Communications
Book Design and Execution: In the three and a half years following the earthquake of January 2010, USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) funded over 900 activities in three regions of Haiti worth an approximate 150 million dollars. Ayiti Nexus proposed the concept, conducted research, coordinated content collection, edited texts and oversaw design for the production of a 247-page book documenting the successes and best practices of the OTI project. We delivered a product that demonstrates in an esthetic way the program’s overall impact and success in reaching its objectives. Soon after, a reputable non-profit organization hired Ayiti Nexus to conceive and produce two high quality photo books narrating activities it has funded around Haiti. Recently, in preparation for COP21, we produced a brochure describing activities targeting climate change in Haiti for the French government. Click here to see it.
Event Planning and Stakeholder Relations: A prime implementing partner of the United States Government was awarded a contract to implement in the North of Haiti a food security project which plans to invest close to 90 million dollars in 3-5 years. High-ranking officials from the Governments of Haiti and the United States were invited to the project launch. Ayiti Nexus designed and managed all aspects of the high profile event in Cap Haitian under a tight deadline, with the support of an impressive local team.
Film Production: Ayiti Nexus produced five short films of agricultural trainings being conducted in the Northern region by a USAID food security project. Each video provided step-by-step instructions on cacao grafting techniques. Taking into consideration insight provided by the client, Ayiti Nexus took the lead on the pre-production, production and post-production phases, recruiting and hiring the technical crew, coordinating the logistics of the shoots, reviewing film contents, and ensuring completion of the work to the client’s satisfaction.
Communications Strategy Assistance: To further expand on the work undertaken with the Directorate for Civil Protection of Haiti (DPC), an international NGO on the ground hired Ayiti Nexus for the elaboration of a communications strategy in support of the 2014 hurricane season awareness campaign. The communications strategy is meant to support the implementation of a national strategy; include awareness and outreach mechanisms; engage key development actors; and mobilize target groups.
Business Development
Stakeholder Mapping and Analysis: An international organization sought strategic information and targeted advice regarding major potential donors in Haiti aligned to its program focus areas. Through primary and secondary data collection (over 100 organizations researched online, interviewed in-person or via Skype and through electronic surveys), Ayiti Nexus’ team identified the major sources of donation in Haiti, established parallels between their funding mechanisms (requirements and qualification criteria) and trends, mapped existing opportunities and identified main funding access challenges. A complete database of 40 potential donors was provided to the client with recommendations for engagement.
Market Research on Haitian TV Industry: In order to identify professional growth opportunities in the industry and to come up with a sustainable business plan, Ayiti Nexus conducted market research on behalf of a client to determine where the profit making opportunities will be in the next 5-10 years for local film producers. The methodology involved some desk research digging through previously commissioned reports on the television industry in Haiti and one-on-one interviews with 16 key stakeholders.
Urban Development Research Support: The client is a leading US-based university driving a two-year intensive, cross-disciplinary research and design program dedicated to urban design potentials in Haiti. The project encompasses a comprehensive critical analysis of Haitian modern history and politics, a data-driven research investigation of planning, infrastructural and social issues, and a set of collaborative design proposals developed in concert with Haitian governing and community partners. Ayiti Nexus provided logistical support to a delegation of 15 architects/urban designers on their continued research trip, and facilitated strategic partnerships with key governmental stakeholders.
Economic Growth Research Support: Twenty-two graduate students from an Ivy-League business school visited Cap Haitian while on a Social Innovation Study Trip between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The group’s objectives were to engage in open dialogue with key civil society actors, in order to better understand the various challenges and opportunities facing Hispaniola, as well as explore job creation opportunities in the North of Haiti. Ayiti Nexus consultants coordinated logistics on the ground, including event planning and workshops with economic development actors, contributing local networks and know-how, and facilitating the group’s research and development activities.
Alternative Energy Investment Prospecting: A US-based client retained Ayiti Nexus to manage logistics for an investment delegation to Haiti. Services included setting up housing and transportation, providing interpretation, and securing meetings with strategic partners. Based on the success of the initial engagement, the client requested Ayiti Nexus to conduct an urban household energy baseline survey in Cap Haitian, surveying 162 households in eight neighborhoods. Ayiti Nexus is currently engaged in designing and facilitating successive phases of project implementation in Haiti.
Social Business Startup Support: As the client conducted market research and devised a strategy for starting a social business in Haiti, Ayiti Nexus provided various levels of support to the core team members based in the United States during their trips to Port-au-Prince and Cap Haitian. Initially, Ayiti Nexus coordinated travel logistics, and facilitated in-country orientation by introducing client to strategic partners and service providers. In the later stages, Ayiti Nexus devised an employee recruitment strategy that guaranteed full transparency for the client and its local partners, implemented the strategy, led behavioral workforce development training, and finally, monitored employees’ performance up to three months after they were trained. Our firm managed all of the human resources and partnerships during this process, which resulted in strong resounding relationships.
Program Support
Leadership and Advocacy Training: The client is implementing an integrated urban program in four vulnerable communities of Port-au-Prince, providing access to sustainable solid waste and community infrastructure/shelter, and reinforcing community capacity related to disaster risk reduction. Ayiti Nexus delivered a three-day training and two days of field coaching to increase participants’ leadership capabilities in advocacy, and to transfer knowledge on disaster risk management amongst the organization’s staff and the community leaders.
Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy Guidance: The client is currently implementing a smallholder-based agriculture program focused on the local production of sorghum for use in the production of malted beverages. The project will work with thousands of farmers and several farmers’ associations in three regions of the country over a four-year period to create a sustainable sorghum supply chain. Ayiti Nexus provided technical expertise to redesign the project’s entire M&E system. We ensured that timely, accurate, and relevant data was generated in a cost effective manner to support effective project management throughout implementation and periodic performance assessments at key stages of the project cycle.
Program Impact Assessment: Our client implemented a disaster risk and reduction program in three communal sections in the North Department. A baseline study to measure the knowledge, attitudes and practices of beneficiaries was conducted. Ayiti Nexus managed a comparative study (one year later) in order to identify the awareness of the targeted population in regards to disaster risk management, as well as understand the links between their knowledge and their behavior. 298 people contributed to the quantitative research for the second study.
Community Needs Assessment: Ayiti Nexus conducted a study to identify needs and priorities of an urban community group in terms of social composition, availability of services and support networks, economic needs and opportunities. A particular focus was put on access to credit, household spending, as well as existing decision-making channels and access to information. Quantitative and qualitative research consisted of household surveys, focus groups and stakeholder interviews. This assessment was meant to inform implementation of existing activities and the development of new interventions led or supported by the client and its community partners.
