heks

Haiti is one of the world’s poorest countries. An estimated 80 per cent of its population live below the poverty line – 54 per cent in extreme poverty. More than six million of Haiti’s eight million people are unable to meet their basic needs and lack access to healthcare for example. Over half the population is jobless.

The root causes of the country’s precarious situation are political instability, bad governance and the neglect of government investment. In addition, the global economic crisis is steadily eroding consumer purchasing power and causing economic decline.

The repeated natural disasters also affecting the country are thwarting the efforts of producers to achieve food security. The January 2010 earthquake in particular had devastating consequences for countless people in Haiti. Much of the infrastructure was destroyed and massive reconstruction projects are needed.

The HEKS projects in Haiti are intended to support agricultural production. The transfer of responsibility to rural communities is encouraging development that is independent and geared towards their own needs.

Besides, HEKS is also involved in providing emergency relief and in reconstructing the buildings and infrastructure destroyed by the 2010 earthquake.

Aims, points of focus, initiatives:

Food security and rural community development:
In conjunction with regional non-governmental organisations, HEKS is helping to build up agricultural production chains with higher added value. This is being done by improving the production, processing and marketing of coffee, fruits and cocoa, for example.
HEKS is thereby helping to provide rural communities with the additional financial wherewithal to meet their basic needs, especially in education.

Supporting good governance at the local level:
To be able to implement local development plans, HEKS relies on a partnership model that encompasses local authorities, local communities and development organisations.

Peace building and conflict prevention:
The programme aims to integrate conflict prevention into the planned measures thereby raising the awareness of partners as to how they can mediate in land disputes or family conflicts.

Humanitarian aid:
In times of natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, HEKS provides emergency relief for victims and supports them in the subsequent reconstruction phase. In such cases the focus is on preventive measures in ­anticipation of other natural disasters.