Open Source Archives

We strive to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration and the implementation of progressive and  participatory research methods, with the goal of generating tangible, durable changes in the way research about Haiti is conceptualized, implemented and applied.

ABOUT US

Research Hub & Open Source Archives

EKO HAITI Research Hub is a research and knowledge mobilization platform focused on creative, collaborative and interdisciplinary research and associated research-based learning. We aim to become the intellectual “home” for research about Haiti by creating and providing open access to the largest crowdsourced research archive dedicated to Haiti, by fostering cross-disciplinary research and innovation, and by providing support for progressive research in the form of contextual expertise and training.

“The trees fall from time to time, but the voice of the forest never loses its power. Life begins.”

Jacques Alexis, Les Arbres Musiciens (Paris, 1957)
Haiti-bezienswaardigheden
LITTERATURE
HAITIAN LITTERATURE
Haiti is the birthplace of a rich literary heritage that deserves more attention. Haitian authors open a window into this Caribbean nation’s vibrant culture and tumultuous history.

Haiti-bezienswaardigheden
SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
ANTHROPOLOGY
EKO HAITI collections include all works, published and unpublished by Anthropologists Gerald Murray, Glenn Smucker and Timothy Schwartz
Haiti-bezienswaardigheden
PHOTOGRAPHY ARCHIVE
HAITI IN PICTURES
Dedicated to the late great, Kreyolicious (Katheline St. Fort), our photographs archives holds a large collection of images dating back to the late 1800's .
Haiti-bezienswaardigheden
DEVELOPMENT ARCHIVE
DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH
40 years of development reports, evaluations and survey databases many of which are not publicly available, are buried in drawers, closets, private libraries of NGOs and government donors.

ORAL HISTORIES

Oral histories are a powerful tool in developing historical understanding

Oral history offers an alternative to conventional history, filling gaps in traditional research with personal accounts of historically significant events or simply life in a specific place and time. Oral histories do more than provide charming details to dry historical accounts. In fact, oral histories help others recapture lived experiences that are not written down in traditional sources.

> Transcripts archive

" Bwa pi wo di li wè lwen, men grenn pwomennen di li wè pi lwen pase l "

The tallest tree says that it sees far, but the seed that travels says that it sees even further.

GET INVOLVED

Support EKO HAITI

As an independent institute, we rely on crowdsourcing and donations to continue expanding the depth and scope of our archives.  Your contribution enable us to provide open access to a vast collection of ethnographic and research material which in turn aims at fostering further research and contribute to a better understanding of the country.

Given that some time had passed since the initial grant to Caribbean Harvest S.A. was made to increase production capacity, LEVE and Caribbean Harvest S.A. agreed to undertake an impact assessment that would go beyond simply capturing results, but more to measuring resiliency (as defined by the United States Agency for International Development) of the fish farmers. The initial grant was to increase both energy supply and the number of cages, which would lead to an overall increase in fish production by fish farmers. An increase in fish farming and subsequent revenues would be the basis for improved resiliency, showing conclusively that the LEVE grant was “worth more than the simple sum of the parts”. And if not, what lessons could be learned from this activity and applied to future activities of a similar nature.

A scope of work was developed, agreed upon by Caribbean Harvest S.A. and then a local firm – Socio-Dig S.A. – was awarded the contract to conduct the assessment. Socio-Dig has experience in both measuring impact and resiliency, and in fish culture and fisheries. Prior to starting the field work in September 2018, the concerned parties – Socio-Dig, Caribbean Harvest S.A. and LEVE – conducted meetings to ensure a complete understanding of the objectives and tasks.

Over 300 families residing in the 4 to 5 villages that were part of the fish farming program of Caribbean Harvest S.A. were interviewed, concentrating the work on Betel, the only village in which Caribbean Harvest S.A. is currently working. The research team from Socio-Dig worked with Caribbean Harvest S.A. technicians, but also visited other fish farming activities to vet findings. The team also conducted significant research via the internet and one-on-one communications. Non-governmental organizations working in the same geographic area around Lake Azuei were also interviewed to better understand the depth of their social programs, so as to be able to ascertain the impact of the Caribbean Harvest S.A. social programs, being implemented in cooperation with the Caribbean Harvest Foundation. This was critical to ascertaining the level of improved resiliency as a result of the LEVE intervention. To the extent possible, the findings presented herein are limited to the scope of work.

The findings were not what the team had expected. After doing extensive interviews among the majority of the families in the villages where Caribbean Harvest S.A. has been working, the research team was not able to identify sufficient fish farmer beneficiaries to construct a significant sample size to permit comparison of either impact or resiliency. To understand why, the research team extended their investigation into areas such as production practices, and non-governmental organization support activities.

The observations being presented to Caribbean Harvest and LEVE show that a very low number of fish farmers actually exist; that few fish farmers received more than one cage of fingerlings and feed; that the revenue per cage harvested was much smaller than the numbers that had been projected (based on actual numbers realized according to Caribbean Harvest); and that as a result, few, if any, fish farmers were continuing to farm fish. The conclusion is that the model is not working, and may never have been working.

Second, the observations showed that any impact upon resiliency was due to the work of other non- governmental organizations in the region, and that the linked activities of Caribbean Harvest S.A. and Caribbean Harvest Foundation were more limited than the activities of other organizations in this area. Given the fact that most people in this region are transitory, beneficiaries travel from one area to another where services and opportunities benefit them more.

This report is now being submitted to Caribbean Harvest S.A. for their input prior to being published for a broader audience.