DIASPORA PARTNERSHIP ACCELERATOR, Friends of Matènwa Final Report
Summary — This final report details the Diaspora Partnership Accelerator project implemented by Friends of Matènwa (FoM) with USAID/BHA assistance. The project focused on constructing seven houses in La Gonave, Haiti, using sustainable practices and providing access to water and gardens for residents.
Key Findings
- The project infused $163,200 USD into the La Gonave economy.
- Over 120 residents of La Gonave benefited directly from the project.
- Building techniques were transferred to local masons, improving earthquake resistance.
- Recycled materials were used to reduce waste.
- Financial instruments were made available to families for access to safe and secure housing.
Full Description
The Diaspora Partnership Accelerator project, implemented by Friends of Matènwa (FoM) with support from USAID/BHA, aimed to reduce exposure to natural disasters and public health risks among residents of La Gonave, Haiti. The project constructed seven houses in the communities of Matènwa, Ti Klewon, Nan Mango, and Plenn Mapou, adhering to strict environmental standards and providing water access and garden plots. The innovative loan model pilot sought to influence construction standards, provide affordable housing with disaster-resilient designs, and generate funds for additional homes through loan repayments. The project faced challenges, including debates over the use of recycled materials and rising construction costs, but ultimately achieved its goal of building sturdier, more sustainable homes for vulnerable families.
Full Document Text
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DIASPORAPARTNERSHIPACCELERATOR,Friendsof
Matènwa
FinalReport,August7,2023
DISCLAIMERThispublicationwasproducedattherequestoftheUnitedStatesAgencyforInternationalDevelopment,Itwasprepared
independentlybyFriendsofMatènwa
USAID.GOV
CONTENTS
PROGRAMOVERVIEW....................................................................................................................3
SUMMARYOFRESULTS...................................................................................................................4
CHALLENGES...................................................................................................................................10
SUMMARYOFCAPACITYSESSIONS........................................................................................11
LESSONSLEARNED........................................................................................................................12
APPENDIXI:Feedback...................................................................................................................14
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PROGRAMOVERVIEW
WriteabriefsummaryofyourprojectandincludeProjectlocation
WithassistancefromUSAID/BHA,Vistant,Miyamoto,andunderthedirectionoftheMatènwa
CommunityLearningCenterDirectionCommittee,FriendsofMatènwa(FoM)builtseven
housesinthecommunitiesofMatènwa,TiKlewon,NanMango,andPlennMapouontheisland
ofLagonav,Haiti.Builtunderstrictenvironmentalstandardsthatprotectprospectivebuyers
fromnaturalandenvironmentaldisasters,thehomesareequippedwithwateraccessand
gardenplots.Thisensureshouseholdscangrowproducetoeatandsell,therebyincreasing
theirincomewhilereallocatingsomeoftheirfoodbudget.Theyspendless,andtheymake
more.
Mainobjectiveoftheproject
Overallobjective:Toreduceexposuretonaturaldisastersandpublichealthrisksamong
residentsofLaGonavebyimprovingtheiraccesstosafeanddignifiedshelterthroughan
innovative,sustainableloanmodelpilotthatprovides:
1.modelhomestoinfluencecommunitymembers’andbuilders’standardsofthelevelof
qualitythatispossibleintheircontext
2.affordablehousingforthreepreliminarycohorts,includinginnovativedesignsthat
reducedisasterexposure,reducewaste,andconnectresidentswithlong-term,
resilience-buildingservicessuchasincome-generatinggardens
3.generatesfundsthroughaloanrepaymentprogramfortheprovisionofadditional
homes.
Innovativedesign:Ourinnovationsarethree-fold:1)buildingwithrecycledmaterialsthat
reducewasteandresultinsturdierstructuresandreducevulnerabilitytohurricanes,
earthquakesanderosion,2)providingfamilieswithafinancialinstrumentthatacceleratestheir
accesstosafe,securehousing,and3)ensuringstoredwateraccessandrestoringland
surroundingthehouseholdforlong-termresilienceandself-sufficiencythatreduces
vulnerability.
