product of the sugarcane industry.

Overview The sugarcane industry is a relic of Haiti!s colonial days in which Spanish and French colonizers cleared vast tracts of forested land to plant sugarcane and used readily available slave labor to work the plantations. Sugarcane is still grown in huge quantities in Haiti, primarily for the clarin (cane alcohol) industry, and also for production of cane syrup and rapadou (a solid sweetening agent).

The byproduct of pressing the sugarcane for juice is bagasse, the dry, starchy cane that remains after the juice has been pressed out of the fresh cane. Bagasse burns well and can be used as a cheap, environmentally friendly solid fuel alternative to charcoal and wood. It is common knowledge that for the majority of the world!s population, charcoal and firewood are the primary sources of fuel for cooking and heating. Unsustainable use of wood resources has resulted in deforestation and scarcity of timber resources in many places, not the least of which is Haiti, now more than two-thirds deforested. This paucity of fuel sources results in higher fuel costs and more strenuous living conditions, particularly for females who hold primary responsibility for energy resources in the household. Considerable research has gone into determining different kinds of alternative solid fuels that are adaptable to traditional cooking styles and thus adaptable to local cultures, and a number of viable solutions have been brought forward. These include charring of agricultural wastes to create charcoal dust that is molded into charcoal briquettes (basically making charcoal out of biomass waste rather than tree biomass), the compression of waste paper into paper briquettes, and the fermentation and compression of agricultural and other wastes into another type of solid, “hollow-core” briquette. These are described in more detail below.

Current Sugarcane Activities in Haiti Sugarcane currently exists in large tracts in plantations all over Haiti, with significant quantities in the EVI research sites of Gros Morne and Hinche. Most small farmers also set aside a piece of land for sugarcane production for family consumption. The primary product from sugarcane in both locations is sugarcane syrup, sold to clairin producers in Cap Hatien, St. Michelle and other locations. Locally, small amounts of sugarcane syrup are sold in Gros Morne, and rapadou (solidified cane syrup) is sold in small quantities in Hinche. The industry was identified as a potential opportunity for IDEJEN youth involvement during the initial canvassing by Mr. Rene.

53 A key challenge in the sugarcane sector in Haiti is the limited number of people who know how to maintain and repair the motorized pressing systems. Another challenge is disease, and farmers interviewed indicated a need for individuals who could do disease and pest control on their land, though it is unknown if this is a service they would pay for. Because the primary product of the sugarcane is alcohol, there is little to no support of the development of the industry, despite sugarcane being a key cash crop in the area. The Fund for Social and Economic Assistance (FAES) branch in Hinche is interested in developing the industry, however, and is currently analyzing the sector to determine target areas to provide finance. FAES also noted the need for small machinists to support the industry.

Current Briquette Activities in Haiti Due to the extreme pressure being placed on Haiti!s remaining wood resources and general scarcity of these resources, fuel prices are high, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas, creating an opening in the market for appropriate solid fuel technologies that can be adapted to current traditional cooking methods. Such opportunities have been pursued in Haiti in the past through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology!s D- Lab (MIT D-Lab) with bagasse briquettes, through production of waste-paper briquettes (technology of unknown origin), and by a variety of organizations, including the LaRouche Photo courtesy of Tom Miles Foundation and Actionnel Fleurisma/World Concern, working with the Legacy Foundation!s “hollow-core” briquettes. Beyond these there have been recent advances in technologies for the charring of biomass for charcoal briquettes by the Appropriate Rural Technology Institute, developing a more efficient and cheaper metal charring kiln. This is not yet available in Haiti but is widely used in India and has recently been introduced in Tanzania. One sugarcane producer we spoke with in Gros Morne does produce bagasse briquettes on a small scale in his own home; there are also larger-scale charred bagasse briquette production areas launched by local and international organizations, including the MIT D-Lab in Petite Anse and CAPAS, a local organization in Les Cayes.

The following is an overview of the different types of briquetting technologies available each appropriate for different locations depending on the raw materials, construction material, and type of labor available. Both methods are appropriate for use with bagasse as the primary ingredient, however a higher quality, better- burning briquette is produced with the charcoal dust briquetting method:

“Hollow-Core” Briquettes Hollow-core briquettes are produced by combining fermented, ground agricultural/biomass wastes with other waste materials such as waste paper and charcoal fines (dust). Rather than charring the product, it is compressed by a wooden hand press, resulting in no loss of biomass. The briquette burns in different ways depending on the “recipe” used to produce it (ingredients and process) allowing for specialization, variation, and the production of medicinal briquettes with the use of particular leaf types. It burns in traditional stoves and three-stone fires that have good air circulation.

54 Ashes from the briquettes are high in nitrogen content and can be used as fertilizer in home gardens. However, production also requires the input of water, which can be a challenge in communities dealing with water shortages.

Considerations: • Suitability to youth: This form of briquette production is particularly suitable to youth due to the type of labor required. Teams of 5-10 people work together to produce the briquettes, using low-cost machinery that any carpenter can easily learn to produce. It requires enough land to store materials, press briquettes, and dry and store the finished product. • Constraints / Opportunities: As noted, the production of these briquettes requires water, which may ultimately inhibit the business in water-scarce locales. • Start-up costs: The wooden press machine costs around US$200-$300. Other materials such as buckets and drying racks can add US$20-100, depending on the business design. (These costs are relevant to the East African context, and thus more exact numbers for Haiti would be solicited from ground research.) • Other considerations: The profitability of the business depends on the local cost of charcoal and firewood and the purchasing power of the community, as there are generally low-to-no monetary input costs for the waste materials that provide the base for the briquettes. It also depends on the amount of time and labor put into the business (more hours producing = more briquettes produced). There are a few input supplier support business opportunities, related to inputs of the raw materials for the briquettes and for the press, which is constructed of wood, PVC pipe, and metal pipe. As more market research is done, additional opportunities downstream in the value-chain come into play such as wholesalers and retailers linking briquette producers to markets in urban settings.

Charcoal Dust Briquettes Charcoal dust briquettes are created by charring agricultural and other biomass wastes in a metal kiln and then compressing the resulting dust together with a binder and molding into a small charcoal briquette that burns in any stove. Depending on the method of compression (by hand or by hand- operated press) they do or do not require a binder, such as clay soil or cassava/manioc flour. If a binder is necessary, as it is with hand-molding, and only cassava flour is available, this greatly increases the price of the product and it is expected that this would be particularly true in Haiti where food resources are scarce. The product burns as well or better than traditional charcoal and has shown to be very acceptable by women as an alternative fuel. The primary challenge is that a very large amount of bagasse waste is necessary for production, as there is a volume reduction of 60-70% during the charring process. Yet this can also be viewed as an opportunity as it not only address fuel issues but is also a profitable way to manage waste removal.

In 2005 an undergrad student at MIT did an analysis of economic viability of bagasse briquette production under three different production scenarios. Conclusions included that, “It was determined to be economically feasible for small families to invest in sugarcane bagasse charcoal production and expect returns in a month. In a larger scale, it is also economically reasonable to expect a small community to supplement their income by devoting a small portion of their time to sugarcane bagasse production. At the factory level scale, the sustained success is unclear due to variables such as substitute products.”25

Considerations: • Suitability to youth: This is also a team activity and the monitoring of the kiln during the day for the lengthy charring process would allow youth time to engage in other activities, such as reading or other educational pursuits for their studies. • Constraints / Opportunities: The kiln itself can be costly as it is made of metal and this could present an obstacle to youth intending to start their own businesses directly after training

25 Kamimoto, Lynn K. David Wallace, Advisor. Economic Feasibility of Bagasse Charcoal in Haiti. Thesis paper for Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2005.

55 without necessary available capital or access to capital. However, the kiln can be made out of readily available metal drums. • Start-up costs: See above. • Other considerations: As with other briquettes, the profitability of the business depends directly on the costs of input materials. Production output depends more on kiln size than hours of labor because this limits the amount of raw material that can be processed in, for example, an eight-hour period. According to MIT, this type of briquette can be produced for about 1/3 the cost of traditional charcoal, leaving ample room for increasing profits while providing a cheaper product to poor communities.

Market Relevancy: Bagasse briquettes Domestic Markets As mentioned above, there is strong market potential for a cheaper, more environmentally sound charcoal alternative, and there is real opportunity for enterprise development so long as the business numbers are accurately calculated so that the briquettes are sold at a lower cost than charcoal. Current prices of charcoal in Haiti are unknown, but business profit potential will depend mainly on the competition with the local charcoal market. If cassava flour is used as a binder, the local cost of this resource will also be important.

Export Markets The primary intention is to satisfy current energy needs within, and not outside of, Haiti.

Growth Potential With a growing population that relies on charcoal not only because it is the most widely available and accessible as a fuel source, but also because traditional cooking techniques necessitate the use of fire, there are excellent growth opportunities. By providing an alternative that can be used in place of charcoal rather than completely changing the cooking technique, producers will be addressing an energy need that will continue to grow with population growth.

Other Considerations In the past, programs to catalyze the production and use of these technologies have been technology-focused rather than market-focused, resulting in business failure and/or the use of an inappropriate technology for the local setting. Other challenges include that the technologies are generally very simple and do not require much direct training but do require extended practice in order to create a marketable product. Yet by focusing on the business side, including quality production and marketing, and recognizing the value chain that the fuel fits into, these technologies have high chance of succeeding in accessing the ripe energy market.

A pertinent policy consideration is that the Interim Cooperation Framework provided for the reforestation of 2,000 hectares of forest and financial support for briquette producers by September 2005.26 EVI was not able to determine what actions or activities have taken place as a result of this provision.

Recommendations in regards to the sugarcane industry and bagasse briquette production: • Involvement of youth in the production of sugarcane syrup is not recommended. • The sugarcane industry has immediate support needs for small machinists, which offers youth employment and small business development opportunities. • The bagasse waste is currently being used by at least one producer to produce bagasse briquettes for home use. IDEJEN should follow up with bagasse briquette producers about immediate employment and small business creation opportunities. This is also a potential Income Generating Project opportunity for IDEJEN Centers, which could be complemented by programs in woodworking or metal working, depending on the type of machinery used for briquette production. • It is critical that excellent quality and intensive marketing are key focuses for the youth if briquettes are pursued.

26 Haiti Energy Sector Development Plan 2007-2017. Prepared by the Ministry for Public Works, Transportation and Communications, the Bureau of Mines and Energy, and Electricity of Haiti with technical assistance of the International Atomic Energy Agency. November 2006.

56

Center Income Generating Projects and Practical Training Activities • Bagasse briquette production o Next Step: Contact current briquette producers to learn about their experience with local demand, marketing needs, costing, and best business models. Test market both types of briquettes from current producers for consumer feedback. Run financial analyses to determine preferred briquetting technology.

Immediate Opportunities for Youth • Private Sector Employment o None recommended • Small Enterprise Opportunities o Bagasse briquette production ! Production may occur via the two methods of briquette production (hollow-core and charcoal dust) currently occurring in Haiti, as noted above. The extent of these activities is not known, as only one brief conversation was held with a producer in Gros Morne ! Next Step: IDEJEN contacts Sugarcane Producer Association in Gros Morne to determine reality of hollow-core briquetting in Gros Morne and viability as an enterprise. IDEJEN contacts Keith Flanagan to determine available expertise to provide training in hollow-core briquetting and machine construction. IDEJEN contacts Isaac Cherestal of CAPAS in Les Cayes to learn about chardust briquetting in Haiti, necessary training, and potential for viable small businesses and youth employment. o Briquette marketing and retail ! Youth market and sell briquettes as an alternative to charcoal. This might include conducting demonstrations of cooking with briquettes or doing other promotional activities within the marketplace and their community. o Repair of sugarcane press machines ! Small machinist with specialization in sugarcane press motors ! Next Step: IDEJEN locates current experts in sugarcane press machines to provide machine-specific training. o Small motor replacement parts supplier ! Source small machine parts from Port au Prince or Gonaives for resale in Gros Morne. ! Next Step: IDEJEN locates parts sources for the machines and works with youth to determine viability as a stand-alone business or as part of the machine repair service.

