HCF history & impact

Time Period

Action Step (s)

Inputs

Outcomes

Notes

January 2010-Summer of 2011

Consultations with Haitian civil society organizations leaders & leaders from other sectors regarding top three community development issues in Haiti

ESPWA sets up committees in Haiti and Boston

Over 90 interviews of individuals, networks and grassroots groups

Meetings to set up agenda and priorities

Issue 1: lack of control over the direction of their communities/countries; issue 2: lack of support (technical, personal, institutional); issue 3: lack of consistent funding.  Funds are controlled by international organizations.  Fundraising is hard for local organizations and limits capacity.

Organization focuses on long-term capacity building of Haitian organizations.  Key focus on setting up a community foundation for Haiti.

Not a systematic survey.

Consistency of feedback points to structural issues.

2011

January 2011 ESPWA connects with the Global Fund for Community Foundations.  ESPWA, GFCF, Kellogg and the Puerto Rico Community Foundation with support from IAF launch HCFI

Planning focus on an exploratory forum in July to establish interest/need for a community foundation in Haiti

Kaliko forum involves 27 Haiti and international leaders from all sectors for two days.  Highly diverse group unanimously decides that Haiti needs a community foundation.  ESPWA is designated as lead organization to work with a planning committee.

CF structure is new to Haiti. Translated in French, CF is a generic term which means community organization.

January-March 2012

Karibe Forum brings a resource group of practitioners from Kenya, Mexico and Brazil to help to explore CF structures & pathways and help to inform planning of HCF

HCFI brings together a group of 34 Haiti and international leaders from all sectors and socio-economic backgrounds for two days.

Groups articulate preliminary vision, mission for HCF.  Decision to start process at the “base” and launch a pilot project.  Committee continues to work with ESPWA to create a concept note and develop criteria for the pilot program’s selection.

April 2012-September 2012

HCFI selects the Grand’Anse, an isolated department of Haiti key for the environment and agriculture that hasn’t been a focus for international funders.

Committee selects region based on access, needs, and interest.  Grand’Anse is a neglected region with a high level of need.

HCFI focuses on the Grand’Anse even as some funders disapprove of the selection because of the current lack of investment in the selected region.

September 2012-October 2012

Subcommittee organizes a forum of regional leaders in the Grand’Anse to introduce HCFI and test region’s interest.

Two-day forum gathers 16 regional leaders for presentations on CF and HCFI as well as presentations by local experts on status of region on key areas (education, health, economic development, the environment).  Question: is GA interested?

Regional leaders unanimously adopt HCFI and works with HCFI/ESPWA on designing process for a regional planning process focused on working with regional leaders on identifying assets, needs, challenges/problems, problems and community priorities on key areas.  Grand’Anse Planning Committee forms and meets.

Time Period

Action Step (s)

Inputs

Outcomes

Notes

2013

Grand’Anse Committee works with ESPWA on comprehensive planning process of the region’s twelve communes.

Volunteer committee plans and executes planning sessions.

Planning brings together leaders from all sector. Leadership councils get formed at the end of planning sessions as leaders realize they share common priorities.  Process strengthens and networks communities & their leaderships.

2013

Research and field studies of community foundation models in US, Latin America and Africa to develop model appropriate for Haiti.

Interviews of CFs such as Nebraska Community Foundation, the Brazil Foundation and visit of the Kenya Community Development Foundation.

Hybrid model for HCF: a national network of regional funds with a central fund streamlining local and international monies toward key issues.

Haiti functions in regions.  A national structure is needed for coordination and linkage leading to nation-building.

2013-2014

Regional Planning Process is finalized.  Regional planning meeting is held.  Regional planning meeting of joint HCFI Committees is held in July 2014 to set next steps.

Consultant is hired to process and collate extensive data collected.  Preliminary reports are shared with communities for review.  Communities set their individual and regional priorities through a democratic process.

Strong & diverse regional network of leaders of 600 leaders is built through this process.  Process proved to be a training ground for regional leaders.  A movement of Haitian reclaiming the leadership of their communities has taken root.  Report is a critical tool for pro-active development.