Startandenddateofproject:May31,2022-July31,2023
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Whatlocalpartnersdidyouworkwith,ifany?TheMatènwaCommunityLearning
Center
SUMMARYOFRESULTS
Theproject’smainobjectivewastobuildhousesforfamilieslivingonLaGonave.From
November2022throughJune2023,theprojecthasinfused$163,200USDintotheeconomy
ofLaGonave.Asidefromtravelexpensestomakeonsitesupervisoryvisits.All$163,200was
infusedintotheLagonaveconomy.Thiswasachievedthroughthepurchaseof80%ofmaterials
andconstructionequipmentfromtheislanditself.Wealsohired20localseasonalworkersand
investedinfortifyingthelocalinfrastructure.
FoMestimatesthatmorethan120residentsofLaGonavebenefiteddirectlyfromtheproject.
Wehavealsoachievedthetransferofbuildingtechniques.Ourmasonslearnedthetechniques
ofbuildingblocksandreinforcingthefoundationssotheyareearthquake-resistant.Asaresult,
wewereabletobuildsturdierhomesthatareresistanttonaturaldisasters.
Wealsousedrecycledmaterialstoreducewaste.Weusedrecycledplasticbottlestobuildthe
innernonweightbearingwallsfortwoofthehouses.Wealsousedcompostforthelatrines.
Wehavealsomadeavailablefinancialinstrumentsinorderforthefamilies’accesstosafeand
securehousingisaffordable.
Mostimportantly,wehavetriedtoinfusesustainabilityintothestructuresbyensuringaccessto
storedwaterandbuildinggardensforgrowingproduce.
MONITORINGANDEVALUATION
Didyouconductanymonitoringandevaluation?Ifso,explainanydatacollectionor
feedback.Pleaselistyouractivitiesandwhatweretheoutcomesofeachactivityin
thetablebelow.
MONITORINGANDEVALUATION
Didyouconductanymonitoringandevaluation?Ifso,explainanydatacollectionorfeedback.Pleaselist
youractivitiesandwhatweretheoutcomesofeachactivityinthetablebelow.
RESULTSTABLE
ACTIVITIES RESULTS
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●Willcreatedrawingsofthe
architecturaldesignofthehousesto
bereviewedbyMiyamoto’s
disaster-resistantconstructionand
engineeringexperts.
●Willfinalizetrainingandcounseling
plans.
●Willselectbuildersandprospective
homebuyers.
●Communitieshavealreadybegun
selectingprojectsites.Wewillstart
thelegallandpurchasingprocessin
all4communitiesduringthisphase.
TheMatènwaCommunityLearning
Centerhasundertakenthisprocess
manytimesandhasnot
encounteredissuesontheislandof
LaGonave.
●Collectbottlesforthefirst4houses
●Thedrawingsweresubmitted,
reviewed,andapprovedby
Miyamoto’sengineeringteam.
●Twoteamsofbuildersandmasons
werehiredtoworkonthe
constructions;aprospective
homebuyers’profilewasdeveloped
bytheMCLCDirectionCommittee.
●Fourprojectsiteswereidentified
andlandpurchasedwithassistance
fromcommunityleadersresidingin
thefouridentifiedcommunities.
●Miyamotoengineerssaidthatplastic
bottlebrickswouldnotmeetHaiti’s
postearthquakebuildingcodes,
thereforetheMCLCDirection
Committeehadtoforgousingwater
bottlebricksforthefourouter
weightbearingwallsofeachhouse.
Willlaunchin2communities:
●Willconstruct4houses.Thisinitial
constructionperiodwillalsoserve
asadisaster-resistantconstruction
trainingopportunityforbuilders
fromall4communitiesthatwe
intendtoworkwithoverthecourse
oftheproject.
●Willprovideaninitialcohortof
familieswithhomebuyers’
bootcamp,includingtrainingand
counseling.
●Continuebottlecollectionforthe
next4houses
●Thefourhouseswereconstructed
andmadeavailableforinspectionby
thedeadlinedate.
●Ascreeningandrecruitmentplanof
prospectivehomebuyerswas
developedbytheMCLCDirection
Committee.