• Medium-term Opportunities o Private Sector Employment ! None recommended • Small Enterprise Opportunities o Disease and infestation prevention officer ! Provide disease and insect infestation prevention services to sugarcane producers. A need for such skills was noted by the Sugar Cane Producer Association in Gros Morne. ! Next Steps: IDEJEN or IDEJEN youth investigate whether this is a service the producers would hire youth to provide. Though they indicated that there is a need for this service, they did not indicate whether or not this is something they would pay someone to do, and for how much. Contact Marion Le Pommelac of the IDB to identify avenues for youth to link into their existing research and development around phyto-sanitary protection of crops. o Briquette machine construction ! If briquetting develops as a lucrative industry and more briquette producers emerge, there will be need for ongoing machine construction and repair.

57 ! Youth might produce either wooden (hollow-core briquette) or metal (chardust briquette) briquette production machines .

Vocational Training Recommendations • Small machine repair with focus on sugarcane press motors • Bagasse briquette production • Woodworking or metal working with sub-focus on briquette machine production

Additional Resources Kamimoto, Lynn K. “Economic Feasibility of Bagasse Charcoal in Haiti.” Submitted to the Deparment of mechanical Engineering in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of Bachelor of Science at the Massachusetts Institution of Technology. May 2005. • This article details a breakdown of the economic feasibility of MIT D-Lab style (chardust) briquettes and outlines the potential for both small scale (home produced) and factory-produced briquettes.

Smith, Amy, et al. “Fuel from the Fields: A Guide to Converting Agricultural Waste into Charcoal Briquettes.” Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2003. • This is a draft report that is available on the MIT D-Lab!s website. Though it is from 2003, an updated final report was never posted. We were unable to get in touch with the D-Lab during the research period for an updated report. However, this draft does detail well the technical specifics of creating charcoal dust briquette.

58 Market Assessment Tools to Identify Opportunities for Youth

4. Market Assessment Tools to Identify Opportunities for Youth

The tools developed following the assessment and to support future assessments are designed to allow users to assess immediately apparent opportunities while forming a more complete picture of the ways that the different sectors are connected. This will facilitate identification of additional cross-sectoral job opportunities, as well as skill sets that have cross-sectoral applicability.

The tools are designed to be utilized consecutively, allowing users to assess sector and market opportunities on an increasingly in-depth basis. This plan will help to reduce the amount of time spent researching inappropriate sectors by providing simple, to-the-point analysis questions that direct users towards relevant opportunities while also teaching key concepts in sector analysis.

A number of the questions are directed towards program staff and help guide decisions about which training programs to provide and which relationships to pursue. It is equally important for youth to understand the thinking behind the choices that the program makes which enable youth to make more appropriate decisions for themselves.

Sector Selection Decision-Making Checklist

Market Opportunities Decision-Making Checklist

Sector-Specific Assessment Framework

Sector Selection Decision-Making Checklist This tool is intended to provide a list of questions to be used in the assessment of whether or not a particular sector is appropriate for youth involvement. The questions generally center around the overall well-being of the sector; for example, whether or not a sector is growing, if there are both employment and self-employment opportunities, and if there is an existing business network for new businesses or trained workers to feed into. This one-page document aims to provide a quick way of assessing whether or not further exploration of a sector is worthwhile.

Market Opportunities Decision-Making Checklist As the follow-up to the Sector Selection Tool, the Youth Market Opportunities checklist allows users to delve further into the sector to determine whether or not there are opportunities relevant to the out-of-school youth that the IDEJEN program is serving. It includes both youth-oriented and market-oriented questions, such as whether activities may lead to situations involving physical or emotional abuse and whether the activities add value to existing economic activities taking place in the area.

59

Sector-Specific Assessment Framework Once users have determined that a sector has viable opportunities for youth employment and entrepreneurship, the next step is to conduct an in-depth sector assessment that will allow users to further explore opportunities, connect with sector players, locate key resources, and identify specific skills for youth training programs that are necessary for success in that sector. EVI has provided a one-page overview of the main questions that are necessary to explore (Sector-Specific Assessment Framework: Summary) as well as a detailed follow-up that provides examples of key questions that EVI utilizes in information-gathering research for all sector assessments (Sector-Specific Assessment Framework: Detailed Questions). This second piece will be useful during the first few times that a user works through an assessment, and the one- page brief will be of used as a reference in the field as users become more accustomed to working through the different sections and develop their own questions to obtain necessary information.

Illustrative Sector Assessment: Fishing and Aquaculture This document is less a tool than an example of how the questions outlined in the Sector-Specific Assessment Brief and Guiding Questions might be answered and what type of information might be sourced. One purpose of this is to better illustrate the purpose of the questions, in case there is misunderstanding regarding translation or if users are unfamiliar with any terminology. A second purpose is to provide an example of a sector with high potential, but for which the information is not fully updated, allowing an opportunity for an additional exercise in information gathering for youth or program staff.

Suggestions for Use As a beginning exercise for youth and IDEJEN staff with the sector assessment tools, one option would be for IDEJEN staff and then youth themselves to conduct an analysis of the opportunities highlighted in this assessment beginning with the Market Sector Selection Tool and moving on to the Sector Assessment Tool. There will be questions about how to find the necessary information, and this is an excellent opportunity for youth to use their developing interpersonal livelihood skills to interact with community leaders and potential future employers.

60 Market Assessment Tools to Identify Opportunities for Youth

Sector Selection Decision-Making Checklist

" Sector is generally growing / large

" Sector has been previously identified as growing / competitive / key sector by market, value chain, or supply chain studies

" Sector offers self-employment or employment opportunities

" Sector offers long term income-generating/business opportunities

" Sector consists of established market actors/networks (such as private sector associations) that youth can connect to

" Sector benefits from active participation of a local champion or leading firm (typically a marketer, processor or an exporter) with assured market links and willingness to work with supply systems

" Sector includes strong interest from potential partners to work with / train youth or interact with youth businesses

" Sector seems to be able to compete against competitive threats from other regional or international markets

" Sector has many low-income youth already participating or has the potential for many low- income youth to participate

61 Market Assessment Tools to Identify Opportunities for Youth

Market Opportunities Decision-Making Checklist

" Activities are not dangerous for youth (e.g. involving hazardous material, unsafe working conditions, toxic materials, unclean air)

" Activities do not put youth into situations that could lead to physical or emotional child-abuse

" Activities will not incentivize youth to be out of school but could be done in conjunction with attending school or other training opportunities

" Activities are environmentally-sustainable (and not harmful to the environment or overusing natural resources)

" Activities do not require highly specialized skills

" Activities do not require high levels of certification, etc.

" Activities add value to other economic activities already taking place in the area, strengthening the operation of the other activities by potentially filling gaps or needs which currently exist in the market

Additionally, for self-employment opportunities specifically: " Activities do not replicate similar activities already being conducted widely throughout the community (that there may no longer be more need for or which offer extremely low income opportunities because of the already high supply)

" Activities will not lead to businesses already offering similar or substitute products / services being put out of business, but rather enhance business activities and assist growing the economy as a whole

62 Market Assessment Tools to Identify Opportunities for Youth

" Materials needed are locally available and not scarce

" Activities are not dependant on loans or subsidies (including grants) on an ongoing basis (and preferably not on an initial basis)

" Equipment needed can be made by youth or purchased at low cost

" Activities where equipment is needed that cannot be made by the youth or easily accessed, can be financed and/or provided by others in the sector

" Activities do not require high start up costs

For those line items left unchecked:

Are there plans / ideas in place in order to remedy the critical gaps existing within this market?

Does the program, any of its partners, or other players in the sector have the technical capacity and budget to address these critical gaps?

If the program recognizes these critical gaps but does not have the capacity or budget to address them properly, please state the justification for continuing with this sector assessment:

63 Market Assessment Tools to Identify Opportunities for Youth

The following tool is an overview of the key questions to address when analyzing a particular sector for youth involvement.

Sector-Specific Assessment Framework

• WHAT ARE KEY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS?

• WHAT ARE USES OF THE PRODUCT?

• WHAT IS HAPPENING AT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE MARKET?

• WHAT ARE CURRENT CONSTRAINTS OR CHALLENGES IN THE MARKET?

• WHAT ARE CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE MARKET?

• WHAT ARE POTENTIAL AREAS FOR YOUTH INVOLVEMENT?

• WHAT ARE IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH INVOLVEMENT?

• WHAT ARE MEDIUM-TERM OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH INVOLVEMENT?

• WHAT ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR POTENTIAL WORK EXPERIENCE PROJECTS FOR YOUTH?

• WHO ARE POTENTIAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTNER WITH?

• WHAT ARE NEXT STEPS FOR WORKING WITH THESE PARTNERS / MARKET ACTORS?

• WHO ARE KEY CONTACTS IN THIS SECTOR?

• WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF MARKET ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS SECTOR?

Developed for USAID!s EQUIP3 IDEJEN Out-of-School Youth Program in Haiti

64 Market Assessment Tools to Identify Opportunities for Youth

The following tool elaborates specific questions to ask private and public sector industry players that will help youth employment practitioners get to the key information needed for a sector assessment.

Sector-specific Assessment Framework Detailed Questions

WHAT ARE KEY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS? (This component considers environmental impacts - including harms, challenges or benefits - that should be considered.)

Environmental Benefits:

Environmental Challenges / Harmful Impacts:

WHAT ARE USES OF THE PRODUCT? (Consider how the product is used, what forms it can take, etc. [Often referred to as End-Market Analysis])

Different Uses Global: Domestic: What are the uses of the product? Where does most of the product go geographically (currently, potentially)? Who are the buyers of the product and what do they use it for? What are the benefits of the product, and therefore potential uses? (Consider uses, health benefits, efficiency, etc.)

WHAT IS HAPPENING AT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE MARKET? (This component provides a Preliminary Sector Summary as of [insert date].)

Global Buyers / Importers Market actors: Challenges: Price:

Exporters Market Actors: Challenges: Price:

65 Market Assessment Tools to Identify Opportunities for Youth

WHAT IS HAPPENING AT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE MARKET? (Cont!d)

Producer Level Market actors: Farming process: Is there a difference in quality sourced from different areas / by different methods? What areas are particularly conducive to this sector? Why? What kind of training is necessary for production? Added value: Waste: Start-up Costs: Where does production take place? What waste is generated? How can this be used? Input Suppliers/ Raw Material Sources: What are inputs or raw materials needed?

Support Markets Public sector: Private Sectors: Transport:

Who are other Support Organizations?

Financial Support Markets

Information Sharing Market Linkages: Quality: What type of quality control is needed or can add value? What type of quality issues would the end market value or want? Are there quality control issues in production? Who is in charge of or can support quality control?

Competitiveness & Growth Potential What is the market size/ demand?

WHAT ARE CURRENT CONSTRAINTS OR CHALLENGES IN THE MARKET? (This component provides insights into current challenges or constraints in different parts of the market. The key is to identify which of these could be overcome quickly and at low cost that would result in increased demand from the existing or new end market, followed by increased productivity or production levels.)

What are constraints or challenges in the market? What are key functions in the market that are not being met? Which of the competencies that exist or do not exist in the areas related to this sector? What are challenges to the sector? Competitors?

66 Market Assessment Tools to Identify Opportunities for Youth

WHAT ARE CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE MARKET?

What are the market opportunities? Why is it beneficial to produce and source from this country / region? What is the Competitive Advantage of the country/region? What are opportunities for exporting product? What are opportunities for collaboration of market players?

