SOUTH HAITI EARTHQUAKE GRANTMAKING

August 14, 2023 marked the two-year anniversary of the devastating 7.2 earthquake in southern Haiti.  The massive quake damaged or destroyed an estimated 130,000 homes, over 1000 schools, 60 health clinics and many roads and water sources.  The tropical storm that followed caused landslides further damaging destabilized infrastructure and farms.  An estimated 800,000 people suffered losses, and the lives of already-very-poor families became even more precarious.

Due to the incredible generosity of our donors, HDI raised $1.6 million to support assistance to earthquake victims.

HDI‘s approach is to bring resources to local organizations to empower them to be the agents, not objects, of disaster assistance for their communities. Local organizations in these remote and marginalized communities have been their first responders and only safety net, and work to advance community development for the long term.

Relief grants

HDI made relief grants totaling $120,000 to our existing partners in the affected communities to help them help their community members cope in the short term. These grants supported over 1000 families with food, cash assistance, tuition and school supplies, provision of construction materials, animals and seedlings, and more.  Also importantly, they showed solidarity and provided hope.

Recovery grants

HDI then conducted a competitive grant process open only to Haitian-led community organizations based in the earthquake zone.  This approach allows affected communities to articulate their most salient needs and proposed solutions for long term recovery. International relief and reconstruction funds helped many victims with short term needs and reconstructed major structures like schools, roads and water sources, but did not reach all victims or replace what they individually lost.  The reality is that most people are left to build back their homes and rehabilitate their farms on their own as they can.  This is why investments in long term recovery are so important.

HDI launched an RFP in three languages, disseminated it and promoted the call for proposals to try to ensure local organizations were aware of the opportunity, extending the application deadline to make this possible. HDI received 90 proposals and following thorough due diligence selected 36 for grant awards totaling $595,500. We prioritized organizations that work to create viable rural communities through initiatives to boost rural livelihoods and serve the most vulnerable, especially through empowerment of women, girls and youth. Notably, half of our grantees were women-led or -serving organizations with a specific mission to empower women and girls.

Results

We are very pleased to share this report showing the projects and programs funded by the completed grants as well as the results achieved by these local organizations. Funded projects and programs directly benefitted more than 7000 people in significant and sustainable ways, including:

• provided farmers with tools, equipment, seeds, cuttings, trees and fertilizer

• installed irrigation pumps

• built and equipped agricultural product storage and processing facilities

• provided training in food processing

• supported mutual savings and loan groups that help members support each other and their micro-enterprises

• constructed a school, houses and a community park

• provided training on disaster risk management and resilient building techniques

• created and distributed remote learning tools for enrichment education

• developed and strengthened animal husbandry programs and nurseries

• distributed goats to vulnerable families and provided training on care and breeding

• supported community-serving institutions offering IT training, children’s clubs, youth leadership programs and services for disabled people.

Thousands more family and community members have benefitted indirectly. Importantly, these grants helped people and organizations acquire assets and capacity that will continue to help reduce vulnerability going forward.

A long term effort

The majority of resources for disaster assistance tend to be used on emergency relief immediately after a disaster, while the majority of needs are for support to long-term recovery. HDI’s response continues long after attention to this disaster has faded. HDI supports our grantees to implement their projects.  We also provide organizational development support to help them serve their communities most effectively.

In 2024, we made a second round of 13 recovery-focused grants totaling $170,000 to our most successful grantees to continue and deepen the programs that are helping earthquake victims recover.

HDI’s long-term approach helps grantees make meaningful improvements in their community members’ lives. It also helps connect and strengthen civil society throughout rural areas of southern Haiti. A stronger civil society is the key to a stronger, better governed and more prosperous Haiti.

Improving disaster response

In addition to grants, as a convener, we supported local leaders to come together to share, learn, coordinate and strategize on how to strengthen both this disaster response and their preparedness for the next natural hazard which will inevitably come.  HDI partnered with Haiti Response Coalition to organize an in-person conference in Les Cayes, Haiti for over 200 community organization leaders and local officials in June 2022.

Subsequently, we supported ten communities to hold workshops with broad participation of community leaders to develop community preparedness and response plans, so they can take action in advance and be safer in the event of another natural hazard.