Closure of the AVETI project: greater climatic and economic resilience for women smallholders in Haiti!

“Before, I was totally dependent on my husband. Now, I don't have to wait for him to meet my children's school commitments. Thanks to AVETI, I've become economically independent”. These words from Chilove Apolon, a Haitian small-scale farmer, eloquently illustrate the positive impact of the AVETI project that we initiated in 2019 in the Grand'Anse department, in Haiti, and concluded at the end of 2024.

Led by CECI and carried out in collaboration with SOCODEVI and the Union des producteurs agricoles Développement international (UPA DI), this project led us to strengthen the financial autonomy of Haitian women farmers and the food security of their families by sustainably increasing the value of cocoa and yam - crops mainly controlled by women.

Leveraging local investment

Throughout this major project, we have worked closely with 5 Haitian inclusive finance institutions to improve access to financing, an essential condition for sustainable development. By agreeing to integrate practices better adapted to climate challenges and to invest more in the agricultural productions targeted by the project, these institutions have played, and will continue to play in the future, a decisive role in strengthening the autonomy and resilience of the communities they serve.

“The difficulties in starting up my cocoa processing business were enormous. Now it's open to the international market thanks to technical support and co-financing provided by the AVETI project. I hope to create more jobs in the community!” Roodberson Antoine, entrepreneur

In the first 2 years of the project, we set up 63 village savings and credit associations, enabling 2,055 people, 56% of them women and 25% young people, to save securely and access loans adapted to their realities and needs.

• 12,901,900 gourdes (approximately CAN$135,000) in total savings, representing an average savings per member of 6,278 gourdes
• 13,049,387 gourdes (approx. CAN$136,000) in loans granted to 1,097 members, 55% of them women and 24% young people, in partnership with participating financial institutions
• 51 associative businesses, 34% of which managed solely by women and 62% by young people, were strengthened through coaching and financing tailored to their needs.

Village savings and credit associations were created alongside school gardens, which have enabled Haitian growers to adopt innovative practices that will reduce the impact of climate change on their production. “In the past, we used to follow the seasons to cultivate the land and climate change often deceived us. Now we're equipped with techniques that can adapt to climatic hazards and our gardens are improved.” Chilove Apolon