WHAT ARE POTENTIAL AREAS FOR YOUTH INVOLVEMENT? (This component identifies potential areas that are suited to youth involvement in the sector; appropriate training, experience or capacity building that youth may need, and transferability of these skills to other markets or areas.)

How is this appropriate / inappropriate to youth?

Added value activities: What are added-value opportunities? What additional processing, if any, can be done?

Production process:

Waste-streams: What are potential business opportunities in the sector?

Other businesses: What are cross-sector business opportunities?

WHAT ARE IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH INVOLVEMENT? (Consider specific private sector and/or market opportunities) o Capacity-building / skills required:

WHAT ARE MEDIUM-TERM OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH INVOLVEMENT? o Capacity-building / skills required:

WHAT ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR POTENTIAL WORK EXPERIENCE PROJECTS FOR YOUTH? (This component identifies key constraints in the sector in order to identify potential practical work experience projects and opportunities. Youth groups can work on these Work Experience Projects collaboratively. In this way the Work Experience Projects will feed into developing and supporting the very sector the youth will be operating in and will simultaneously build tangible skills and sector-based knowledge that can be used in other support businesses in the future. This could include building the infrastructure and assets that youth would need to continue with the business once the project has completed. It is important to consider the opportunities and the partnerships that would be needed (donor-funded or private sector).

o Skills Training Internships: o Building Structures and Equipment:

67 Market Assessment Tools to Identify Opportunities for Youth

WHO ARE POTENTIAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PARTNER WITH? (This component identifies potential partner organizations, projects or businesses that the project could work with in developing opportunities for youth.)

WHAT ARE NEXT STEPS FOR WORKING WITH THESE PARTNERS / MARKET ACTORS?

WHO ARE KEY CONTACTS IN THIS SECTOR? (This component lists some of the key contacts that in this sector in as of [insert date].)

Producers: Local NGOs: Local Exporters: Importers: Support Organizations: Donor Programs / International NGOs: Other:

WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF MARKET ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO THIS SECTOR? (This component contains examples of questions to ask market players and anyone involved in the sector to obtain information to assess the market. Questions could be asked to retailers, producers, exporters, farmers, NGOs, government, etc.)

68 Recommendations

5. Summary Recommendations

There are a number of challenges as well as opportunities presenting themselves for the unemployed out-of- school youth of Haiti and the IDEJEN program that aims to serve them. This analysis was intended to address a need to provide sector analyses to support the scaling up of the IDEJEN program, while also devising tools that IDEJEN staff and youth can use now and into the future to continue to be relevant in the evolving marketplace. The following recommendations cover market-related programmatic issues and suggested uses of the tools provided in this report.

Further developing relationships and studying the identified sectors Although relatively comprehensive studies were done on the sectors and opportunities presented in this study, IDEJEN is encouraged to use this information as a launching pad to further develop relationships with and an understanding of the sectors identified in this study. It becomes essential to consider the scope of training and the number youth reached when preparing youth for particular functions. It is equally important to link them to very tangible market opportunities. It is not in IDEJEN!s interest to pursue something where only 6 youth can benefit for example. Alternatively, opportunities which could benefit far more youth, but which may be less glamorous and exciting, would be far more worthwhile for IDEJEN to pursue.

Ensuring Center IGAs are not distorting markets or distracting Centers For programmatic sustainability post-USAID funding, the IDEJEN project believes that it is critical that the IDEJEN training centers are able to cover the finances needed to continue to deliver services to youth in the communities after the IDEJEN program ends. The IDEJEN Centers are hosted at local organizations, which are not solely providing IDEJEN services to youth. IDEJEN provides funds as start up capital to the best performing IDEJEN Centers for income generating activities (IGAs) that they propose to IDEJEN to run. The number is limited at 25 IGAs over the project!s life. Recommendations on several areas that would be good for IDEJEN to consider in the implementation of this model are discussed below: - Not all IDEJEN Centers and their staff may have expertise in running a business. It would be important that the IDEJEN project!s encouragement of this model, does not lead to the Centers having to focus away from their core expertise of providing social and developmental services in their communities. Centers could risk having to put a great amount of time and resources into running the IGA sustainable business activities – which in itself could at times be a full time role. - There are often ongoing costs, both direct financial costs and opportunity costs, of running an IGA. It is important that the Centers plan for all these costs in order to make the IGAs a success, and ensure that the prices are structured in such a way as to be able to run the IGA sustainably over its life span. Even with the cautionary considerations above, EVI recognizes the excellent opportunity provided by the IDEJEN Centers being engaged in an income-generating activity related to their vocational training tracks, while simultaneously providing youth with on-the-job training as part of a value-added experience, and has made recommendations of specific opportunities in the former part of this report.

Work closely with the Private Sector Private sector players are one of the greatest resources for the IDEJEN program, and it will be to the program!s advantage to continue working with them. It is important for IDEJEN to continually engage the private sector in dialogue so as to better understand the changing marketplace and to keep up-to-date on workforce needs. Instead of encouraging the private sector to include youth in their training or employment programs as a form of social responsibility, it would be far more sustainable to incentivize the private sector to work with youth because of the assets or skills they bring to a particular function.

Wide use of the Market Assessment Tools

69 The market assessment tools can be employed by all IDEJEN centers to develop a more complete picture of market opportunities, coordinating opportunities in local markets with national trends, and revealing links between different regions. The learning generated will be important for application by youth as they continue beyond the IDEJEN program, as well as by the IDEJEN program itself as it evolves into an independent entity and continues to adapt its programs to be market-relevant.

70 Appendix I: Overview of Business Situation of Targeted Geographic Areas

The primary field research areas identified by IDEJEN were: Gros Morne, Hinche, and Les Nippes. The characteristics or each are described below, with primary data directly drawn from Mr. Rene!s “Rapport Final,” written after his second site visit, which had the goal of learning more about the local economic environment. The text is translated from that same document, with some additional detail added by EVI.

“Principle Sectors of Economic Activity” and “Size and Type of Enterprises,” refers to small business that does not include agricultural production. It is important to keep in mind that agricultural production employs about two-thirds of the economically active work force in Haiti.27

Hinche Hinche is located in the Centre Department, the only landlocked department of Haiti, and bordering on the Dominican Republic. The economy is generally weak, accentuated by an absence of labor during the dry season as people go to the Dominican Republic for work in the sugarcane and banana fields. Hinche itself has a population of about 50,000, and primary crops include cassava, corn, sugar cane, mango, and congo (pigeon) peas.

The soil has a high clay content, which leads to difficulties in irrigating crops, yet has also led to the development of a clay and ceramics sector. The soil also lends itself to the construction of man-made lakes for aquaculture.

Principle Sectors of Economic Activity: Wholesale and retail: 59.5% Repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles, personal goods and households. The trade is essentially made up of food supply, carbonated drinks, various imported products, and auto parts. This also includes repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles, and personal goods. Business service sector: 10.8% Primarily secretarial and technological related services. Manufacturing: 9.5% Manufacturing of food products and drinks, particularly cassava, mamba, jam, juice, syrup, cake, and bread. There are a number of products from small-scale agriculture-food processing. Hotels and restaurants: 6.8%

Size and Type of Enterprises More than 80% of enterprises of the place are small sized with fewer than 5 employees. The majority of enterprises in Hinche are “personal,” meaning the proprietor is also the manager, and that the enterprise belongs to a single person. This category represents 78.4% of enterprises interviewed, followed by ”associative” and “familial” enterprises. The majority of these small enterprises serve the local market exclusively.

Les Nippes Les Nippes is the newest department of Haiti, having split from Grand!Anse in 2003. This research focused on two towns in Les Nippes: Miragoane to the east, and Petite Riviere de Nippes to the west.

Miragoane – This coastal town is located on the eastern end of Grand Anse and survives essentially on port activities that bring traders into town and stimulate an ongoing circulation of money. It is regarded as one of the major ports in the trade in used goods, as many of the used clothes, cars, and appliances are delivered here from Miami. Another source of economic influx for the town is the income brought in by diaspora who are continually transferred to work in the area due to the increasing amount of construction that requires more advanced expertise not available locally.

27 CIA World Factbook: Haiti. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ha.html. Last updated November 2008.

71

Miragoane is primarily a town of commercial vocations. Due to the amount of commerce in the area, the town receives many cars and motorcycles, creating a need for mechanical labor in cars and motorcycle mechanics. There is a distinct economic split in the population, with the poor majority supporting the few rich professionals and very little in-between.

Petite Riviere de Nippes – Despite strong tourist potential in this seaside town, there is little to no tourism activity. The hotel sector survives essentially on training seminars, which is a very unreliable market. The population of about 30,000 is commonly described as a small fishing village, however though the ocean could be a rich resource, there are no secure means to exploit it. Due to unsustainable fishing practices used in the past, coupled with intense sedimentation from erosion, the remaining fish populations can be found only far from the shore, past where individual, small fishing boats can safely venture.

Principle Sectors of Economic Activity Wholesale and retail: 38.2% of activities. Primarily object sales and used clothing, food supply, carbonated drinks, and construction materials. Hotels and restaurants:17.1% Business services: 15% With a concentration in services linked to technology. Transportation and storage: 13.2% Storage is essentially keeping of products imported through port activities

Size and Type of Enterprises The majority of enterprises are personal or familial, with fewer than five members/employees. In Petite Riviere de Nippes, the market served is primarily the local market. In Miragoane, local enterprises ultimately serve a national market simply because consumers and businesspeople from throughout the country come to Miragoane for trade.

Gros Morne Gros Morne is a small town near Gonaives in the department of Artibonite. The economy of the entire zone is based on trade, and there is a notable presence of micro-credit provided through “caisses populaires.”28 These loans are particularly oriented towards commercial activities, and the cost of credit is very high so there remains a problem of financing the economy.

There is very little economic activity, and a main source of money for the area is mango production. Many mangoes are grown in the region, though less than 50% of mangoes produced are exported. The season is relatively short (two to three months) and so the income generated is not sustainable year-round. The plains of Artibonite would be suitable for banana-production, yet due to a lack of irrigation this opportunity has not yet been tapped. Sugarcane is grown throughout the zone as well, primarily for sale of the sugar syrup to clarin producers.

Principle Sectors of Economic Activity Wholesale and retail trade and vehicle repair: 76.3% Financial Services: 7.5%

Size and Type of Enterprises The majority of the enterprises are personal, with fewer than five people involved.

28 A caisse populaire is cooperative, member-owned financial institution that fulfills traditional banking roles as well as other activities such as lending and insurance. Most seek deposits from individuals with commonalities, such as geographic region or ethnicity.

72 Appendix II: Illustrative Use of Sector-Specific Assessment Tool for Fishing and Aquaculture Sectors

Includes opportunity ideas, specific questions, and examples of answers for an illustrative overview of tool use for the fishing and aquaculture sectors. The key questions have been slightly adapted in order to get closer to the information desired, and additional questions added.

ILLUSTRATIVE: Haiti Market Sectors: Fish (Fishing & Aquaculture)

Why is it beneficial to produce and source from Haiti? What is the Competitive Advantage of Haiti/ region

Local Market: Local sourcing requires less transportation costs and hence lower prices and potentially fresher fish. Haiti does not produce enough food to meet its needs.

What are challenges to the sector? Competitors: International imports no longer have import tariffs, so compete directly with Haitian market. Haiti used to be a fish exporter. Currently it is a net importer, as marine fisheries have been depleted and Haiti does not produce enough food to meet its needs.

What are the end-market benefits of the product? Haitians need additional low-cost protein sources, which fish provide as well as additional fatty acids, omega-3s, etc, so important in the diet.