●Miyamotoengineerssaidthatplastic
bottlebrickswouldnotmeetHaiti’s
postearthquakebuildingcodes,
thereforetheMCLCDirection
Committeehadtoforgousingwater
bottlebrickstoconstructthefour
outerweightbearingwalls.
InPhase1communities: ●Underthesupervisionofthe
Miyamotoengineer,thefourhouses
wereretrofittedbyJuly31,2023
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●Willretrofit4constructedhouses
toimprovestructuralsafetyand
integrity
●Willexpandto2more
communities:
●Willconstruct3additionalhouses.
●Constructioninthetwoother
communitieswasfinalizedbyJuly
31,2023.
●Willcompleteconstructionon7
housesinthe4communities.
●WillprovideCohort2familieswith
homebuyers’bootcamp,including
trainingandcounseling.
●Constructiononthesevenhouses
werecompletedonJuly31,2023.
●Toprioritizetheretrofitandfinal
constructionofthetwohouses,the
homebuyers’bootcampwas
rescheduledforAugust.
DescriptionofDataCollection:
Weinterviewedatotalof40people;10fromeachcommunity.Wepickedthesepeople
randomly,fromalargergroupthathadbeeninvolvedwiththeprojectsincethesummerof
2022andsawtheprojectthrough.Theyattendedthemeetingsandwerepartofthe
conversationsthatwehadwithcommunityleaders.Theycameforwardtospeaktoour
intervieweroftheirfreewillsincetheywereinterestedintheprojectandmadethemselves
availabletous.
Weconductedthesurveysone-on-oneinanopenspacetoensurethateachintervieweecould
interactandprovideresponsesfreely.And,thatwemaintainedanatmosphereoftransparency.
Wealsowantedtobesurethatthepeopledidnotfeeltheimpactofoutsidepressure,suchas
neighborsraisingquestionsonwhyaparticularmemberdidnotliketheproject.Orwhydidit
notpleasethem.Ourobjectivewastogainpeople’strueperspectives.
Theinterviewertalkingtothepeoplewassomeonewhowewereconfidentwasnotafamiliar
faceinthecommunity.Itwashelpfulthatmostpeopledidnotknowher.
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CHALLENGES
Whatwerethemajorchallengesoftheproject?Didyouachievetheresultsyou
thoughtyouwouldatthebeginning?Whyorwhynot?Howdidyourespondto
thesechallenges?
FriendsofMatènwa:WecontinuetodebatehowmuchwecouldhavepressedMiyamotoand
USAIDtoincluderecycledbottlesinourconstruction.Atthestartoftheproject,we
highlightedthebenefitsofincludingrecycledbottlesinlocalconstruction.Duringperiodsof
intenseheat,likethekindresidentsofMatènwaarecurrentlyexperiencing,housesconstructed
inpartwithrecycledbottlesallowforthecoolbreezetoflowfreelythroughoutthehouse.Not
onlydoestheconstructionuselesswaterandcement,buttherecycledbottleshelplessenthe
intensityoftheheat.WeunderstandthesafetyconcernsraisedbyMiyamotoandUSAID.
However,webelievethediscussionaroundtheusageofrecycledwaterbottleswasrushedand
weshouldhavetakenmoretimetodiscusstheprosandcons.
FriendsofMatenwa(FoM)wascreatedtofundMCLCandanyotherprojectsrelatedtothe
organization.Thehousingandagricultureprojectsareindirectlyrelatedtotheschoolbutthey
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areapartoftheeffortsforimprovingthelivesoftheresidentsofMatenwaandneighboring
communities.MCLCistheschoolthatChrisLoweandAbnerfoundedin1996topromote
mothertongueeducationontheislandofLagonavandHaiti.
TheMatènwaDirectionCommittee-Fiscal:Theprojectwasconductedinanatmosphereof
volatilitywithconstructioncostsincreasingbecauseoftheriseintheUnitedStatesDollar
(USD),especiallyduringNovember-March.Weimplementedathree-prongstrategytocontrol
expensesandtostaywithinbudget:
FromtheperspectiveoftheMatenwaDirectionCommittee,wetooknecessaryeffortslike:
●Weworkedcloselywithourbuyerstobuywholesaleasfarinadvanceaspossibleand
whenmaterialswereavailableontheisland.
