HDI presents Agrifood Entrepreneurship Center at CIF

We’re excited to share big news: HDI was selected from a competitive global pool of over 125 applicants as one of just 12 finalists to present its Kolektif Arcadins initiative at the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) on July 29, 2025.

HDI’s Executive Director Pierre Noel presented the Agrifood Entrepreneurship Center (AEC), Kolektif’s flagship initiative, to regional leaders, policymakers, and funders. Finalists are under consideration for funding to help scale bold, locally rooted solutions with the potential for regional impact.

Haiti produces less than half the food it needs, and more than half the population faces acute food insecurity—one of the highest rates in the world. Farmers face immense barriers: low yields, limited income, post-harvest losses, and growing vulnerability to climate shocks.

That’s why Kolektif Arcadins is coming together to launch the AEC. Convened by Haiti Development Institute, Kolektif is a Haitian-led network of 11 partner organizations working to drive lasting change along Haiti’s Arcadins Coast, home to 250,000 people. The AEC will strengthen food security and rural economies by producing climate-resilient seeds, processing locally grown staple crops and meat, and expanding regenerative farming practices and extension services. It will create hundreds of jobs and launch new agricultural enterprises—reducing reliance on imports and expanding opportunities for farmers, particularly women and girls.

By advancing bold, community-driven solutions to some of Haiti’s most pressing challenges, the AEC aims to build a more resilient, productive food system for the long term. We are laying the foundation for systemic change in Haiti’s agricultural sector, a vital source of livelihoods for 2-3 million people. See https://kolektifarcadins.org/ and https://www.hdihaiti.org/kolektif.