What are potential business opportunities in the sector? Aquaculture: Fish harvesting (aquaculture) Food preparation Fishing: Fishing Boat building and repair Food preparation Selling fish: Seafood stores (poissoneries) Selling fish around town by using a cooler on a bicycle Selling prepared fish on roadside barbeques Selling fish to larger buyers

What are added-value opportunities? What additional processing, if any, can be done? (What additional processing, if any, can be done to the fish prior to reaching the customer?) Smoking fish is a good way to preserve them Transporting frozen / cold fish around town (using a cooler on a bicycle) Selling prepared fish on roadside barbeques

What waste is generated? How can this be used? o What can be done with the fish innards? o What are waste materials from the production process / processing? What is done with this? What else could be done with this? o Is there anything that can be done with the fish bones?

73 o What is the waste from the fingerling production process? What happens to this? What could happen to this? o What do they use as a fuel source? What do they burn it in – on the ground, clay, stove types? Is a waste product from fish production a potential fuel source? o What is the best recipe for using the waste as an alternative fuel source?

What are cross-sector business opportunities? Alternative fuels can be used in the smoking process

FISHING

Who are Support Organizations? Verde Foundation – provide financial support for fishing techniques(?) in Nippes

What are constraints or challenges in the market? Availability of finance Access to finance Organization of the fisherman Organization of boat repair services

What are key functions in the market that are not being met? Support market: Technical aspects of sailing Boat building, welding (above and below water), repair and (re)painting Harvesting (production): Technical aspects of fishing Mangrove harvesting • Are fish already present in the mangroves? Or are the fish being harvested in the mangroves? Production added value: Food preparation of fish

Which of the competencies that exist or do not exist in the areas related to this sector? No / little competence in: Boat building, welding (above and below water), repair and (re)painting

What areas are particularly conducive to this sector? Why? Coastal: Nippes - surrounded by water both fresh water in the canal and salty water.

What are opportunities for collaboration of market players? Cooperatives of fisherman

Where does most of the product go to? Most of fish go to PAP

How is this appropriate / inappropriate to youth? Welding (soldering) may be too dangerous / technical for youth involvement (especially underwater welding)

74 AQUACULTURE

What are the market opportunities? Natural fishing stocks have been depleted because of large-scale, international fishing industries off the coast of Haiti. Aquaculture provides alternatives to the decreasing supply of fish.

What is the end market for the product? It depends on price. According to Rick and Kathy Land, of the CODEP small-scale aquaculture project, the smaller fish sell better on the local market because this is what people can afford on a day-to-day basis. There could potentially be two different markets for fish grown in smaller ponds (producing smaller fish) and in larger ponds (producing larger fish), with smaller fish for local markets and larger fish for the big cities and higher end markets. o What fish are primarily consumed in the urban areas? Where do these come from?

What is the market size/ demand? As of June 2008, a restaurant chain in the US has expressed willingness to purchase all the fish that the Haiti Fish Development Project can produce. o What is the current demand for fish produced by Caribbean Harvest / Prodesela? Are they able to meet this demand? o What are small-scale producers! perspectives on capacity of and potential for the market for fish? o Is it all informal production or does any sale happen between the small ponds and, for example, Prodesela or other fish companies?

Where does production take place? o Are fish already present in the mangroves? Or are the fish being harvested in the mangroves? o What eco-system service do the mangroves provide? (Such as protection from storms, etc.) o Are there currently ponds in the key areas of interest or would these have to be formed via by constructing dams?

What are inputs or raw materials needed? Valentin Abe is importing fish feed for fingerling production. - Could this possibly be produced in Haiti? What does this consist of? PVC pipes are used for the lake cages. - From where do these come? - Is regular concrete produced in Haiti of high enough quality for pond construction?

What are constraints or challenges in the market? Availability of finance and capital Access to finance Organization of the fish farmers Scale of production to reach export potential

What are key functions in the market that are not being met? Stocking and Harvesting (production): Technical aspects of fishing Mangrove harvesting Production added value: Food preparation of fish

What kind of training is necessary for production of fish or fingerlings?

Are there quality control issues in production? Who is in charge of or can support quality control?

What areas are particularly conducive to this sector? Why? Coastal: Nippes - surrounded by water both fresh water in the canal and salty water

75 Mangroves – provide an eco-system particularly conducive to harvesting certain shellfish and fish Inland: Hinche – fish ponds offer opportunities

What are opportunities for collaboration of market players? Cooperatives of fish farmers o Are there producer associations? Who are members? How large is it? What function does it play? How long has it existed?

Where does most of the product go? Most of fish go to PAP

What are opportunities for exporting product?

Is there a difference in quality sourced from different areas / by different methods?

______What are immediate opportunities for youth involvement? Valentin Abe is interested in hiring young people to sell his fish on roadside barbeques, building up the local market. Having youth involved in marketing and sales would help to build the local market demand. Capacity-building / skills required: Sales and marketing skills

What are medium-term opportunities for youth involvement? Youth can build fish ponds and breed fish for sale. Capacity-building / skills required: Fish pond construction; breeding techniques

Who are the market actors? Who are potential organizations that can be partnered with? Producers and Exporters: o Caribbean Harvest - Valentin Abe o Prodesela o Haiti Fish Development Project - Valentin Abe (Ultimate goal is to have production of 1 million pounds by 2010, 40% of which are exported and 60% of which are sold locally.) o Fish Farm for Haiti Project – Peggy Penicaud o Bois de Lance Community (North Region) o Native Fish Conservancy in Port-au-Prince (small pond at an orphanage) o Fish Farm for Haiti in Lilavois and Saut D!eau (been trained by Valentin Abe) Support Organizations: o CODEP small-scale aquaculture project - Rick and Kathy Land o Ministry of Agriculture (unsure of role) o Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative: Small-scale aquaculture is being promoted in the mountains of Cormier by the Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative, conducted by the Comprehensive Development Project (CODEP) in partnership with the Marine Biological Lab!s Marine Resources Center (MRC, located in Massachusetts) o Edem Foundation in Massaide

What are next steps for working with these market actors? • Set up meeting of sector players (individually or preferably as a group depending on how competitive they are) to discuss how youth can be involved, how technical training centers can support this, determine market capacity for youth, identify technical skills needed, identify potential immediate markets and/or employment opportunities, identify potential technical trainers and support

76 Appendix III: Additional Sectors Reviewed as Secondary Opportunities

1. Poultry

Overview Poultry was initially brought to EVI!s attention when Haiti placed bans on imported chicken from the Dominican Republic due to an outbreak of avian flu in early 2008. The resulting price increase, general scarcity of chicken and egg protein, and inability for Haitian producers to sell their products because of lack of labeling to indicate the safety of the product, laid a toll on all involved. There is little large-scale poultry production in Haiti due to the closure of a number of the factories after the influx of duty-free frozen poultry from the US and the start-up of subsidized poultry farms in Haiti, initially funded by international aid organizations and which later failed when subsidies dried up. Yet there is a strong market for both chickens and eggs in Haiti and some aid workers have reported incomes of $7 and $8 per day for small-scale chicken farmers keeping individual coops. In fact, according to Jolivier Toussaint, Director of Imports for the Haitian Agriculture Ministry, Haiti imports at least 1 million eggs and hundreds of thousands of chickens from the Dominican Republic daily. As this is a quite key opportunity for local income generation, a number of small poultry-production projects have been initiated, particularly through schools and other community aid organizations.

Current activities in promotion of Haiti poultry sector A key challenge for Haitian poultry farmers is producing cost-competitive chicken. As with other food products, the removal of import tariffs into Haiti has resulted in the price of US chicken in Haiti averaging about half the price of Haitian chicken, at least in 2003 prices. In addition, Dominican poultry farms are able to mass-produce chicken at a lower cost, which could pose a challenge to locally produced chicken if the cost of transportation continues to decline. Yet eggs are still price competitive and recent poultry production projects have reported incomes of US$7-$8 per day.29

Veterimed, a Haitian NGO formed in 1991 by a group of Haitian professionals to support agricultural development in Haiti, is one organization currently doing work in goat and poultry production in the rural areas of Haiti. They take a different perspective on poultry production, valuing traditional methodologies and local poultry production over the intensive cage farming that has been more recently promoted. These two fields of thought differ considerably and these differences have significant impact on the design of a small enterprise and the training necessary for production.

Veterimed!s perspective is that a rural family can be more successful over the long term and minimize risk by having a small enterprise of ten to forty local Haitian chickens which do not require imported feed or specific feeding regimens. According to Dr. Michel Chancy, Executive Director of Veterimed, when utilizing local poultry, one can change the product (eggs versus meat) to reflect market demands. Such a home-based business additionally does not require significant monetary investment, and with more than one product (chickens and eggs) and numerous ways of marketing the product (from the home, transporting to local markets, door-to-door delivery, etc.) there may be opportunity for being creative with the business itself in order to increase profits. Yet there remains uncertainty as to market reaction to public insecurities regarding the presence of avian flu and its transferability to humans and issues such as a lack of technical services, pressure on natural resources, and the incidence of some diseases remain a threat to system sustainability.

The contrasting field of thought, focusing in intensive cage farming of broiler (meat) chickens, has been explored as an option for youth employment by IDEJEN in the past. This method has more recently promoted by both NGOs and commercial institutions because of the opportunity for significant monetary returns. Simultaneously it is considered high-risk for a number of reasons, including necessary use of an imported chicken breed bred specifically for rapid meat production, and the requirement a strict feeding schedule of imported feed. When this schedule is not adhered to, there is a significant increase in fatality. Yet when successfully managed, these intensive farming methods effectively support the imported chickens, which grow much more quickly than local

29 Interview with Robert Rice, Native Fish Conservancy, 2.21.08. Worked with Maranatha orphanage and other programs in aquaculture and poultry farming in Haiti.

77 chickens, therefore offering more rapid monetary returns. Such an enterprise necessitates significant capital investment for start-up.

Other local organizations involved in poultry production and promotion include Sosyete Djol Ansanm pou Demokrasi Patisipatif (SODA), which is beginning poultry production to provide food for their self-built and self-run community schools, starting in Jake. From 2002-2004 the Technical Cooperation Program project associated with the FAO Special Program for Food Security (SPFS) conducted a project entitled “Diversification Component of SPFS in Haiti,” focusing on improving contribution of poultry and fish production to household food security.30 Unfortunately the political and social tensions and flooding in 2004 had negative impacts on the program, but it did manage to create income generation for women and young people in the villages involved. We recommend visiting the article cited at the bottom of the page for more information.

Potential microenterprise activities: • Raising chicken • Cleaning and selling chicken • Selling eggs • Transporter • Wholesale buyer Associated skills related to enterprise opportunities: • Livestock general care • Livestock medicine • Coop construction Examples of related enterprise opportunities: • Cooking stands / barbeques • Transportation of product to market • Meat preservation • Provision of animal care • Collection of animal waste as farm fertilizer

Market Relevancy Domestic Markets According to the Haiti Workforce Gap Analysis, the sectors with the most opportunities to succeed include those addressing everyday needs, including food and food preparation. With the demand so high that a million eggs and hundreds of thousands of chickens are being imported into Haiti31, it is clear that there is a vibrant market for these products

Export Markets The current focus in terms of food is to achieve food independence. It will take a great deal of time before Haiti is able to fill its own poultry requirements. There may be export opportunities after current needs are satisfied.

Growth Potential As the population of Haiti continues to grow, so will the demand for food and protein. Additionally, youth who have experience in caring for chickens on a small scale could eventually find employment with larger chicken farms if such enterprises begin.

