Leveraging Effective Applications of Direct (LEAD) Investments 2011-2017 Final Report
Summary — The LEAD project supported Haitian SMEs through capital and technical assistance while engaging the diaspora to boost economic development from 2011-2017. The project created over 18,000 jobs and generated $33 million in sales across three geographic corridors.
Key Findings
- Created over 18,000 jobs and generated more than $33 million in sales across 45 supported businesses.
- Leveraged over $10 million in private equity, business assets, and debt funds through matching grant model.
- Successfully operated Business Plan Competition model across three geographic corridors (Port-au-Prince, Saint Marc, Cap Haitian).
- Demonstrated that SMEs with proper capital and technical assistance can create transformative effects on Haiti's economy.
- Effectively engaged Haitian diaspora groups to increase development impact of remittances and economic participation.
Full Description
The Leveraging Effective Applications of Direct (LEAD) Investments project was a six-year USAID-funded program (2011-2017) implemented by the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) to support Haiti's post-earthquake economic recovery. The project focused on two main components: supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through capital and technical assistance, and engaging the Haitian diaspora to increase the development impact of remittances.
The project operated in three geographic corridors - Port-au-Prince, Saint Marc, and Cap Haitian - using a Business Plan Competition model to identify promising SMEs. Through matching grants combined with technical assistance, LEAD supported 45 businesses across various sectors. The project's approach aimed to unlock private investment capital and encourage financial institution participation in economic growth activities.
LEAD achieved significant results, creating over 18,000 jobs and generating more than $33 million in sales while leveraging over $10 million in private equity, business assets, and debt funds. The project also worked extensively with diaspora groups to promote engagement in Haiti's economy through various initiatives including roadshows, social development funds, and remittance enhancement programs.
The success of LEAD demonstrated that supporting SMEs with the right combination of capital and technical assistance can create transformative effects on the Haitian economy, establishing clusters of private enterprise in key value-chains and industrial hubs that boost domestic production and enhance competitiveness.