●Ourteamnegotiatedwithourlocalpartnerstogiveusdiscountswherepossibleto
controlthehighcostofmaterialsthathadtobepurchasedonthemainlandand
transportedtoLagonav.Forexample,thepriceofwoodtomakewindows,doors,etc.
doubledduringphaseIoftheproject.
●FriendsofMatènwawasabletoadvanceusthefundsneededtocontinuewiththe
projectuninterrupted.Thissupportmadeitpossibletokeepourstaffmotivatedand
allowedustonegotiatepricesfromapositionofstrength.Wewereabletoaccomplish
thisbecausewewereamongthefewprojectsoperatingontheislandthatcouldensure
timelypaymentsofsalariesandpaymentsforgoods.
SUMMARYOFCAPACITYSESSIONS
WhatcapacitybuildingtrainingdidyouparticipateinwithMiyamoto?Werethey
helpful?Why/whynot?Haveyouusedanyofthematerialorinformationfromthe
sessions?Arethereothersessiontopicsyouwouldhavelikedtosee?
InpartnershipwithMiyamoto,theFoMteamparticipatedinthefollowingcapacitysessions:
●SoWandTaskOrderwriting
●GrantWriting
●IntroductiontoMonitoringandEvaluation
●DataforImpact(multiplesessions)
●Datacollectiontooldevelopment
●FundingOpportunities:USAIDDIV
●HousingFinanceLoans
●ConcreteBrickMaking
●Disasterresistantmasonry/construction
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●ReportWriting
●ConstructionDesign
Thefollowingcapacitysessionsinformedourdiscussiononhowtoproceedtorecruiting
prospectivebuyersanddevelopingafinancialproductthatwouldmakeitviableforselected
buyerstopurchasethesehouses:
●HousingFinanceLoans
●ConcreteBrickMaking
Thecapacitysessionshelpedourteamthroughthechallengeofdevelopingafinancialmodel
thatwouldallowresidentsofLagonavtopurchasethesevenpropertiesthatarenowavailable
tobepurchased.
Theprocessofdevelopingsuchafinancialproducthasproventobedauntingforourteam.The
potentialbuyerswhohavecontactedusareallinterestedina"renttoown"model,butthe
challengeiscreatinga10-15or20-yearmortgagethatwouldappealtoafamilyearningUSD
$3,000ayear.
TheDirectionCommitteebelievesthatthefinancialproducttheywilldevelopinMatenwa
couldbeamodelthatprivateandpublicentitiescanuseiftheywishtoinvestinaffordable
residentialdevelopmentinHaiti.
LESSONSLEARNED
Whatlessonsdidyoulearnasaresultofimplementingthisproject?Thiscould
includelessonsabouthowtoworkwithUSAID,partners,oryourcommunity.It
couldincludelessonsaboutyouractivities,results,operatingcontext,orchallenges.
OneofthekeylessonslearnedfromthisprojectisthatMCLCisarobustinstitution.Ithasall
therequiredleveragetodealwithemergencysituationsandhasearnedthetrustofthe
community.Wewereabletoovercomealotofthechallengeswefacedonthegroundthanks
toMCLC’ssupport.Asmentionedearlier,despiteproblemsliketheriseofthedollarandthe
uncertaintiesarisingfromthevolatilepoliticalsituationinthecapital,wecontinuedtomake
progressbecauseourpartnersbelievedinus.Theytrustedusbecauseofourachievement
recordinthecommunityandwereconfidentofwhatwewerehopingtoaccomplishwiththis
project.
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Ourpartnerscontinuedtosupportuseventhroughdifficulttimesthatwerepotentiallyhitting
theirprofitmargins.However,theyknewthattheprojectwasworththeinvestment.We’ve
provedthatweareastronginstitutionontheislandwherethereisalackofsuchleadership.
