Transcript Personal experience with migrant for development

migration and development
Katleen Félix, M.Sc.
Project Director and Diaspora liaison Fonkoze,
Chair of Haitian Hometown Associations Resource Group,
Focal March 29th 2010
Presentation overview
• Context:
– Haitian Migration and remittance (some historic data)
– Who I am?
– About Fonkoze
• Experience:
– Haitian Diaspora (migrants) and development
– Canada and USA
• How to make it optimal?
Q&A
Migration of Haitians 18th thru
21st century
Period/Waves
Socio-Political
Context
Emigrants Profile
Destination
1791-1810
Revolutionary war and post
independence
Mulatoes, White French,
limited blacks
US: Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Savannah, New Orleans, NY
1915-1934
US Occupation of Haiti
Intellectual Elites, Blacks
Dominican Republic, Cuba
1934-1950
Search for better Education
Upper Middle Class
France, Canada, Africa
1957-1963
Francois Duvalier (Papa Duck)
elected President of Haiti
Politicians, professionals,
educated elite, upper Middle
Class
Africa, France, Canada
1964-1971
Francois Duvalier is selfproclaimed President for life
Black Middle Class and
politicians
Africa, France, Canada, US
1971-1986
Jean-Claude Duvalier (Baby Duck)
is named to rule as successor Pres.
Massive emigration of Middle
Class and lower class
US (southern state and
Florida), Venezuela, the
Bahamas, Dominican Republic
and Canada.
2001-2004
Aristide overthrown by the military
Massive emigration of Middle
Class and lower class
US and Canada
Reference: “The legitimacy of the Haitian Diaspora” by Linda Cesar, President The Edge Worldwide
Who I am?
• I was born and raised in Montreal
• My parents are Haitian professionals who left Haiti in the late
60’s
• I have been exposed and involved Cooperatives, Faith based
organizations. Haitian Associations, Entrepreneurs and
“Migrant-entrepreneurs” in Montreal and Brooklyn NY
• BAA and M.Sc. from HEC Montreal
• Corporate Finance experience (for more then 10 years) in
Canada (Montreal) and in the US (NY Wall Street)
• In November 2006 I met Fonkoze at the Micro credit Summit in
Halifax
About Fonkoze
Founded in 1994 Fonkoze is a MFI who targets the rural poor,
wherever they are in Haiti:
42 branches, in all departments of the country
Over 2,000 credit and education centers
99% of our clients are women
Mission
 Provide Haiti’s poor with the financial and educational services
they need to make their way out of poverty;
 Eliminate in Haiti the type of extreme poverty that leaves
families without hope by replicating proven models;
 Reverse the decline in Haiti’s economy by empowering families
to engage in sustainable economic development
What I am working on with Fonkoze
and the HHTAs?
• Zafen.org
• Visa Prepaid Card
• Open dialogue with the Haitian Diaspora and promotion of
Fonkoze financial products
– Launch of Fonkoze Prepaid Debit card in the USA (IFADIDB)
– Services of Payroll, Investment accounts, Business Development*
• Diaspora Investment fund (HHTARG and IAF)
• 3rd edtion of Haitian Hometown Associations (Canada, USA &
Europe)
Future
• Database of successful projects using Zafen and micro-franchise
mechanism
• Access to Needs Assessments and information about existing
programs through website
About Fonkoze
Through this infrastructure we offer a full range of financial
services:
 200,000 savers
 45,000 borrowers*
 Micro-Insurance (AIC)
 Currency Exchange:
 Remittances (individual and Collective)
 We also offer extensive literacy & education services
 Basic literacy
 Business skills
 Sexual and Reproductive Health
 Environmental Protection and Human Rights
About Fonkoze
Regardless of where our clients start, Fonkoze offers them a range of services to keep
them on the ladder. We cannot make the climb for them but we can accompany clients to
keep them from falling off.
Haitian Diaspora and Development experience ?
Migrants can and had contributed to development:
– Case of Quebec and the Haitian professionals
From 1960 to now (Haitian Professionals significantly
contribute to Quebec development)
– Book: “Contribution des Haïtiens à l’édification du
Québec moderne : Ces Québécois venus d'Haïti”,
Édité par Dr. Samuel Pierre – Association des
Ingénieurs Haitiano-Canadien (AIHC)
www.polymtl.ca/carrefour/article.php?no=2557
What about Haiti?
Can the Diaspora can have a positive and active impact?
Yes various cases from the Haitian Diaspora confirmed this
assumption
– Haitian Hometown Associations (HHTAs) work in Education,
Heath, and productive activities (small scale projects and
investments)
– Fonkoze was founded by Father Joseph who has studied,
worked and leaved in the USA and Canada
• 1st loan capital was from ROCAHD
• A few Diaspora are now working with Fonkoze in Haiti
• But Fonkoze couldn’t get to this level only with the support of the
Diaspora.
– Book: “Haiti’s Development, Expatriate Reconnection, Conditions and
Challenge” by Dr. Tatiana Wah, New School University NY
– Diaspora cannot do it all but can help and support the development process
My personal experience with Haitian Diaspora
(Migrants) and Development
• More then 300 active HHTAs and support group in the US,
Canada and France
• Existing Federations:
–
–
–
–
AFHED (Boston)
CENTRECH (Montreal)
FHARE (NY)
ROCAHD (Montreal)
• Existing departmental Associations:
– FEDASE (South HTAs NY)
– Nord’ Ouest Reunit (NY)
– Tourinord (NY)
• Facilitator and HHTAs support group
– ORAISO (NY)
– Haitian Hometown Association Resource group (NY, Miami and
Boston)
How to make it optimal?
• By Haitian with Haitian if possible
• Capacity building of the MHAVE (Ministère des Haitiens
Vivants à l’étranger)
– Structured program Recruitment and Accompaniment (short and long
term assignments) – Initiative since 95 never funded
• Mentoring and follow up of Diaspora interventions
• Facilitation or reintegration like housing, transportation etc
– Co Development Program - Matching grant for Diaspora projects that are
truly originated and supported by the local community.
• 3x1 discussion with Mexican cooperation
– Support projects that could also be revenue generating for the Diaspora
also while helping the local development
– Database of Diaspora resources and projects
– Dual Citizenship
Questions?
Comments?
Ideas?
Katleen Felix
[email protected]
917-375-6902