Delivery of Haitian Goods to Regional, Global Markets Aim of USAID Project

The Haiti Market Chain Enhancement (MarChE) program, as the endeavor is known, seeks to build upon previous efforts to bring globally accepted "best practices" to commercial sectors such as the cacao, mango, and handicrafts markets. According to a Statement of Work located during a routine search of the FedBizOpps database, USAID is soliciting the help of a private contractor capable of identifying additional Haitian markets that have the greatest potential to maximize such assistance. In USAID's own words, the MarChE initiative aims to:

increase broad-based participation by Haitians in the economy by promoting the competitiveness of Haitian enterprises; expanding local sales and export market opportunities; and promoting value added production and private investment.

The stated, intended outcome of this activity, according to the USAID contracting document, is for Haitians to attain:

increased incomes and wage employment, increased trade and investment, increased sustainable livelihood options, and better management of natural resources (particularly soil) by way of increased value of environmentally friendly (non-erosive) products.

USAID also points out that Haiti's Ministry of Tourism -- like most of the nation's ministries -- is "resource poor," but therefore wants to work with the selected USAID contractor to coordinate efforts and identify opportunities for tourism development.

Consequently, the document further emphasizes that:

In the short term, internal tourism and tourists from the Haitian Diaspora provide immediate opportunities for development, particularly in the South/Jacmel, and the Côte des Arcadins.  In the medium term there is potential for tourism development in the North of Haiti, capitalizing on: a) the historical sites and monuments (the Citadel, Palace of Sans Souci, La Navidad); b) the beaches; c) its location on and current use by cruise lines; and d) proximity to the Dominican Republic’s north coast tourism resources.

In addition to the above mentioned contracting document, USAID has suggested that potential contractors refer to the following online resources for guidance in crafting proposals for the MarChE project:

1. Global Development Alliance (GDA) webpage.
2. ADS 204: Environmental Procedures
3. Program Principles for Trade and Investment Activities and the Impact on U.S. Jobs and Workers’ Rights. (.pdf file).
4. PD-15: Assistance to Support Agricultural Export Development (.pdf file)
5. PD-71: Policy Determination: USAID Financing of Palm Oil, Citrus and Sugar Projects and Related Products (.pdf file)
6. USAID/Haiti mission website.