Wehavebenefitednotonlyourimmediatecommunity,butwealsohaveasignificantimpacton
theisland.
Wedid,however,identifyareaswherewecandobetter.First,wecontinuetohaveinternal
conversationsonhowtocollectdatainrealtime.Weneedtoworkouthowtomeasurethe
timeandmoneyspentondevelopingthesehouses.Trackingthevalueoftheseresourcesis
essential.Wealsoneeddatatomeasuretheeconomicimpacttheprojecthadonthepeople
whoworkedontheproject.Thisdataisparticularlysignificantgiventheuncertaineconomic
andpoliticalconditionsontheisland.
That’ssomethingwethinkwecanimproveandthus,communicatetheimpactwehavemade,
moreintermsofquantitythanquality.That’ssomethingtheprojecthastaughtus.Thedatawill
alsohelpustoassessinrealtimehowthemoneywearespendingishelpingthecommunity
andhowthemembersaretakingadvantageoftheequitywe’reproviding.Ifcollectedefficiently,
thisinformationcanprovetobeapowerfultoolforustodobetter.
Movingonthesecondlessonwelearned,thisisourfirstexperiencematchingaprojectwith
USAIDandinternationalpartners.Ittaughtusalotabouthowwethinkofthe30thanniversary
ofMCLC,whatweneedtodo,andhowwecanbebetterpartnersinthefuture.Ifweenter
intothesepartnershipsinthefuture,wenowunderstandhowtomakesurewe’re
communicatingourobjectivesandmakingourvoicesheardearly.
Wehavelearnedthatalotofthedifficultieswefacedthroughlaunchingtheprojectstemmed
fromalackofseamlesscommunicationintheearlystages.Thingsimproveddramatically
afterward,butthat’sanareawhereweneedtoworkonforthefuture.USAIDhasitsobjectives
andwehaveourowngoals.Ultimately,withUSAIDandMiyamoto,weallwanttochampion
whatpeopleonthegroundwant.Therehastobeanongoingcommunicationbetween
ourselvesandourpartnerstomakesurethatwearecapturingwhat’sreallyhappeningonthe
ground.Findingamiddlegroundwouldbeanidealsituation,butwedon’twanttofeellikewe’re
losingsightofMCLC’sessence.
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APPENDIXI:FEEDBACK
PartnershipDynamics
PleasediscussyourexperienceworkingwithUSAID,PMCGandMiyamoto.Pleasefeelfreetobehonest
aboutwhatworkedandwhatdidnot.Examplesofdiscussionquestionsinclude:
•HowwasworkingwithUSAID?PMCG?Miyamoto?Whatweretheadvantagesandchallenges?
•Werethesepartnersresponsivetoyourneeds?
•Werelocalactorsandcommunitiesappropriatelyengaged?
•Didyoufeelthatthesepartnersvaluedandrespectedyourtime,expertise,andchallenges?
•Weretherequirementsoftheprojectclear?Fair?Appropriateforyourorganization?
RECOMMEND ATIONSFORFUTUREPROJECTS
TheDiasporaPartnershipAccelerator(DPA)intendedtoturntraditional
partnershipdynamicsonitsheadandputnew,innovative,andlocalactorsinthe
driver’sseat.TheDPAwasdesignedtocreateadynamicinwhichdiasporapartners
werenotsimplyexecutingthevisionofdonorsorimplementingpartners;rather,
thegoalwasthatUSAIDandMiyamotoadjusttoeffectivelyleveragetheskillsand
assetsofdiasporapartners.Pleasediscussyourthoughtsonthis.Forexample:
DidthethreewinnersandFoMfeelthattheprojectachievedtheirgoals?
WeweresuccessfulinbuildingsevenhousesontheislandofLagnonav.Thehousesare
physicallysturdyandtheyhaveagarden.Wealsousecompostforthelatrineswhichare
luxuriesnottypicallymadeavailabletothepeopleontheisland.Weareveryproudofthe
houseswebuilt.Oneofthelastinglegaciesofthesehousesisthatwefacilitatedtheprocessof
knowledgetransferbetweenMiyamoto,theengineeringfirmthatwascontractedbyUSAIDto
assistusintheseconstructions,andourteaminHaiti.
