Fondasyon Kole Zepòl

Fondasyon Kole Zepòl is a Haitian non-profit organization based in Port-au-Prince focused on community development, public health, and disaster resilience. The foundation engages with local and international partners to deliver programs in education, sanitation, and vocational training. It operates amid post-earthquake reconstruction, cholera response, and political transitions that shaped Haiti in the early 21st century.

History

Fondasyon Kole Zepòl was founded in the aftermath of the 2010 2010 Haiti earthquake by activists connected to movements influenced by leaders such as Jean-Bertrand Aristide, René Préval, and activists from the Mouvement Ouvriye. Early operations responded to crises alongside organizations including Médecins Sans Frontières, American Red Cross, United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, and Pan American Health Organization. During reconstruction phases, the foundation coordinated with agencies like the Inter-American Development Bank, United States Agency for International Development, European Commission, and World Bank programs active in Haiti. It adapted over time to work on issues highlighted by events such as the 2016 Hurricane Matthew, the 2015 protests associated with the PetroCaribe scandal, and the political transition following the 2017 presidential election involving figures like Jovenel Moïse.

Mission and Programs

The foundation's mission emphasizes community resilience, public health outreach, and vocational training in urban and rural communes such as Cité Soleil, Port-au-Prince Cathedral area, and Cap-Haïtien. Programs have included primary school support linked with pedagogical initiatives from UNICEF, vaccination campaigns aligned with World Health Organization guidance, and water-sanitation projects reflecting standards from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention partnerships. Vocational training curricula drew on collaborations with technical institutions like Université d'État d'Haïti, Centre de Formation Professionnelle, and regional actors such as Caribbean Community vocational networks. They also implemented emergency response protocols similar to lessons from the 2004 Haiti rebellion and coordinated logistics with humanitarian clusters led by Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Governance and Funding

Governance structures mirror nonprofit practices seen in entities like Partners In Health, Clinton Foundation, and Haiti Relief and Reconstruction Fund, with a board including civil society figures connected to organizations like Fondation Héritage pour Haïti, SantéNet, and local municipal leaders from Pétion-Ville and Jacmel. Funding sources have included grants from multilateral donors such as United Nations Development Programme, bilateral funders like Agence Française de Développement, foundations like Open Society Foundations and Ford Foundation, and philanthropic contributions coordinated with Global Fund mechanisms. The foundation has sought corporate partnerships with firms operating in the Caribbean including affiliates of Digicel Group and logistics support from companies like Maersk and FedEx during relief operations.

Impact and Outreach

Impact assessments referenced frameworks used by Independent Office for Evaluation of Humanitarian Action in Haiti and philanthropic evaluators like GiveWell and Charity Navigator. Outreach activities included health fairs modeled on campaigns by Red Cross Society chapters, literacy drives collaborating with Haiti Reads, and microfinance pilot programs inspired by practices from Grameen Bank adaptations in the Caribbean. Community-level impacts were tracked in communes impacted by Hurricane Sandy spillover effects and public health campaigns addressing outbreaks similar to the 2010–2019 cholera outbreak in Haiti. The foundation's work attracted attention from journalists and organizations including Associated Press, The New York Times, BBC News, and regional outlets like Le Nouvelliste.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The foundation collaborated with a wide range of actors: international NGOs such as Oxfam, CARE International, Save the Children, and World Vision; UN agencies including United Nations Children's Fund, World Food Programme, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; academic partners like Harvard University public health teams, Columbia University Earth Institute researchers, and regional institutions such as Université Quisqueya. It worked alongside Haitian civil society groups including Konbit, Rasanblman, and labor unions connected to historical movements like Confédération des travailleurs haïtiens. Regional diplomatic engagement involved missions such as the Embassy of the United States in Port-au-Prince, Embassy of Canada to Haiti, and cooperation frameworks with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Haiti