Suitability to Youth Currently just east of Port-au-Prince in Morne Cabri, Victory Signal (Signal de la Victoire), Germalot SA and MFT SA, three farms are producing broiler chickens and chicks located in Morne Cabri. As already mentioned, youth who have experience in caring for chickens on a small scale could eventually find employment with such larger chicken farms, particularly if during their training period they are taught not only the basics of small-scale chicken

30 Crespi, Valerio and Emmanuelle GuerneBleich. “Promotion of small-scale aquaculture and poultry farming for food security in Haiti: TCP/HAI/2903.” FAO Aquaculture Newsletter July 2005 – No.33. http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/a0057e/a0057e05.htm 31 WorldPoultry.Net. “Haiti experiencing massive egg and chicken shortages.” Jan 11, 2008. http://www.worldpoultry.net/news/id2205- 38248/haiti_experiencing_massive_egg_and_chicken_shortages.html

78 farming but also of the different health-related and veterinary issues that come into play when scaling up. There can be high mortality if the proper vaccinations and other health procedures are not followed. The non-profit organization Veterimed is particularly involved in this type of education, not only for poultry but also for other types of livestock.

Specific youth considerations: • Amount of training necessary for a particular skill to be usable in the workforce: The amount of training necessary depends on the method of farming (home-based or intensive), yet in both cases the IDEJEN training program timeline would accommodate the amount of training necessary to be usable in the workforce • Amount of monetary or non-monetary assets necessary for business generation: Dependent upon method pursued. Local chicken farming requires the infrastructure of a coop and starter chickens in order to begin. Ongoing costs include chicken feed and water and maintenance of the coop, including bedding. Costs for intensive cage farming are significantly higher and more complex. IDEJEN has already done an analysis of such intensive business generation costs and decided it was an untenable process to pursue. • Lack of access to capital: This may be a challenge in terms of land, for small-scale farming, or in terms of monetary capital for intensive cage farming. If land is available, limited capital is needed for small-scale start- up and ongoing maintenance. • Personal safety of the youth while working or operating the business: With a home-based method, the safety situation is very positive. There may be concern in terms of maintaining positive health of the stock to maintain health of both the chickens and humans, however ideally the youth would be trained in this type of maintenance from the outset. • Safety of business physical assets: Requires structure and security of chickens both in terms of human interest and animal interest. There are numerous low-cost and traditional methods of protecting chickens from danger or poaching that could be employed in this context. • Family obligation (financial, social, and time considerations): Small-scale chicken farming is a business enterprise that can be run out of the home, particularly suitable for youth who are responsible for caring for other family members or who have health issues. It does not require full-time labor and would allow for time for education or other learning activities. However intensive cage farming requires dedicated care and a strict schedule for success, which may pose a challenge for youth who have additional family obligations. • Health considerations and physical ability: Running a chicken coop from the home would require little physical exertion and could be good for those without the ability to travel much or who experience frequent illness. • Peer perception of business activity: Peer perception may be a challenge, particularly in peri-urban areas, where chicken farming might be perceived as a less-skilled, “peasant” type of occupation. In rural areas, this would likely not be an issue. • Long-term employment potential: There is real opportunity to learn more about chicken care and grow the business based on strategic care decisions, which would provide youth not only with a current occupation and income-generating activity, but also would keep interested youth engaged in such learning and developments.

2. Sustainable Transportation: Bicycle-related businesses

Overview Bicycle-related businesses are often overlooked as opportunities for provision of transportation of goods and services despite the very practical benefits they offer. Around the world, bicycles have integrated into the economy, providing rapid services that motorized vehicles cannot provide due to constraints of roads and mechanical maintenance. Examples of these include taxi services, courier services, and other short-distance, time-sensitive services. These services can add significant value to local economies by speeding the rate of commerce and saving both time and money that might otherwise have been wasted during hours walking or on bus tickets or gas and maintenance costs for cars. Additionally, in order to support these bicycle-based businesses, support industries develop such as maintenance and parts shops.

Key challenges for the development of the bicycle industry in Haiti include difficulties importing the bikes from overseas and lack of parts and maintenance equipment. This could be overcome by strategic partnerships with bicycle supply stores in the Dominican Republic.

79

Current Bicycle-Related Activities in Haiti Due to the very informal and localized nature of bicycle-related activities in Haiti, it is difficult to determine the actual economic activities that are occurring in Haiti with bicycles. Due to the aforementioned benefits to bicycle usage, international bike-promotion programs have consistently attempted to export new and used bikes to Haiti. EVI contacted a number of bicycle-donation organizations to obtain more information on these programs, however all mentioned issues at the port in importing the equipment in the first place. Yet this speaks more to the value of the bikes themselves in the country (as well as corruption at the port) rather than a lack of demand for the product or donor services.

One of the main challenges cited by bike-promotion organizations is access to parts and repair. The Dominican Republic has an extensive bicycle network. Pedals for Progress operated a number of different projects, including one specifically for youth in which they were “trained in mechanics and small business skills while providing transportation to farmworkers, industrial laborers and tradespeople…” and the setting up of a bike maintenance shop in Boca de Mao. Bike maintenance supplies could therefore be imported from the Dominican Republic. According to Pedals for Progress, “In the countries where PfP has an established Partner Program, the most successful entrepreneurs are the ones who use bicycles to get to work and deliver the goods and service where they are needed most, allowing them to expand their businesses and increase their personal incomes.”

Potential microenterprise activities • Bike taxis • Bicycle rental • Courier services • Transportation of goods Associated skills related to enterprise opportunities: • General mechanics • Service provision Examples of related enterprise opportunities: • Bicycle maintenance and repair • Parts provision • Bicycle sales

Market Relevancy Domestic Markets Currently the main forms of transportation of individuals in Haiti are by bus or tap-tap, both motorized, public, and both of which do not provide personal service that might be required by individual businesspersons or businesses. Taxis, if available, can be costly and unreliable. Young bicycle owners could take advantage of this market opportunity by providing personal taxi services at low cost or by transporting documents, or other goods as necessary, either between businesses in a town or between villages. Bicycles also have the advantage of being able to navigate through poor road conditions.

In cities around the world (e.g. Tabora, Tanzania, Washington, DC, and throughout China) bicycles have become an inherent part of the economic system. In order to support these microenterprises, maintenance and supply stores are regular sites along the streets. Providing air tubes, repair kits, oil, and other maintenance can be a lucrative opportunity for those who are interested in being involved in more international trade, as many of the parts must be shipped from overseas. A prime example of this is Tabora, Tanzania,

For small enterprises, owning a bicycle can greatly increase functionality.

Export Markets There is no production of bicycles in Haiti; all bicycles are imported.

80 Growth Potential Growth potential remains to be seen but it is hypothesized that due to an absence of competition and a nearly universal market opportunity for the services provided by bicycles, there could be great growth opportunity for those involved in the promotion and operations of bicycle-related businesses

Suitability to Youth Bicycle programs are often specifically targeted to youth due to the ease of operation and maintenance.

Specific youth considerations: • Amount of training necessary for a particular skill to be usable in the workforce: A 3-6 month program should be adequate to train youth in the care and maintenance of bicycles. • Amount of monetary or non-monetary assets necessary for business generation: Bike ownership or ownership of tools and workspace would be necessary for business generation. Current bicycles costs in Haiti are unknown. • Lack of access to capital: Access to a small loan to obtain a bicycle or maintenance equipment would be necessary. • Personal safety of the youth while working or operating the business: If youth are traveling long distances on their bicycles, they may encounter issues with personal safety in terms of robbery, rape, etc. • Safety of business physical assets: Bicycles and equipment would necessarily need to be locked and stored in a safe place. It is also possible that in high-risk areas bicycles could be stolen mid-service and youth would need to have a prevention and protection plan for this. • Family obligation (financial, social, and time considerations): The amount of time dedicated to the business would likely depend solely on the individual, like a taxi driver or for those providing rental or maintenance services. • Health considerations and physical ability: A youth would need to be in healthy physical condition in order to conduct business functions requiring the operation of a bicycle but not necessarily for maintenance operations or coordination and administration functions for a bike taxi and/or delivery service. • Peer perception of business activity: Bicycles are multigenerational for leisure and professional activities. Bicycle ownership is often seen as a status symbol, which could help support the development of a youth- based bicycle workforce in Haiti. • Long-term employment potential: Until Haiti has better access to oil and other transportation energy resources, bicycle-related businesses will likely have a strong chance of success. Additionally, because of the cross-sectoral nature of transportation, there are numerous different business opportunities to be tested.

Other considerations Vocational Skills Necessary Bike maintenance, though different from automotive and motorbike maintenance, is similar in terms of the thinking skills utilized and the general mechanical nature of it. Bicycle maintenance could potentially be added to the skill sets taught in automotive or motorbike vocational tracks at the IDEJEN center, or else added as an additional track utilizing tools already available at the centers.

3. Moringa oleifera Food Processing and Essential Oils Overview Moringa oleifera is an exceptionally nutritious, fast-growing, drought-tolerant woody shrub with a variety of uses, leading to its pseudonym, the “miracle tree.” Moringa oleifera uses include: an everyday food, nutritional supplement, cattle fodder supplement, fertilizer, water purifier, and source of internationally valued essential oil for nutritional, cosmetic, and lubrication purposes. The Moringa seeds yield 38–40% edible oil (called ben oil, from the high concentration of behenic acid contained in the oil) that can be used in cooking, cosmetics, and lubrication. The refined oil is clear, odorless, and resists rancidity, and the seed cake remaining after oil extraction may be used as a fertilizer or as a flocculant to purify water.

Current activities in Moringa in Haiti Moringa is currently cultivated in large plantations in India for commercial purposes and in Senegal for food aid purposes. In Haiti, the tree is being pursued and/or promoted by a number of local and international

81 organizations, including Peyizan Papay, Oganizasyon Jen Pou Devlopman, Trees for the Future, the Haitian Sustainable Development Foundation, and the Pan American Development Foundation, among others. It is being pursued for its potential as a nutritional food product in Haiti (the leaves alone contain seven times the vitamin C in oranges, four times the calcium in milk, four times the vitamin A in carrots, three times the potassium in bananas, and two times the protein in milk) as well as for its extremely stable seed oil which has high export value. The plant has also been used as a soil stabilizer in Haiti.

There are a number of potential microenterprise opportunities associated with Moringa that could be explored by young entrepreneurs. The primary products of the Moringa tree are leaf powder and seed-pods for local consumption and seed oil for export. The plant is fast growing32 and can be grown in short-rotation for leaf production in small plots, as close as 10-15 cm apart33, or in longer-rotation for seeds and oil on larger plots. Because it is drought-resistant and tolerates poor soil, little other inputs are necessary for the cultivation of the plant. The processing of leaf powder and oil extraction is very simple and could be conducted either by the grower or by an intermediate microenterprise. Other supporting microenterprise opportunities might include the transportation of the plant from grower to processor or the packaging of the final product for local consumption.

Potential microenterprise activities: • Production • Transportation • Processing • Packaging • Selling of oil or powder Associated skills related to enterprise opportunities: • Farming (general) • Agricultural packaging • Sales and marketing Examples of related enterprise opportunities: • Moringa powder processor and packager for local consumption • Oil processor (could process many types of oil) • Moringa producer (plants) • Seed distributor

Market Relevancy Domestic markets Though there is currently no known local market for Moringa products, it was found that in 2003 a group of women in Petit Madeleine, Goave, were producing and packaging Moringa leaf powder for sale to local pharmacies and directly to lactating mothers and malnourished children (Peace Corps provided a support structure for the project, and current status of the project is however unknown). These local pharmacies and individuals are potential markets for the powder and seeds. There is also the possibility to link with food aid programs that are attempting to source more of the food products locally to increase Haiti!s national food security.

Export markets There are currently export markets for both Moringa leaf powder and for the oil, though the oil is of a much higher export value. A US-based company has already indicated its interest in importing unrefined Moringa oil from Haiti, or even potentially setting up an oil refinery in Haiti if there is enough seed supply. Due to the interest by local and international organizations to increase growth of Moringa in Haiti, a significant opportunity exists to partner with these organizations to link rural growers with young entrepreneurs and microenterprises that could process and sell the plant to local and export markets. There are currently no exporters of Moringa oil or powder located in Haiti.