Miyamotoenhancedourteam’sblock-makingprocessesthatweusedandaftertheir
intervention,wearenowmakingsturdierblocks.Whatwehadbeforewereverygoodquality
blocks,butnowtheyareevenbetter.OurmasonsreceivedtrainingfromMiyamotoon
techniquestoreinforcethenewandexistinghouses.Thisknowledgewasnotpreviously
availableontheislandbutisnow.Thatwillguaranteethatanyfuturehousesbuiltontheisland
willbemuchsturdierthantheywerebefore.
Allofthesegoalshavebeenmadepossiblebecauseofthisproject.Itwillnotonlybenefitthe
sevenfamiliesthatwillhavemovedintothehousesinthecomingweeks,butwillalsobenefit
futureconstructionontheisland.Wenowhaveagroupofpeoplewhoareuptodatewiththe
mostrecenttechniquesonbuildingsturdierhomesthatcanwithstandnaturaldisasters.
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Thisknowledgewasn’tavailablebeforewhichiswhythiswasagreatcollaborationofdifferent
organizationsincludingUSAID,Miyamoto,andFoM.Togetherweaccomplishedaprojectthat
benefitedthepeopleofLagonav.
Werelocalactorsandcommunitiesproperlyengaged?
Theprojectwasledbythedirectioncommittee.Eachtimeweapproachedalocalcommunity,
wemadesurewedealtwithlocalpoliticalofficialsandgroupsandsometimeschurchgroups
also.Ourobjectivewastomakesureeveryonewasonthesamepage.Weconsulted
communityassociationsbeforeenteringthemandensuredthattheywantedtheprojectand
welcomedourinitiative.Sometimes,weaskedthemtoprovideequipmentorplacestostore
oursuppliesasasignofgoodwill.
Wereceivedtheirwholeheartedsupportandinreturn,thecommunityfoundthattheyhad
somethingbeautifulandattractivetolookat.Theycouldtellothersaboutitandthatmadethe
situationawin-windealforeveryone.TheprojectwassupportedbyMCLCthathasalong
historywiththecommunityandisassistedbythecommunityandchurchgroups.Theyall
playedacrucialparttomakesurethatthisprojectissuccessful.
Iwouldalsoliketoaddthatthevendorswhoworkedwithussupportedusallthrough.
Whetheritwasissueswithdelayedpaymentorprovidingcredit,theytrustedourwordand
thatweweregoodforit.Theyensuredthattheprojectcontinuedunabated.Inall,itwastotally
acommunityproject.
HowwasworkingwithUSAID?Vistant?Miyamoto?
Therelationshipwasfantastic.PeopleinHaitihavethisperceptionaboutUSAID-funded
projectsthattheyareoutoftouchwiththerealityontheground.However,alltheentities,
includingUSAID,Miyamoto,andVistantdidtheirbesttomakesurethattheprojectwasvery
muchinlinewithwhatthecommunitywanted.Theyalsotappedintothelocalexpertiseto
maketheprojectbetter.Itwaslikeabreathoffreshairworkingwiththemespeciallyinthe
monthswhentheeconomicsituationwasunstable.Thepoliticalsituationwassuchthatitdid
notallowmovementacrosstheislandandevenbetweentheislandandthecapital.
USAID,VistantandMiyamotounderstoodthechallengesandtheycamethroughbyadjustingas
andwhenneeded.Theyunderstoodthatthegoalwastofinishtheproject.Themost
commendablefactorwasthattheyacceptedthatthingscanchangeonthegroundandthey
mustadaptaccordingly.Thisissomethingthatneedstobecarriedthroughfurtherprojects--the
understandingthatthingsareflexible.
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Ourjobistorespondtothesituationsontheground.Ifwecannotdothat,werelaythe
perceptiontothecommunitythatourproposalsarenotrealistic.But,wewereabletoriseup
tothechallenges.Thiswasaveryuniqueexperienceforeveryoneinvolved.Theflexibility
demonstratedbyUSAIDcameacrossassurprising,impressive,andsomethingentirelynew.In
thatway,wewereverypleasedwiththerelationship.
