On Friday, March 13 2020, representatives of the nine Partner Organizations of the Reforestation Activity of the Small Grants Facility (SGF) program, along with representatives of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) came together for the closing of the Small Grants Facility’s first Activity – the Reforestation Grant Fund. They took part in a working session where they discussed the lessons learned during the implementation of the Reforestation Grant Fund (RGF) and completed the capacity building component. The Small Grants Facility is dedicated to building the capacity of local organizations, and the training and focus on lessons learned will contribute to building self-reliance. Partner Organizations received certificates after completing the final session of a series of five trainings delivered by the project.
The Reforestation Activity or “Reforestation Grant Fund” (RGF) is the first activity of the SGF program aimed at supporting community initiatives to fight deforestation, increasing access to credit for alternatives to charcoal, and increasing farmers’ investments in long-term agroforestry and soil conservation practices.
“The goal of the Small Grants Facility (SGF) is to provide grants to local organizations to build their capacity to achieve development goals in specific areas, such as natural resource management, economic growth, education of young people, community-led development, civic participation and social inclusion among others,” said Ms. Cédrelle Jean-Louis, PADF Administrative Director in her opening statement.
Indeed, the SGF program, funded by USAID in cooperation with the OAS, and implemented by PADF, provided the first round of grants for Reforestation through a transparent competitive process to nine local organizations around the buffer zones of Haiti’s Forest Reserves.
The Reforestation Activity or “Reforestation Grant Fund” (RGF) is the first activity of the SGF program aimed at supporting community initiatives to fight deforestation, increasing access to credit for alternatives to charcoal, and increasing farmers’ investments in long-term agroforestry and soil conservation practices.
“The goal of the Small Grants Facility (SGF) is to provide grants to local organizations to build their capacity to achieve development goals in specific areas, such as natural resource management, economic growth, education of young people, community-led development, civic participation and social inclusion among others,” said Ms. Cédrelle Jean-Louis, PADF Administrative Director in her opening statement.
Indeed, the SGF program, funded by USAID in cooperation with the OAS, and implemented by PADF, provided the first round of grants for Reforestation through a transparent competitive process to nine local organizations around the buffer zones of Haiti’s Forest Reserves.
“Through these 9 different organizations, you have managed to produce more than a million trees in Haiti since the program began in April 2019. It’s magnificent! And I’m sure you will have a lot of success again,” said Karen D’Aboville, USAID Deputy Mission Director, during the ceremony.
The Reforestation Activity highlighted the strong capacity of local organizations to solve long-term development challenges and build self-reliance in Haiti. An organization like SOHADERK based in Nouvelle Touraine, a communal section of Kenscoff, is revitalizing the cultivation of coffee. More than 100,000 coffee seedlings and other forest and fruit species such as grevillea, loquat and avocado are in production in their nursery awaiting the next rainy season to be distributed and planted.
Before I was a teacher. Now, I work at SOHADERK because I believe this work is very important for my community. The model is sustainable. I will be able to live from the sales of coffee while fighting deforestation.
To date, the nine Partner Organizations have produced 1,129,912 tree seedlings and distributed 739,442 to communities around Haiti’s Forest Reserves. In less than two years since its launch, the Small Grants Facility has met over 94% of its target for tree seedlings production. Survival rates recorded eight months after planting have averaged 80% and will continue to grow after the project has ended. As these trees grow and nourish the communities surrounding them, they will bring environmental and economic benefits to the thousands of Haitians who will care for them.