32 According to Folkland and Sutherland (1996, see Appendix for citation), Moringa oleifera can grow up to 4 meters in one year, and can bear fruit within that same year. 33 Foidl, N., Makkar, HPS and Becker, K. The potential of Moringa oleifera for agricultural and industrial uses. In: L.J. Fulie (ed.), The Miracle Tree: The Multiple Attributes of Moringa (pp. 45-76). Dakar, Senegal: Church World Service 2001.

82 Growth Potential Growth potential remains to be determined. There are a number of constraints that could impede the ongoing development of the international market (see “Report of the Proceedings of the Stakeholders! Consultative Workshop on Moringa in Uganda” cited in the Appendix) including the unknown nature of the product and the difficulty introducing new natural products to market due to strong international regulations. However in terms of local markets, Moringa has reportedly become a regular part of the market and economy in some areas of Haiti, which indicates it has demonstrated potential for growth on the domestic market.34

Suitability to Youth As there is not yet an established Moringa industry (formal or informal), it could be easier for youths to enter into this not-yet-realized opportunity.

Specific youth considerations (assumed): • Amount of training necessary for a particular skill to be usable in the workforce: In a three to six month period, trainees would likely be able to learn about the growth and small-scale processing techniques of Moringa, which could be applied to the processing of other agricultural products. • Amount of monetary or non-monetary assets necessary for business generation: Given the assumption that youth generally do not have access to large plots of land, we are assuming that the primary suitable microenterprise opportunities are that of processing the leaves and seeds into powder and oil for local sale • Transferability of skills: General agricultural processing skills can be useful in a country in which the majority of the population is involved in agriculture. • Access to financing and capital: For local markets, the processing techniques for Moringa require little, if any additional equipment. For business growth to access a larger local or export market, larger amounts of capital would be necessary. • Personal safety of the youth while working or operating the business: Small scale production and processing of Moringa could potentially take place within the home, ensuring personal safety. • Safety of business physical assets: If accessing the export market, the Moringa seeds are of considerable value and the oil specifically is of high value, which may mean that storage protection is necessary. • Family obligation (financial, social, and time considerations): Leaf powder is produced simply by drying cut stems and leaves and crushing them with a mortar and pestle, a process usually done by hand unless volumes are great enough to merit use of electric machinery. Oil is traditionally (though without high-yield results) extracted by browning the seed pods in a pan and then boiling the cooked pods, releasing the oil in the seeds. This unrefined oil is then skimmed off of the water. Both of these processes can be done in the home, which is desirable by young girls worried about personal safety or involved in watching younger siblings. • Health considerations and physical ability: Grinding leaves and tending to plants are the most labor-intensive activities directly involved, and would require some effort, but not strenuous. • Peer perception of business activity: In urban or peri-urban areas, agriculture-related activities could be a challenge because of the general association between these and the rural areas from which many youth and families have emigrated to rise out from poverty. • Long-term employment potential: This will primarily depend on demonstrated market growth, which may or may not be proven over the coming years. However, understanding of agricultural activities, in terms of adapting for specific crops and incorporating new crops into a rotation is a critical skill for the rural Haitian majority and, though it might not necessarily have long-term employment potential, would increase the youths! stock of survivor skills.

34 Mark Hare, Mouvman Peyizan Papay, personal communication, 2/26/08.

83 Other Considerations Environmental soundness and benefit It was already noted that Moringa has been used as a soil stabilizer in Haiti by the Pan American Development Fund. Moringa is also a nitrogen fixer and therefore can increase land productivity where cultivated.

Properties as a water coagulant According to the WELL Environmental Health Resource Center35 “The removal of organic and inorganic material from raw water is essential before it can be disinfected for human consumption. In a water treatment works, this clarification stage is normally achieved by the application of chemical coagulants which change the water from a liquid to a semi-solid state.” Currently in the urban areas of Haiti, sale of purified water is big business and producing a natural coagulant to replace these chemicals could be a potential enterprise opportunityThere would likely be little opportunity for microenterprise or youth involvement, but it is worth mentioning. One potential rural opportunity could be to sell the seeds as a coagulant for use before boiling water for purification.

Additional Resources: • “Improving nutrition with Moringa “miracle” trees in Senegal.” UNESCO Best Practices on Indigenous Knowledge. http://www.unesco.org/most/bpik10-2.htm • Moringa News and Network. Founded by the French organizations PROPAGE (Association pour la promotion et la propagation du patrimoine végétal des régions arides et semi-arides), SILVA (SILVA Arbres, Forêts et Sociétés), and CIRAD (Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement). Provides information in French, English, and a number of other languages. http://www.moringanews.org/

35 Folkard, Geoff, John Sutherland, and Rod Shaw. Water clarification using Moringa oleifera seed coagulant. Water and Environmental Health at London and Loughborough (WELL) (funded by DFID)

84 Appendix IV: Key Contacts

1. Aquaculture sector

Organizations and Individuals

Haiti Fish Development Project / Caribbean Harvest Valentin Abe [email protected] (509) 3752-9540 Caribbean Harvest 2 Imp.Dessources Rue Cogemar Pétion Ville, Haiti Notes: Major player in aquaculture industry, working to reach export stage. Involved in a number of projects, the one leading to export is done by cage farming in Lake Azeuil in the east near the DR. Additionally, supporting fingerling production in Croix des Bouquets.

Les Petits Frères de l'Incarnation Pandiassou, Hinche Father Jeff Katy Tel: (509) 277-0007 Fax: (509) 245-5901 (Port-au-Prince) A/S Pères de Scheut C.P. 1594 Port-au-Prince, Haïti Notes: The diocese has a successful secondary and vocational-training school and also has developed expertise in aquaculture, building lakes throughout the diocese for local production of fish. There are no formal commercial activities related to this production, however the organization has received funds to build similar lakes throughout the Central Plateau.

Fish Farm for Haiti Lillavois & Saut d!Eau Peggy Penicaud [email protected] PO Box 1803 Vineyard Haven, MA 02568 Notes: Provides financial assistance to a Christian school for fish pond production, maintenance, and stocking.

The Haitian League Stuart Leiderman, [email protected] Bernier Lauredan (Chairman) Office: 973 371 0089 Cell: 908 265 6199 http://www.haitianleague.org 22 Ball Street, Suite 100 Irvington, NJ 07111-3536 Notes: Diaspora support organization. It has recently developed a vocational training program with in class training but a focus on on-the-job training through community development work. They have also told Les Freres d'Incarnation they will link them to an export market for their fish.

Marine Biological Labs / Sustainable Aquaculture Project Nick Warren

85 [email protected] Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative Marine Resources Center, Rm#313 7 MBL St. Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543 Notes: Nick is the coordinator and technical lead for the Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative, done through the local NGO CODEP. He was a great resource in terms of the technical, labor, and monetary needs for aquaculture in Haiti. MBL is based in Massachussetts. The project with CODEP is based in L'Acul.

Comprehensive Development Project (CODEP) Rick and Kathy Land [email protected] L!Acul, Haiti Notes: CODEP is working with the Marine Biological Labs (Nick Warren et al) doing mountain-based aquaculture. They are focused on using periphyton rather than imported fish feed to grow the fish. 2007-2008 is trial run for this. It would be worthwhile to follow up with them to determine the successes / challenges / failures with this work.

DAI / DEED Timothy Aston [email protected] Mike Godfrey [email protected] http://www.dai.com/work/project_detail.php?pid=215 Notes: DEED works in two watersheds in Haiti—one in the north, near Cap Haitien; the other near St. Marc, about two hours north of the capital, Port-au-Prince—to unlock the potential for growth by delivering the technical services, training, and business support needed to build the local skills and capacity to sustain growth. DAI!s work will provide rural communities with the economic incentives and knowledge to improve the management of critical watersheds and natural resources, emphasizing the introduction of high-value tree crops, the creation of new jobs, and the institutional strengthening of newly decentralized government agencies.

Websites and Articles

MRC!s Sustainable Aquaculture Initiative and CODEP Fish Ponds http://www.mbl.edu/mrc/outreach/sustainable_aquaculture/news.html

Native Fish Conservancy!s Aquaculture Program with Maranatha Orphanage in Port-au-Prince http://www.nativefish.org/programs/TilapiaHaiti.php http://heartlineministries.org/tilapiaproject.aspx

2. Bamboo / Bamboo for Construction

Organizations and Individuals

Fondation Seguin Serge Cantave [email protected] Tel: 509-3604-1919 / 509-3445-0111/509-2513-4901 # 100 Rue Lambert Petion-Ville http://www.fondationseguin.org/ Notes: The organization is focused on reforesting through bamboo production. It has partnered with a Taiwanese group who have built two bamboo processing centers and provide the trainers for each location. Youth can obtain apprenticeships in the workshops to learn to produce high-end bamboo furniture.

86 Organization for Rehabilitation of the Environment (ORE) Obtain contact details from Jean-Maurice Buteau Camp Perrin, Haiti [email protected] http://www.oreworld.org/ http://www.oreworld.org/bamboo.htm Notes: ORE has worked for many years on improving agribusiness through improved varieties of fruit trees, providing training in agricultural techniques, providing training in developing business linkages for producers, etc. ORE has been working with JMB SA in mangos for some time. They are also involved in bringing in improved varieties of bamboo for construction and have a bamboo plantations and treatment facilities in Camp Perrin. The organization has a very good reputation with those it works with. EVI has not been able to contact them, but contact could be made through Jean-Maurice Buteau. Will likely be a stronger bamboo contact than Fondation Seguin.

Websites and Articles

International Network for Bamboo and Rattan: http://www.inbar.int/index.ASP

BambooLiving.com Information on bamboo construction, suppliers, and bamboo in general: http://www.bambooliving.com/

Bamboo Composites Information on how to construct various products out of bamboo, primarily using chemical treatments www.bamboocomposites.com

Liese, Walter and Dr. Satish Kumar. “Bamboo Preservation Campodium.” CIBART Technical Report No. 1/INBAR Technical Report No. 22. New Delhi, India, Centre for Indian Bamboo Resource and Technology. 2003.

“Facilitating Market Integration of the Upland Poor into Bamboo Value Chains: Upgrading Strategies for Local Producer Groups. Asian Development Bank Vietnam Resident Mission “Making Markets Work Better for the Poor.” Briefing No. 15.

Diver, Steve. “Bamboo: A Multipurpose Agroforestry Crop” from the US National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. ATTRA Publication #CT 150/168. August 2001. http://attra.ncat.org/attra- pub/bamboo.html

3. Clay and Ceramics

Organizations and Individuals

FAES – Central Bureau Fresner Dorcin [email protected] 1, Delmas 75 Tel: (509) 513 9360 / 246 5772 / 246 5797 Notes: FAES in Hinche is focused on clay and sugarcane value chains, looking for opportunities for business development and specific areas to put finance towards supporting such development.

Websites and Articles

Clerger, Gaspard. “Caracterisation des activites autour de la filiere argile dans le Haut Plateau Central.” Prepared for FAES. September – October 2003. (May be obtained from FAES Central Bureau

87

4. Construction

Organizations and Individuals

Fondation Unibank John Currelly [email protected] Notes: The Unibank Foundation is investing in the development of a cement factory in Gonaives. There is potential for youth employment at this factory.

Gros Morne Chamber of Commerce Request contact info from Camoens Rene Notes: Closely in touch with construction sector and resource for contacts. Could provide access to information on supply and type of demand for construction materials inputs; access to information on demand for construction services; and access to business to business linkages and potential embedded services financing.