Whatweretheadvantagesandchallenges?
Thebestadvantagewehadwasclearandopenlinesofcommunicationbetweenallstakeholders
includingUSAID,PMCG,Miyamoto,andourteaminHaiti.Wealwaysfeltthatwecouldgoand
talktoourpartnersabouttherealitiesonthegroundandtheadjustmentsweweremaking.We
couldcountontheirsupportwhichwasabsolutelyfantastic.Asforthechallenges,wedealt
witheconomicandpoliticalsetbacksthatimpactedthecostsofthematerialsandeaseof
movementacrossLagonavandmainlandHaiti.
Sinceweareanon-profitorganization,wehadtheflexibilitythatallowedustomovemoney
aroundwhilewewaitedforUSAIDtosendtheirfunds.But,ifwehadbeenaprivatesector
actor,wewouldhavehadstrictbudgetsthatwouldhaverestrictedourabilitytoorganizethe
funding.Intermsofthefundingandwhenwereceivedit,IthinkUSAIDwaswellawareofthat.
Alotofthethingswewereabletoachievewasbecausewehappentohavegeneralfundsto
borrowfrominsideourorganizationwhilewewaitedfortheUSAIDfundingtocomethrough.
SomeotheragenciesandorganizationsmightnothavehadthesameflexibilityasFoM.Or,are
notaswellfundedasFoM.Movingforward,IthinkUSAIDshouldadvancefundsbeforethe
workneedstobedone.Theyshouldbemoremindfulofthetimelineofwhenthesupportthey
providewillactuallybeneededinorderforthegranteetorespectUSAID’stimeline.
WhatshouldUSAIDdodifferently?Howwouldyouredesignthisprojectifyou
weretodoitagain?
Wewerenotmadeawarethatwewouldbepartneringwithanengineeringcompanythat
wouldreviewourdesignaswellasprojectbuildingmaterialsbeforeandduringconstruction.If
wewerepartneringagaintomakeourbottlebrickhomes,Iwouldhaveitbearequirement
thattheMiyamotoengineerscomeouttothesitebeforeconstructionbegins.Thentheycould
lookatouralreadyconstructed30+bottlebrickhomesthathaveweatheredmanystormsas
wellasthemorerecentearthquakesintheSouth.Iftheydidnotthinkthesehomeswereupto
code,theycoulddiscusswithushowwecouldreinforcethesepre-existingbottlebrickhomes.
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NextourengineerandMiyamoto'sengineercouldhavecomeupwithabottlebrickdesignthat
wouldaddressMiyamoto'sconcerns.Oncewecametoaconsensus,thenewplanwouldbe
sharedwiththecommunitiesbeforelandwaspurchasedandgroundwasbroken,notafter.We
wouldalsolookathowthiswouldchangethebudget.Allthiswouldbedonebeforethe
communitiesstartedgatheringdiscardedplasticbottles.
WewouldratherhavehadreinforcementstoourpresentdesignratherthanMiyamoto’s
recommendationtomakethefourmainwallswithcementbricksinsteadofbottlebricks.The
recommendationsprovidedbyMiyamotosuggestedthatourconstructionplansabidebythe
country’sbuildingcodes.ToconformwithHaiti’sbuildingcodes,theuseofbottlebricks,an
atypicalmaterial,withinstructuralelementsofbuildingsinthemannerproposedbyFoM,first
requireslaboratoryandsystemtesting.Theyhadexperienceinusingplasticsinsomeother
countries,buttherehadnotbeenanystudiesdoneonourtechniqueinHaiti.PerhapsUSAID,
knowingwhatweproposedinourconstructionplan,shouldhavebroughtonanadditional
engineertotheteamthatdidhaveexperienceinthistechniqueandprovidedthetimeand
fundstotestourmethod.Therearemanycountriesthatdobuildwithbottlebricks.Onecould
havebeenpartofourearlyzoomcalls.
