Fonkoze SA

A staircase out of poverty

Haiti

Fonkoze SA is an MFI established in Haiti. Haiti is the poorest country in the entire western hemisphere and one of the poorest in the world in general, with more than 80% of the population living below the poverty line. More than two thirds of the labour force does not have a steady job. For these reasons many Haitians emigrate to the US or the Dominican Republic.

Fonkoze, an acronym for the Haitian Creole phrase ‘Fondasyon Kole Zepòl’ meaning ‘Shoulder-to-Shoulder Foundation’, was founded in 1994 by Father Joseph Philippe, a Haitian priest who wanted to enable the poor in rural areas to become more economically self-sufficient. Special attention was paid to women.

Fonkoze is a family of organizations that work together to provide financial and non-financial services for the empowerment of Haitians, primarily women, to lift them and their families out of poverty.

Fonkoze has a unique four-step approach to poverty alleviation in Haiti, called ‘Fonkoze’s Staircase Out of Poverty’. Each of the steps is designed to provide the user with the resources and support he or she needs at a specific point in time to move out of poverty. Along with these steps Fonkoze’s uses the concept of ‘handrails’, which are programmes that provide the clients with education, business skills training and health services to support their progress.

Fonkoze has developed into a globally recognized institution with 46 branches in all areas of Haiti providing financial and development services to more than 60,000 costumers (2013).

Fonkoze SA has been an Oikocredit partner since 2006.