The Challenge

Haiti is experiencing a prolonged humanitarian, economic, and social crisis that has severely undermined household livelihoods. Nearly 5.5 million people require humanitarian assistance, and more than 4.5 million face acute food insecurity. Internal displacement (≈1.5 million people) forced returns of migrants, and weak local economies, where the informal sector dominates employment, have deepened dependence on humanitarian aid.
At the same time, financial exclusion remains a major barrier to recovery. Fewer than 30% of adults have access to formal financial services, dropping below 15% among the most vulnerable households, a situation exacerbated by high and persistent inflation. Humanitarian assistance, while essential, often remains consumptive, limiting pathways to self-reliance.
Kout Pous (A Helping Hand) responds to this gap by transforming humanitarian assistance into a lever for productive investment through a community-based, concessional, revolving finance mechanism.

Overall Objective

To support a sustainable transition from humanitarian assistance to economic self-reliance for vulnerable populations through an inclusive and community-driven concessional finance mechanism.

Emergency-Recovery Actions

- Concessional Community Loans: HTG 50,000–250,000 with a symbolic 0.5% monthly interest rate to finance income-generating activities.
- Capacity Building: Simplified financial management and business structuring support tailored to vulnerable households.
- Close Accompaniment: Individual coaching and regular follow-up to ensure viability and repayment discipline.
- Community Governance: Social oversight and accountability mechanisms to promote transparency and cohesion.

Target Groups

- Internally displaced persons
- Forcibly returned migrants
- Vulnerable households in host communities

Direct Beneficiaries

1,000 vulnerable households, supported through three cohorts:
- 250 households
- 350 households
- 400 households

Cross-Cutting Inclusion

- ≥ 50% women
- ≥ 30% youth
- Targeted attention to persons living with disabilities

Expected Results

- 1,000 households gain sustainable access to productive capital
- 1,000 income-generating activities created, recovered, or consolidated
- ≥40% reduction in dependence on recurrent humanitarian aid within 24 months
- Strengthened social and economic cohesion across displaced, returned, and host communities
- Community credit histories established for ≥80% of beneficiaries, enabling future financial inclusion

Viability and Sustainability

Even under conservative assumptions (38% full repayment; 62% partial at 50%), the revolving fund is replenished over time, enabling additional cohorts without proportional new funding. A performance-based incentive (up to 25% bonus for full repayment) reinforces discipline and long-term sustainability.

Strategic Impact

- Stimulates local economies and employment
- Reduces social tensions through inclusive, transparent mechanisms
- Strengthens financial inclusion
- Aligns with the Humanitarian–Recovery–Development nexus
- Contributes directly to SDGs 1, 5, 8, 10, and 16