Konkou Business Ayiti: Green Businesses Wanted. Green and renewable technologies are the future of Haiti.

AIDG is pleased to announce its 2nd business plan competition, Konkou Business Ayiti.

In response to the devastating January 12 earthquake, the theme of this year's contest is Haiti Renewed. Specifically, Konkou Business Ayiti is seeking Haitian entrepreneurs and sustainable businesses that can aid in the country's reconstruction. Konkou Business Ayiti invites applications from businesses that provide increased access to energy, water and sanitation and housing using green and renewable technologies. If you have a promising idea or business that falls into these categories, Haiti needs you!

What type of business Konkou Business Ayiti is looking for?

• "Green" businesses that are either established (less than 100 employees) or new.

• Examples of businesses: biodiesel, biogas, clean burning stoves, disaster-resistant housing, hydroelectric, plastics recycling, solar energy, water pumps, wind energy, or any other business that uses green technology to increase access to energy, water, sanitation or safe housing in Haiti.

• The business may be a product distributor, service provider or manufacturer.

• The business must present a positive environmental, social and/or economic impact in Haiti.

• The business can be based in any of Haiti's 10 departments.

What is the prize?

• A $10,000 grant

• Additional financing in the form of a very low interest loan (up to $40,000)

• Two years of technical and logistical assistance

• Two years of business planning and administrative support.

How to participate?

• The application will be available at this website on September 1st 2010.

• Each applicant will have until October 29 2010 to email their application.

For more information visit www.konkoubiznisayiti.com

The Haitian Diaspora Federation (HDF) says Haiti must rise from its aches

At this time of great national tragedy, leading Haitian Diaspora organizations (The Haitian League, the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitian People, Haitian American Engineers & Scientists, the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad and the Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce) have conferred and reached an unprecedented consensus to form the Haitian Diaspora Federation (HDF).

In partnership with the international community, the Government of Haiti and other sectors, HDF will focus the Diaspora’s energy and resources on the ongoing relief and the longer term reconstruction efforts to rebuild a stronger, more vibrant and socially just Haiti.

With a mission to mobilize the Haitian Diaspora towards addressing Haiti’s reconstruction needs, and to engage, strengthen capacities of, and share effective practices among stakeholders at every level, HDF shall fulfill this mission by;

• Pooling the Diaspora’s resources –financial and human capital – to assist in the long term reconstruction efforts.

• Leveraging the resources of its international partners and the Government of Haiti (GOH) to ensure our collective efforts have a significant impact on Haiti’s reconstruction.

• Promoting a participatory planning process to ensure that all sectors of Haitian society are represented and that their voices are heard.

• Ensuring that the resources are distributed to the most effective initiatives and allocated to projects that are selected in coordination with GOH and our partners, including those in the public, private and philanthropic sectors.

An estimated one third, if not half, of all Haitians live outside Haiti. Recently, the World Bank estimated that more than 80% Haiti’s professionals -- Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Architects, Financiers, and project Managers, etc. -- are among them. This “Diaspora” mostly resides in the United States with 2.5 million or more -- 700,000 in New York, 500,000 in Florida, 150,000 each in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Illinois, 80,000 in Georgia and then across the country, even to California. Others reside in Canada [up to 100,000], Europe and Africa [up to 30,000 each] and the Caribbean islands, predominantly the Dominican Republic [up to a million] and an estimated 25 percent of the population of the Bahamas.

The urgency of the moment requires that we rise above our diversity for a common purpose.

HDF membership is open to all members of solution-oriented Haitian Diaspora organizations with skills, competencies and interest in the reconstruction of Haiti. You are invited to rise to the occasion and join hand to become the global platform of the Haitian Diaspora.

Haiti must rise from its aches.

To visit the website of The Haitian Diaspora Federation click here

La Banque de Compétence en Diaspora Haïtienne (BCDH) fait appel à vous. Faites la différence, inscrivez-vous!

Le 12 janvier 2010 demeurera dans l’histoire du peuple haïtien une date mémorable. En effet un tremblement de terre dévastateur a durement frappé les fondements de la nation haïtienne en emportant sur son passage plus de 222,000 personnes faisant 300,000 blessés. Environ 250,000 immeubles privés et publics sont détruits. Tous les symboles de L’État ont été durement touchés : le palais national, le parlement, le palais de justice.

