Economic Development Program in Haiti
Support Local Entrepreneurs. Fuel Haiti’s Future.
Support Local Entrepreneurs. Fuel Haiti’s Future.
As Haiti faces a severe economic crisis, communities are struggling to survive. With inflation, food shortages, and job scarcity on the rise, small businesses and families are being pushed to the brink.
But there is hope.
The Haitian Development Network Foundation (HDNF) is partnering with local leaders to build economic resilience through Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA). Your donation helps these trusted, community-run groups support micro-entrepreneurs and food security in Haiti as well.
10x Lending Power
Your donation multiplies the funds available to Haitian entrepreneurs through VSLAs.
Food Security Projects
Support community gardens and local food production to feed families.
Irrigation Infrastructure
Help maintain critical water access for 80 families growing their own food.
Support Local Leaders
HDNF partners with pastors and businessmen who know their communities best and use your donation with integrity.
“I believe HDNF will make a big impact in our community. With their support, local businesses will grow faster.”
— Julien, Village Pastor
Trusted Local Partnerships
We work with Haitian leaders — not over them.
Proven Development Model
VSLAs have a long history of safe, grassroots lending that works.
Transparent and Accountable
As a Utah-based nonprofit founded in 2023, HDNF is committed to financial integrity and results.
Clear, Inspiring Vision
We’re working toward a food-secure, self-reliant Haiti by 2050 — with your help.
Widespread poverty: Haiti remains one of the world’s poorest countries, with about 60% of Haitians living below the national poverty line.
Job scarcity: The official unemployment rate hovers around 15% (2023), more than double the global average. Youth unemployment is even more alarming – roughly 37% of young Haitians (ages 15–24) are jobless.
Informal livelihoods: Lacking formal jobs, over 75% of households rely on subsistence farming or self-employment to survive. Most work is informal and low-income, making it hard for families to escape poverty.
Hunger crisis: Haiti is facing a severe food security emergency. In 2022, over one-third of the population was classified as acutely food insecure. By late 2024, this soared to nearly half of all Haitians (5.4 million people) struggling to feed themselves – one of the highest levels of hunger in the world.
Emergency levels of malnutrition: Within that group, 2 million people are in “Emergency” (IPC Phase 4) hunger, facing extreme food shortages and malnutrition, and some pockets have even reached “Catastrophic” (IPC Phase 5) conditions. This means families are at risk of starvation.
Global appeal for aid: The UN World Food Programme has called Haiti’s situation “the worst hunger emergency in the Western Hemisphere”, urgently appealing for increased support. These numbers underscore the life-and-death urgency of assisting Haiti’s people with food and nutrition programs.
Skyrocketing prices: Haiti has endured extremely high inflation in recent years. Inflation hit about 36.8% in 2023 (up from 34% in 2022) – over four times the global average. This surge in prices, one of the highest inflation rates worldwide, has drastically eroded household purchasing power.
Rising cost of living: Basic goods have become unaffordable for many families. Spiking food and fuel costs mean that incomes now buy far less food than before, feeding into the hunger crisis. Essential necessities are increasingly out of reach, making external support crucial to help families cope.
Most people are unbanked: Financial exclusion is a huge challenge – only 27% of Haitian adults have an account at a formal bank or financial institution. The majority have no access to formal credit or savings services.
Community savings groups: In the absence of banking access, Haitians turn to each other. Around 30% of low-income households participate in informal “Village Savings and Loan Associations” (VSLAs) – community-run savings groups that pool money for loans. These grassroots finance initiatives help families save small amounts and borrow in emergencies or to start businesses.
Credit gap: Nearly 78% of those who borrow money in rural communities do so through VSLAs or from friends/family, while only 3% can obtain a loan from a bank. This stark gap highlights how critical community-based finance is for survival and entrepreneurship. Donations can directly boost these village funds, empowering people who otherwise have no access to credit.
Backbone of employment: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for about 80% of employment in Haiti. From market vendors and farmers to small shops, local micro-businesses are the primary source of jobs and income for Haitian families. Supporting these enterprises is key to reducing unemployment.
Lack of capital: Despite their importance, small businesses struggle to grow. Most entrepreneurs cannot get affordable loans to invest in equipment or expand operations, because lenders are reluctant to finance businesses with limited collateral or credit history. This financing gap stifles innovation and job creation.
The power of support: Every dollar in support can help provide training, micro-loans, or resources for these businesses. Investing in Haiti’s small entrepreneurs means creating jobs and sustainable income, allowing communities to become more self-reliant and resilient.
In rural Haiti, access to essentials like clean water and electricity is limited – strengthening infrastructure is critical for economic development.
Limited electricity: Fewer than 40% of households have access to electricity. Outside the capital, rural families often get only 4–6 hours of power per day, and even that service is unreliable. This lack of electricity hampers businesses (e.g. keeping shops open, preserving food) and daily life.
Poor access to clean water: Only 43% of the rural population has access to basic drinking water services, and this share has been declining in recent years. Many communities lack wells or piped water, forcing residents (often women and children) to walk long distances for water. Inadequate water and sanitation contributes to health problems and limits economic productivity.
Isolation due to bad roads: Decades of underinvestment mean many roads are impassable or in disrepair. As of the mid-2000s, only about 5% of Haiti’s roads were in good condition – a situation unlikely to have improved much. Countless rural villages are difficult to reach, especially after storms, which prevents farmers from getting goods to market and limits access to schools, clinics, and jobs. Improving roads and bridges can open up economic opportunities for isolated areas.
These stark statistics illustrate the immense challenges – but also where help can make a life-changing difference. Donations to the Haitian Development Network Foundation directly support programs that tackle these issues: expanding community savings and loan groups, boosting food security in Haiti and nutrition, providing tools and training to small businesses, and building vital infrastructure like wells and roads. Your contribution can turn the tide – helping families move from hunger to hope, from subsistence to sustainability, and enabling Haitians to rebuild their economy from the ground up. Together, we can transform these numbers by empowering Haiti’s people and communities.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
Proverbs 29:18
Donate today to provide food for a family in Haiti.
+(1)202-559-6008
1717 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 1025 Washington, DC 20005
The Haitian Development Network Foundation is a 501(c)(3) IRS registered public charity and all donations are tax-deductible in accordance with IRS regulations.
EIN 93-2350714
1145 S 800 E Suite 110,
Orem, Utah 84097