Microeconomics

This is for people who have asked me to explain what it is I am doing in Haiti. I work for Fonkoze, a microfinance institution. In principle, Fonkoze is just like any other bank, providing credit, savings and other financial services - but the difference is that Fonkoze's services are targeted at helping poor people in rural areas.

Fonkoze's credit clients are mostly market women (or ti machann, little merchants), who use small loans from Fonkoze to buy stock for their businesses. As they progress through the Fonkoze program, they become entitled to progressively larger loans, allowing them to build up their businesses and improve their economic security.

Credit clients meet twice a month in credit centres, to make reimbursements, discuss problems, or take advantage of Fonkoze's literacy program. This centre meeting is taking place under a mango tree in Bedann.

Elusnie serving Mme Dateus at the Fonkoze branch in Fòlibète.

My own work is in trying to assess the impact which Fonkoze is having on the lives of its clients. At this focus group in Akil Samdi, Rosenie (on the left, in black) is listening to clients' ideas of how we can improve our services.

The Fonkoze branch in Twoudinò.

Fonkoze really does take financial services to the customer. Here, Honoré, a Fonkoze credit agent (on the left), is taking a deposit from a customer at his school in Ferye, a small town with no bank branch of its own.

Painting the publicity boards for a new Fonkoze branch.