Palmis Mikwofinans Sosyal : Social microfinance in Haiti

Haiti, a country regularly shaken by both climatic and political typhoons, struggles to structure and develop its economy. Formal employment is scarce. In order to survive, those who are poor but resourceful and tenacious would start their own fruit stand, sewing workshop or street restaurant up with next to nothing. However, they sorely lack training and capital in order to make it grow, consolidate it and turn it into a strong lever against poverty.

Encourage and support the poorest entrepreneurs

Since 2003, Entrepreneurs du Monde supports Palmis Mikwofinans Sosyal (PMS), a microfinance institution with a strong social purpose, which offers basic services (loan, saving, training, social support) to micro-entrepreneurs, in order to help them develop their income activity and help them get out of extreme poverty, on all fronts.

Methodology of Palmis Mikwofinans Sosyal

The team, divided between different local branches, provides vulnerable entrepreneurs with:
• a personal savings account
• loans to develop their income-generating activity (average amount: €155) and to buy a solar lightning kit and / or a modern and economical cooking stove
• trainings: in sales and accounting, as well as in health education, child and women’s protection, etc.
• social support to tackle occasional difficulties (health, schooling, family issues, etc.).

Support by Entrepreneurs du Monde

Entrepreneurs du Monde structures and supports PMS on all levels (legal, finance, methodology, human and financial ressources, administration, management, reporting, etc.) In 2019, PMS reached a 79% operational sustainability and became and LLC. In order to comply fully with this new status, PMS still has certain tax and accounting obligations (equity valuation, payment of shares, transfer of titles…). It also established an Executive Board composed of Haitian volunteers and of one legal entity: Entrepreneurs du Monde.

Palmis Mikwofinans Sosyal’s partners