We are sending a petition to the Office of Acquisition and Assistance at USAID, asking them to extend the Haitian Diaspora Marketplace to 2013 in light of the devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010.
The earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010 destroyed the infrastructure of Haiti, left millions homeless and killed over 100,000 people. The economic and social effects of the earthquake will be felt for years to come, not only in the Haitian community, but in the international community as well.
In July 2009, your organization established the Haitian Diaspora Marketplace and the Haitian Diaspora Challenge Fund. According to the USAID website (http://www.usaid.gov/press/factsheets/2009/fs090811.html) the fund was created "encourage Haitians living abroad to contribute to Haiti's economic development by investing in Haiti. Diaspora entrepreneurs have unique human and financial expertise that is instrumental to the Government of Haiti's interest in advancing more productive public-private investments. This program allows for the creation and reinforcement of small businesses in key sectors, such as agriculture, tourism, assembly, and information and communication technology...The project's overall objective is to stimulate the Diaspora's direct investment in Haiti through a cost-sharing mechanism called the Haitian Diaspora Challenge Fund, which is aimed at promoting business opportunities, job creation and wealth generation via foreign and local business partnerships. This initiative will allow the Diaspora to more fully realize its potential for investing in productive business activities that will broaden and deepen recovery and creation of livelihood opportunities."
Due to the extensive damage from the earthquake on January 12, 2010, we, the international community, urge you to to extend the HDM and Haitian Diaspora Challenge Fund for another 2 years, at least until July 2013. We urge you to allow individuals and not just private donors, businesses and organizations to donate to this fund.
The millions of dollars in this fund and the contributions to come could not only jump start the Haitian economy, but by allowing Haitians from all over the diaspora to participate, could help bring the people from different classes together in solidarity. Nothing is more important in the recovery process than creating sustainable businesses and educating the people of Haiti.
