Alhough Haiti has experienced recent economic growth, it remains the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 80% of its population living below the poverty line. The Market Chain Enhancement Project (MarChE) in Haiti is a $24 million program funded by USAID to increase broad-based participation by Haitians in the economy by promoting the competitiveness of Haitian enterprises. The project also seeks to expand local sales and export market opportunities and promotes value-added production and private investment.

Ultimately, MarChE will lead to increased incomes and wage employment, increased trade and investment, sustainable livelihood options and better management of natural resources by increasing the value of environmentally friendly products.

MarChE, which will be implemented in collaboration with Aid to Artisans (ATA) and the International Executive Service Corps (IESC), will stimulate the development of competitive interrelated market chains in the agribusiness, handicrafts and tourism sectors. In strengthening these critical market chains, MarChE will provide complementary business development and finance and investment services, working with and through a comprehensive network of local commercial and institutional partners for delivery.

CNFA has created a dual approach for the MarChE program that will ensure targeted assistance across multiple value chains. By providing both business development and financial and investment services the MarChE program will increase small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) competitiveness and build value chain linkages. Throughout the life of the program, CNFA and its implementing partners will target value chains within three targeted sectors:

• Agriculture: mango, coffee, cocoa, essential oils and complementary agro systems
• Handicrafts: cultural handicrafts and design of new products
• Tourism: hotels and tour operators and restaurants

MarChE will employ an integrated countrywide strategy by working with and through a comprehensive network of local commercial and institutional partners to deliver services that strengthen these critical market chains. To enhance business development services, MarChE will target SMEs within selected value chains, foster sustainable linkages among market chain participants and across multiple value chains, and build SME capacity to deliver commercial business management services to enterprises and organizations. To enhance financial and investment services, the program will catalyze investment through grants, engage commercial lenders to identify opportunities for value chain financing, and link SMEs to financial institutions and services.

Related Links

Program Overview: Haiti Market Chain Enhancement Project

Updated 6/2009