The Haitian Fund for Innovation, a Special Project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

The Haitian Fund for Innovation’s efforts in Haiti is focused on the following priorities: improving the management practices and capacity of indigenous Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and Social Enterprises; engaging the Haitian Diaspora, estimated at nearly 2 million persons; promoting innovations; and, encouraging Haitian-American philanthropy in Haiti.

These priorities directly align with the Haitian Fund’s strategy, which itself was developed based on the priorities outlined in the Haitian Government’s Action Plan for National Recovery and Development of Haiti. Our approach is to focus on synergistic opportunities between grantmaking, innovation and services that will positively impact the local population. The Innovation Fund’s program strategy has two components:

• To facilitate the launch and implementation of innovative solutions by identifying projects where our capabilities and funds can be the tipping point for implementation or expansion.
• To create a space —the Center for Innovation and Management— that can serve as a bridge between local experience and external knowledge to accelerate the much-needed transfer of skills and technology.

The Innovation Fund’s strategy and programming is about affecting systemic change impacting the fabric of Haitian society.