2014-2015

Planning steps toward launching: legalization team is put together and hired in US and Haiti.  Graphic Design firm is hired for logo development.  So is a communication consultant. GA Committee structures itself for higher level of effectiveness.

Committees put into place during the July 2014 planning meeting work on legalization and structuration of foundation.  Planning process moves forward with input from all committees with support from Administrative Assistant and Planning Consultant.

Statutes are developed for HCF reflecting values, mission, structure and goals.  Agreements are set into place between various committees.

Real change takes time.  Alignment is challenging at times as the new structure demands a level of structure that is not the norm.

Summer 2015

A CF Consultant sponsored by the Global Fund for Community Foundations works with HCFI network on program assessment.

Consultant works with stakeholders and travels to Haiti for interviews.

Report to present HCFI to potential funders and investors.

December 2015

HCFI hosts a forum with the Global Alliance for Community Philanthropy in Port-au-Prince

Forum focuses on “Community Foundations: a critical platform for effective, local, community-driven and sustainable development in Haiti and abroad.”

60 participants came from Haiti and various countries. The Global Alliance for Community Philanthropy held its meeting in Port-au-Prince on day 3.

March 2016

The HCFI Network meets for a strategic planning process covering three years in the Grand’Anse

Local, regional, national and international members of the network meet to align themselves and plan the launching and direction of HCF for the next three years.

Compiled report presents the plan and offers a proactive plan which will facilitate the positive advancement of the Initiative.

Time Period                             

             Action Step (s)               

                    Inputs

                      Outcomes

Notes

March- September 2016

We secure an office in PAP- Central Committee develop Community Development Consultant job description and appel d’offre.  Consultant is hired.

HCF Board Member donate office and services of accountant

HCF operationalization takes a step forward with a seat in Port-au-Prince as a national organization.

October 2016-January 2017

Hurricane Matthew devastates the Grand’Anse. Almost all crops are destroyed. Hundreds are dead. Over 90% of housing is destroyed and over 85% of schools

 HCF Network mobilizes to raise money, secure donations and support disaster relief effort. We also develop a Community Assessment Report on the Region’s status post Matthew.

240 Community Residents and leaders are interviewed for the Community Assessment report.  Funds and local donations are secured to help families.  HCF network mobilizes to support the region’s rebuilding.

A major challenge and setback for the region and our Network as our Pilot region is devastated.  The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the region’s situation and offers a guide to aid providers with recommendations on short-term, midterm and long-term interventions. 

HCF Network serves 500 families (over 2000 people) with food, supplies and milk distribution, micro enterprise support and roofing

January 2017- June 2017

HCF secures via the efforts of its Regional Planning Committee funds from the Swiss Embassy for PRAGA, an agricultural support pilot initiative designed to support GA farmers’ replanting efforts. 

HCF works on launching Pwojè Leve Kanpe, a comprehensive project to support the Grand’Anse recovery

HCF works with Fondation Sogebank on a solar lamp distribution project for the Grand’Anse

HCF represents Haiti at International Aid Localisation workshops and convenings in Switzerland and England.  HCF attends first Francophone Community Philanthropy Summit in Canada.

HCF-GA sets up a regional What’App network for members’ communication and exchanges

HCF works in collaboration with GRAMIR on the project. 

Collaboration with the Inter-American Foundation and Fondation Sogebank

HCF meets with Fondation Sogebank on strategy.  GA Committee will work on the logistics.

HCF Board Members attend and contributes to these events.

HCF-GA Manager sets up and administers network,

HCF is one of the five GA organizations selected for the Initiative.  It will serve 2 communes in Pestel, 2 in Moron and the Cayemite Island.

4 Staff are hired to support the Initiative.

Local and international funders will pool funds to support this initiative

2000 solar lamps to be distributed to at-risk populations and institutions in the GA.

HCF is raising awareness for Haiti and expanding the organization’s network.

New communication infrastructure supports flow of information, network strengthening and partnership building.