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ResilienceinCraft:UpholdingMr.Lubin'sWoodworking
LegacyThroughAdversity
OursuccessstorycentersaroundMr.DieufaitsonLubin,ourcabinetmakerinMasikren,
Lagonav,whoexcelsinwoodworking.Hehasbeenourcontractorforconstructingthedoors
andwindowsofthesevenhousessplitbetweenfourcommunitieswebuiltonLaGonave.He
hasalsobeenassistinguswiththetables,chairs,andotherfurniture.
Duringthefall,fromSeptemberthroughNovember2022,politicalandeconomicchallengesin
HaitiresultedinMr.Lubinfindingithardtoaccessfunds.Hewasunabletowithdrawmoney
fromhisbankaccountorgetcustomersorvendorstopayhim.Alotofthepeoplehewas
countingontoplaceorders,stoppedorcanceledtheirordersentirely.
Mr.Lubinwasinaverybadshapebecauseofthelackofliquidity.Hehasthreepeopleworking
forhim,twoofwhomarefull-timeemployeesandthethirdisanapprentice.Evenifhedidnot
paytheapprentice,heneededtopaysalariestothefull-timepeopleworkingforhim.In
addition,Mr.Lubinwouldhiredayworkersfromtheislandtoassisthimwhenhehadlarge
orderstocomplete.Histradeisabigestablishmentonthatpartoftheislandandistheonly
oneofitskind.But,atthetime,hewasfacingahugemoneycrunch.
USAID.GOV 18
However,Mr.LubinwasabletopullthroughbecauseofFriendsofMatenwa’slargeorders.He
couldrelyonourprojecttopayhimontimeandhewasabletoleveragethatincometogetby.
HehadconfirmedordersfromtheMCLCDirectionCommittee,andsincetheprojectwas
fundedbyUSAID,hehadcredibility.HisvendorsalsotrustedMCLCandtheMatenwateam
becauseoftheworktheyhavedoneonLaGonaveinthepast.Thefactthattheprojectwas
beingconductedinpartnershipwithUSAID,MCLC,andtheMatenwateamcarriedalotof
weight.Thesefactorsallowedhimtopurchaseinventoryoncredit,whichwassomethinghe
wasn’tabletodoearlier.
Themoneywepaidhimallowedhimtopayhisfull-timeemployeesontime.Ourordershelped
keephisbusinessafloatduringearlyfallwhenthingswerelookingbleak.NotjustforMr.Lubin’s
business,butalsofortheothersacrosstheisland,theconditionswereveryunstable.But,the
factthathehadaconfirmedsourceofincomewithbackingfromaUSAIDproject,gave
assurancetopeoplethattheywouldgettheirmoneyontime.
Mr.Lubinalwaysthanksusforthatbecausewithoutourassistancehewouldhavehadto
terminatehisemployees’jobs,evenifitwasforashorttime.Hewouldhavehadtorelyonlyon
hisapprenticeandhimselftodeliveronourproject’srequirements.Thatwouldhavebeena
problemforhim.
Mr.Lubinnowhasasteadybusiness.Hehasn’treturnedtohisfullformbecausetheconditions
ontheislandarestillveryhard,especiallynowwhentransportationtotheislandisvery
difficult.But,wekepthimopenandworkingduringthetoughmonthsandnowthatheknows
thathehasmoneycominginfromus,monthlyorquarterly,thathelpshimalotwithhis
liquidityissues.
Thankfully,Mr.Lubincanrelyonourprojectinawaythathecannotrelyonthebankorhis
othercustomers.Heisoneofourbiggestsuccessstoriesandwearehappythatwehavekept
himgoingandinbusiness.Heisoneoftheleadingcontractorsontheislandandsincewewere
servicinghalftheisland,itwasimportantforhimtostayopen.Weweregladtobeableto
contributetohisbusinesssustainingthroughsomeofthemostchallengingtimesontheisland.
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How to cite
USAID, 2023, DIASPORA PARTNERSHIP ACCELERATOR, Friends of Matènwa Final Report, accessed via HaitiDocs, https://www.haitidocs.org/doc/usaid-2023-diaspora-partnership-accelerator-friends