Au delà des pertes matérielles, on a assisté à un exode massif de nos ressources humaines qualifiées qui sont venues s’ajouter à nos cadres qui, déjà, avaient élu domicile à l’extérieur.

Le président de la République M. René Préval a déclaré qu’il faut refonder l’État. Le Premier ministre, M. Jean-Max Bellerive dans une de ses plus récentes interventions a confirmé : « La reconstruction et la refondation ne seront pas au rendez vous si la diaspora n’y est pas intégrée. Une diaspora qui est disponible et qui se prépare à travailler également pour la reconstruction d’Haïti. Pour la refondation d’Haiti, il faut rapidement trouver les passerelles pour l’intégrer. »

C’est dans cette optique que vous êtes invités à apporter votre contribution à la relance du pays.

La BCDH est une initiative du Consulat Général de la République d'Haiti. L'objectif est de développer une banque de Curriculum Vitae qui permettra aux décideurs de mieux se préparer à accueillir et à utiliser les compétences et l'expérience de la diaspora haïtienne dans la reconstruction nationale.

Votre réponse fera la différence. Inscrivez-vous ici!

Software vendors and developers from around the globe come together to help Haiti relief and reconstruction by offering their solutions for free

With thousands of Haitian people displaced and in need of assistance after the catastrophic earthquake of January 12th, the response by the hundreds of charitable and non-profit organizations has been crucial in providing immediate relief to the region. Effective co-ordination of rescue, relief and re-construction efforts is essential in helping Haiti recover and re-build from this tragic event.

And while software can not deliver essential medical supplies, distribute food and water or build shelter, it can assist those organizations involved in Haiti relief and re-construction in effectively co-ordinating and accomplishing their tasks and mandates.

SoftwareForHaiti.org is an association of developers and vendors from around the globe who believe in offering their software at no cost to the organizations directly involved in Haiti relief and re-construction. Together, we can help Haiti recover and re-build from this tragic event.

How it works?

Haiti Relief and Government Organizations:

If your non-profit / charitable organization is directly involved with Haiti relief and re-construction efforts, or you are a government organization based in Haiti, you can take full advantage of the software solutions offered by our vendors. Simply browse our software catalog to find the right software for your organization. You can then contact the vendor who will assist you with license registration and deployment, at no cost to you.

Software Vendors:

Joining SoftwareForHaiti.org is free and helps a great cause! All software is qualified to be part SoftwareForHaiti.org. In order to participate you must agree to provide a perpetual license for desktop products or a hosted (SaaS) license for a minimum time of 1 year to qualified Haiti relief organizations at no cost. Please note, that you must provide a working copy of your software, not a trial / limited / restricted copy. Please visit our vendor page for more information on how to qualify and join the initiative.

Click here to visit their website: http://www.softwareforhaiti.org

Haiti.BuildingMarkets.Org pour reconstruire Haïti en achetant local

Peace Dividend Trust a mis en ligne fin Janvier 2010 un site web interactif Haiti.BuildingMarkets.Org pour promouvoir la reconstruction par l’approvisionnement local en Haïti.

L'idée principale est de mettre en relation les acheteurs des ONG et des organisations internationales avec les entreprises haïtiennes capables de répondre à leurs besoins en produits et services. Le calcul est simple: en favorisant la reconstruction par les achats locaux les revenus reviennent directement dans l'économie haïtienne et contribuent à l'essor national.

Peace Dividend Trust oeuvre depuis 2006 à mettre en place des stratégies qui encouragent les achats locaux dans différents pays, dont Haïti, l'Afghanistan, le Timor Oriental.

En raison de la crise provoqué par le tremblement de terre du 12 janvier dernier, Peace Dividend Trust répond aux demandes de biens et services de première urgence des ONG et des organisations internationales (nourriture, matériel médical, eau, véhicules, services Internet…) en fournissant une liste de fournisseurs adéquats haïtiens vérifiés par ses soins et une liste non-vérifiée pour faire connaître l’offre la plus large possible.

Pour consulter la fiche de Multilink Haïti sur

Haiti.BuildingMarkets.Org cliquez ici