Chamber of Commerce for Artibonite and Gonaives Request contact info from Camoens Rene Notes: The President of the Chamber of Commerce is enthusiastic regarding involvement with IDEJEN program in his area, particularly in regards to the construction and mechanics sectors.

Websites and Articles

Blum, Rachel, Tracy Gerstle, and David Angeles. “Value Chain Tools for Market-Integrated Relief: Haiti!s Construction Sector.” Produced by CHF International for USAID under the AMAP Small Grant Facility. microREPORT #93. March 2008.

5. Fruit Processing

Organizations and Individuals

ANATRAF - Association Nationale des Transformateurs de Fruits Patick Conde, President [email protected] Rue babiole # 32 Port-au-prince Haiti Tel: 509-244-0686 Notes: As of 2006, was an association of more than 40 small fruti and food processing groups throughout Haiti. The members are food processors of jams, wine, liquors, peanut butter, and others. ANATRAF's vision is to congregate marekting activities in one corporate-like structure where purchases of supplies and packaging inputs will be purchased by the cooperative. Would also like to sell and market members' products under one level or otherwise coordinate marketing activities domestically and internationally.

IDB / Competitiveness and Profitability of Fruit-processing Microenterprises Implemented by ANATRAF Rue babiole # 32 Port-au-prince Haiti Tel: 509-244-0686 http://www.iadb.org/projects/project.cfm?id=HA-M1016&lang=en Notes: General objective: to improve the income of 1100 fruit transformers (mainly women) and their families. Specific objective: to improve the competitiveness and profitability of 51 cooperative micro-enterprises located throughout the country.

88 Organization for Rehabilitation of the Environment (ORE) Obtain contact details from Jean-Maurice Buteau Camp Perrin, Haiti [email protected] http://www.oreworld.org/ http://www.oreworld.org/bamboo.htms Notes: ORE offers training in production and marketing as is currently experimenting with different processing techniques, such as solar drying of mangoes.

Association des Familles et des Femmes pour le Developpement du Plateau Central. Gladys Dampaix [email protected] Tel: 509 3652 1837 126, Rue T.L., Hinche Notes: Training and production center in Hinche. Products include liqueur, nut butter, ground coffee, and other processed items.

JMB Industries Jean-Maurice Buteau Tel: 509 3701 4050 [email protected] http://mango-haiti.com/ Notes: JMB is beginning to expand into breadfruit processing, with the goal of providing prepared frozen breadfruit for both the local and export market. The first step in production is collection and preservation of breadfruit.

Delicious Fruits, S.A. Jean Succar Tel: 509 558 8365 10, 39, Route de Tabarre, Tabarre, Haiti Notes: Small-scale commercial dried mango producer.

TACHA [email protected] Tel: 509 238 6044 Notes: Haitian commercial jam producer

Websites and Articles

Dauthy, Mircea Enachescu. “Fruit and Vegetable Processing.” FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin No. 110. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rome. 1995

6. Mango Industry-Related Opportunities

Organizations and Individuals

JMB Industries Jean-Maurice Buteau Tel: 509 3701 4050 [email protected] http://mango-haiti.com/ Notes: One of largest mango exporters in Haiti and interested in CSR initiatives, including solar cell phone chargers for cooperative contacts.

89

Organization for Rehabilitation of the Environment (ORE) Obtain contact details from Jean-Maurice Buteau Camp Perrin, Haiti [email protected] http://www.oreworld.org/ http://www.oreworld.org/bamboo.htm Notes: ORE has a mango production improvement program, with goals to increase the commercial tree population through nursery production and use of top-grafting in the field to transform existing noncommercial trees into commercial quality trees, such as Mme Francique. They are working on introducing selected new varieties for export and transformation, and on increasing profitability through technical assistance to improve post-harvest activities and marketing operations.

Gros Morne Mango Cooperative Jean Claude Tel: 509-3614-3907 Notes: One of largest mango production associations in Haiti. Organically certified.

Delicious Fruits, S.A. Jean Succar Tel: 509 558 8365 10, Tabarre 39, Route de Tabarre, Tabarre, Haiti Notes: Small-scale commercial dried mango producer.

ACDI/VOCA Haiti – PL 480 Title II Multi-Year Assistance Program Elizabeth Adams [email protected] http://www.acdivoca.org/acdivoca/PortalHub.nsf/ID/haitiMYAP Notes: The livelihoods component of the program includes priority interventions such as improved agricultural production and post-harvest handling that integrate natural resource management; empowerment of producer associations; increased access to financial resources and to markets; and diversification of non-agricultural livelihood activities. Connecting with the program could lead to: access to producer training information; access to processing and added-value technical assistance information; access to producer income diversification strategies; and access to financing strategies and mechanisms for producers and processors

7. Mechanics

Contact Camoens Rene for specific contacts in this sector.

8. Recycling

Organizations and Individuals

IDB / Creating Sustainable Recycling Businesses in Bel Air, Port au Prince Svante P. Persson Request contact info from IDB http://www.iadb.org/projects/project.cfm?id=HA-M1017%20&lang=en Bel Air, Port au Prince Notes: To start in 2009: The program aims to contribute to sustainable solid waste management and local economic development through the creation of microenterprises in recycling business and public private partnerships.

90 Haiti Plastics S.A. Harold Mazouka Jr, President [email protected] Located in the industrial park near the Port au Prince airport. Notes: Produces plastic products using virgin materials. Mr. Mazouka was asked by IDB to provide technical expertise on upcoming plastics program. Haiti Plastics is not currently at a stage to begin using recycled resins for production.

GS Industries SA Stephan Sajous 6950 Nw 51 Street B-125 Miami, FL Phone: +305-395-4421 Fax: +786-524-2499 Notes: Purchases plastics/bottles, ferrous metals, and cardboard and owns equipment to bale materials. Mr. Sajous believes the market is very promising for plastic bottles, and exports 2-3 containers a month to the US, Latin America, Canada, South America, and Asia. However he wants to ensure that youth go to school and is afraid that if they are involved in collection they will be deterred from spending time at school. Currently GS Industries has a plastic press and buyer in Canada that will buy all the plastics that GS will supply. The buyer is purchasing compressed (pressed) plastics only so that the Canadian buyer can still verify the grade of plastics being provided. CHF was originally supposed to provide training to the youth on sorting of plastics, but the Regional Director in Port au Prince was not interested in project. CHF Gonaives Regional Director is interested in buying a small regional press for Gonaives to do initial pressing for transport and send the pressed plastic by truck to PAP, where it would be pressed by GS and shipped to Canada. CHF promised that youth would earn approx HTG 200 per day and up to HTG 400 per day from collecting plastic.

CHF International, Gonaives office George Padros, CHF Regional Director [email protected] Notes: CHF Gonaives Regional Director is interested in buying a small regional press for Gonaives to do initial pressing for transport and send the pressed plastic by truck to PAP, where it would be pressed by GS and shipped to Canada. CHF promised that youth would earn approx HTG 200 per day and up to HTG 400 per day from collecting plastic.

9. Solar Energy Systems

Organizations and Individuals

DIY Solar / Biodesign Graham Knight [email protected] http://biodesign.webeden.co.uk/ 15 Sandyhurst Lane Ashford, Kent TN25 4NS UK Tel: +44-1233-626677 Notes: Potential international source of mini-solar panels.Graham was involved in sourcing small solar panels to AMURT's Haiti project. He has provided EVI with connections to individuals involved in the program, and other mini-solar in Haiti. He is based in England.

Mouvement Paysans de Papaye Chavanne Baptiste Main Office: Route Basin-Zim, Papaya, Hinche. Tel : (509) 277 0826 / 277 0409

91 Fax : 246 2614 Office liaison: Delmas 39 # 17, Port-au-Prince, Haïti. Tel : (509) 249 0063/ 246 5314, 249 1773 Fax : 246 2614 http://www.mpphaiti.org/ Notes: Mouvement Paysans de Papaye is one of the largest farmers' groups in Haiti and very active in producing and providing affordable appropriate technologies to its constituents. They are involved in numerous activities and it is highly recommended that IDEJEN contact them to discuss a number of opportunities. Among these is are their current activities in production of mini-solar products for sale to and use by members.

Enersa S.A. Contact Richard Komp for contact information (see below) Cite Soleil Great overview of the organization available at: http://j-klam.blogspot.com/2008/12/bringing-light-to-haiti.html. Notes: Small company that employs youth to assemble solar panels. It has been operating as such for five years and today the vision of the owners is to create and manufacture as many components of their final product instead of importing necessary parts from Taiwan or the U.S.

Richard Komp President, Maine Solar Energy Association [email protected] 17 Rockwell Rd. SE Jonesport ME 04649 Notes: Richard Komp, President of the Maine Solar Energy Association, has been working with Mouvement Paysans de Papaye and Enersa S.A. with solar technologies for a number of years, providing satellite technical support as well as field visits.

Phillippe Tassy [email protected] Tel: 509 36511001 / 3936 5078 Notes: Resource on status on market demand and supply for solar panel types and provider of solar panel production, assembly, and repair (including needed welding skills for installation)

Ayiti Alternative Energy Rte. National #2, Leogoane, Haiti Telephone: (509) 668-3273 FAX: (423) 265-9030 USA Notes: Provides consulting, design, installation, engineering, project development services, site survey and assessment services, contractor services. Associated with Big Frog Mountain alternative energy sources.

Big Frog Mountain 3821 Hixson Pike Chattanooga, TN 37415 (423) 265-0307 M-F 9-5 EST 1-877-232-1580 Notes: Big Mountain Farms is a solar supply company for the US but does ongoing work to provide schools in Haiti with solar power, notably the St. Augustin School in Petite Riviere. They also seem to be associated with Ayiti Alternative Energy, though the link is unclear.

Solar Aid John Keane [email protected] , Tel: 020 7490 3321 http://www.solar-aid.org

92 Notes: Works primarily in sub-Saharan Africa on general solar programs, but is focused on developing business opportunities out of solar technologies. Potentially interested in expanding activities to Haiti in the future.

Websites and Articles

Komp, Richard. “Return to Haiti – 2007.” Maine Solar Energy Association Newsletter. Downloadable at: http://ellsworthme.org/MESEA/Haiti07.pdf Contains information on the photovoltaics of Mouvement Paysans de Papaye (Hinche) and Enersa S.A. (Port au Prince)

Bellanca, Raffaella. “Mini Solar Panels Project Haiti – 2006-2007.” Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT). September 2007. Downloadable at http://www.worldecoengineering.org/MyPdfs/SolarPanelsHaiti.pdf. Contains information on the DIY Solar project conducted by AMURT in Anse Rouge 2006-2007.

10. Sugarcane, Bagasse, and Fuel Briquetting

Organizations and Individuals

Mouvement Paysans de Papaye Chavanne Baptiste Main Office: Route Basin-Zim, Papaya, Hinche. Tel : (509) 277 0826 / 277 0409 Fax : 246 2614 Office liaison: Delmas 39 # 17, Port-au-Prince, Haïti. Tel : (509) 249 0063/ 246 5314, 249 1773 Fax : 246 2614 http://www.mpphaiti.org/ Notes: MPP was associated with training by the MIT D-Lab in briquette production and have pursued further exploration of use of the technology.

Gros Morn Sugar Cane Syrup Producer Association Request contact info of the following individuals from Camoens Rene: Jacques Alténa, Chéranor Kénol, Présumé Wilfrid, and Dolné Luccaroi Notes: This association of sugar cane producers work together to share best practices and knowledge. Some of the producers have sugar cane pressing machinery that creates a great efficiency and that other producers rent on occasion. Additionally, some of the producers have started reusing the bagasse, sugar cane waste, to produce fuel briquettes for home cooking use and have built a briquette press.

FAES – Central Bureau Fresner Dorcin [email protected] 1, Delmas 75 Tel: (509) 513 9360 / 246 5772 / 246 5797 Notes: FAES in Hinche is focused on sugarcane and clay value chains, looking for opportunities for business development and specific areas to put finance towards supporting such development.

Isaac Cherestal – CAPAS / National Coalition for the Environment [email protected] Tel: 509 375 550 51 / 348 524 33 http://www.humanvillage.com/fr/publication/capas Notes: Provided training a training in chardust briquetting with CAPAS in Les Cayes. Also on National Coalition for the Environment.

93 Christian Veterinarians Keith and Jan Flanagan [email protected] Notes: Utilize agriculture waste for hollow-core bagasse briquette production for sale.

MIT D-Lab Bagasse Briquettes (Maissade) Manpreet Singh [email protected] Notes: The MIT D-Lab conducted briquette production and market research activities over the past 4 years on chardust briquetting. Most recently they worked with Isaac Cherestal and CAPAS in Les Cayes.

The Legacy Foundation Richard and Joyce Stanley http://www.legacyfound.org [email protected] Notes: The Legacy Foundation provides technical training and guidance in hollow-core fuel briquetting around the world, remotely and on-site.

Websites and Articles

Kamimoto, Lynn K. David Wallace, Advisor. Economic Feasibility of Bagasse Charcoal in Haiti. Thesis paper for Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2005.

Smith, Amy, et al. “Fuel from the Fields: A Guide to Converting Agricultural Waste into Charcoal Briquettes.” Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 2003. This is a draft report that is available on the MIT D-Lab!s website. Though it is from 2003, an updated final report was never posted. We were unable to get in touch with the D-Lab during the research period for an updated report. However, this draft does detail well the technical specifics of creating charcoal dust briquette.

EcoVentures International!s Future Fuels briquette website: www.eco-ventures.org/briquetting Provides links to numerous online resources on briquetting, primarily related to hollow-core briquetting in sub- Saharan Africa

BioEnergy Lists: Haiti – Fuelwood, Charcoal and Stoves Projects http://bioenergylists.org/en/haitifuel

Additional Resources: Sectors to Watch

1. Poultry and Dairy sector

Organizations and Individuals

Veterimed 178, Rue Alerte, Port-au-Prince, Haiti HT6112 Tel: (509) 222-9360 /221-7347 Fax: (509) 223-4512 President of the Board of Directors: Jean Luckner BONHEUR, Ing. Agr, Director: Dr Michel CHANCY, mvz Technical Director: Rosanie MOISE GERMAIN, Ing. Agr E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] http://www.rehred-haiti.net/membres/veterimed

Sosyete Djol Ansanm pou Demonkrasi (SODA – reported poultry production project in Jake) General inquires: [email protected]

94 http://www.sodahaiti.org/history.html Reagan Lolo Jakè Neighborhood Assembly [email protected] +509 448-1058 (Haiti) Jean-Claude Xavier Jakè Neighborhood Assembly +509 752-7050 (Haiti)

Websites and Articles

Crespi, Valerio and Emmanuelle GuerneBleich. “Promotion of small-scale aquaculture and poultry farming for food security in Haiti: TCP/HAI/2903.” FAO Aquaculture Newsletter July 2005 – No.33. http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/a0057e/a0057e05.htm

2. Bicycle-related businesses

Websites and Articles

Pedals for Progress: Projects in the Dominican Republic http://www.p4p.org/inactive.html, http://www.p4p.org/Dominican/Dom.html Pedals for Progress: General information http://www.p4p.org

Afribike – Combines business training with bike training and distribution in Africa http://www.afribike.org/ - embedded video on projects

3. Moringa sector

Organizations and individuals

Ethan Budiansky, Africa & Caribbean Programs Coordinator Trees for the Future PO Box 7027 Silver Spring, MD 20907 301-565-0630 | www.plant-trees.org | Skype: treesftf Notes: Trees for the Future in involved in sustainable agroforestry and multi-purpose tree programs for economic and environmental development. They are particularly interested in working with Moringa in Haiti and a number of local organizations have approached them for support in these activities, some of which are indicated below. Trees for the Future is currently developing plans for beginning these programs. See http://www.treesftf.org/projects/haiti.htm.

Mouvement Paysans de Papaye Mark Hare c/o MPP Delmas 39 #17 Port au Prince, Haiti [email protected] Tel: (509) 2492755 / 2490063 / 2770826 Fax: (509) 2462614 See http://www.pcusa.org/missionconnections/profiles/harem.htm Notes: “The crew Mark leads is also focusing on the moringa tree, which has highly nutritional edible leaves. Besides growing several hundred moringa trees in the Road to Life Yard, the crew is promoting moringa as a low-

95 cost source of protein and other nutrients among the visitors and participants at the training center. The crew has also begun producing moringa leaf powder, a simple and inexpensive diet supplement that has proven extremely effective in reducing malnutrition in a number of West African countries. Moringa leaf powder is also being used effectively in the outreach programs of W.I.S.H, the West Indies Self Help program located on the Haitian island of La Gonave, where Mark and one of the crew members received training.”

MKASS Gabby Poupoulte Sodo (Saut d!Eau) Notes: MKASS has begun a tree nursery consisting of Moringa and Leucaena seeds donated by Trees for the Future. “We seek to plant about 10,000 trees to combat the erosion that is plaguing the area and to beautify the zone.” This was reported in 2003. Current status of the program unknown.

Websites and Articles

ECHO!s Technical Network Site: New uses for Moringa studied in Nicaragua. http://www.echotech.org/network/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=194

Republic of Philippines Department of Agriculture Bureau of Agricultural Research: Gov!t urged to go for wide scale mulunggay production. Jan 8, 2008. http://www.bar.gov.ph/news/moringaforum_jan08.asp

Report of the Proceedings of the Stakeholders! Consultative Workshop on Moringa in Uganda. 28th November 2003. Facilitated by Ms. Florence Kabugo, NAADS, Dr. Joseph Oryokot, NAADS, and Dr. Ssentumbwe, MAAIF. Available at naads.or.ug/manage/reports/34reportMoringa%20consultative%20wshop%20report.pdf

Schwarz, Dishna. Water Clarification using Moringa oleifera. Gate Information Service Technical Information W1e. GTZ. June 2000. Available at http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.deutsch-aethiopischer- verein.de%2FGate_Moringa.pdf&ei=K2_IR9SzMKKGetWWrP8P&usg=AFQjCNGhfQ_0AWgaL473qJGnvKRqv V36lg&sig2=MUGWRP4yTiID4-OVBuEiiQ

Sanchez, Nadir Reyes, Eva Sporndly, and Inger Ledin. Effect of feeding different levels of foliage Moringa oleifera to creole dairy cows on intake, digestibility, milk production and composition. Livestock Science. Elsevier. 2005. www.elsevier.com/locate/livsci

De Saint Sauveur, Armelle. Conclusion on the potential of Moringa on the food supplement market in Europe. Moringanews. 2005. Produced with the financial assistance of CTA (Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-UE) and CDE (Centre for the Development of Enterprise).

Folkard, Geoff, John Sutherland, and Rod Shaw. Water clarification using Moringa oleifera seed coagulant. Water and Environmental Health at London and Loughborough (WELL) (funded by DFID)

Folkard, G.K. and Sutherland, J.P. Moringa oleifera - a tree and a litany of potential. Agroforestry Today, 1996, Vol. 8, No.3, pp5-8.

4. Jatropha Biofuels

Organizations and Individuals

Trees for the Future Ethan Budiansky, Africa & Caribbean Programs Coordinator Timote Georges, Field Representative Tel: 301-565-0630 PO Box 7027

96 Silver Spring, MD 20907 http://www.treesftf.org/projects/haiti.htm Skype: treesftf Notes: Currently, Trees Field Representative Timote Georges is working with local farmers and farming groups along the Arcadine coast to develop a substantial community-level tree planting program for 2009. In all, he will be working with 10 different communities to plant over 1 million trees. The program focuses on hillside reforestation, sustainable charcoal production, biodiesel production (primarily with Jatropha curcas) and intensive hillside farming.

Mr. Jean-Patrick Lucien Associated with Great SA, a US-based export company Share SA www.share-sa.com, which produces jatropha for biodiesel Edem Foundation http://networkhaiti.com/edem/index.html, an NGO for Haitian development [email protected] US Tel: 508-904-7491 Notes: Share SA is conducting research and development on demand and production needs for alternative fuel (jatropha) and food crops (moringa).

Steve Roberts Haiti Biodiesel Notes: Haiti Biodiesel is a key player in jatropha development in Haiti. They have developed nurseries in the and first crop spring 2008. The organization!s goal is to teach farmers how to grow jatropha, collect the seeds and press the oil themselves in small presses acquired through loans. ODRINO, a local NGO plans to buy the oil and process it into biodiesel.

Jatropha Pepinye Kathleen Robbins [email protected] 217-497-5762 http://www.nextbillion.net/multimedia/2008/04/09/developing-biofuels-in-rural-haiti-the-jatropha-pepinye-today Located in Terrier Rouge Notes: This non-profit Haitian “business” was started by Kathleen Robbins, Director of Energy for Green Microfinance, LLC. This effort evolved out of the conflux of Irish entrepreneurial interest in corporate social responsibility, fostered by Digicel and Ernst and Young, and the grassroots work of Partners in People and Place (www.peopleandplace.org). According to an interview with Biodiesel Magazine, Robbins believes that the only way a biodiesel industry will develop in Haiti is if it includes the participation of the small farmer.

Rome Foundation http://www.romefoundation.org/content/rome-foundation-jatropha-nursery-co-op Notes: The Rome Foundation developing a cooperative plantation on 30 acres of land in Petitè Goave where jatropha seed, vegetable seed and farming supplies will be distributed free of charge to local farmers. The location eventually will serve as a farmer's market, and one-stop shop for seeds, plants, supplies and farming education so that farmers can sustain themselves.

5. Other resources of interest

Young, Peter, and Pierre Betonus. Haiti Cooking Stoves and Domestic Energy. HEDON Household Energy Network. From Boiling Point, GTZ!s publication series on intermediate technologies. Issue 38. 1997. http://www.hedon.info/goto.php/Haiti-CookingStovesAndDomesticEnergy

Trees, Water, People. Rocket Stove introduction program in partnership with AMURT, started in 2007 and expected to expand in 2008. http://www.treeswaterpeople.org/stoves/programs/haiti.htm

97 Building a Sustainable Market for Improved Stoves in Haiti (WorldBank ESMAP) “The ESMAP Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SME) project, "Dissemination of improved stoves in Haiti," assists SMEs to better develop and manage the production of energy efficient stoves that reduce the cost of cooking for urban households and improve health conditions. This is important since cooking fuel prices are high due to rising charcoal prices and rapid deforestation. To generate sustainable production of "MIRAK" improved stoves, the project facilitates the modernization of the supply distribution chain. The goal of the project is for artisans to form at least 10 SMEs and produce more than 50,000 improved stoves. A public awareness campaign will be launched to educate consumers on the economic, health, and environmental benefits of the stoves. In addition, a branding effort will feature a quality control seal, an Eco Label (QEEL), which will serve as a visual reminder of the benefits of the stoves and an indicator of their energy efficiency. This project helps to strengthen the country's SME and private sector while directly benefiting poor households and entrepreneurs. Contact: Ella Lazarte, [email protected].” http://alquemie.smartbrief.com/alquemie/servlet/encodeServlet?issueid=3C9D0371-37EF-4FF6-8C50- 96AF35FE7083&lmid=sample

Haiti Energy Sector Development Plan 2007-2017. Prepared by the Ministry for Public Works, Transortation and Communications, the Bureau of Mines and Energy, and Electricity of Haiti with technical assistance of the International Atomic Energy Agency. November 2006

98