Abstract
The five-year Local Enterprise and Value Chain Enhancement (LEVE) Activity sought to achieve four objectives across three sectors (agriculture, apparel and textiles, and construction): to enable MSMEs to work together to mutually create value; provide MSME?s with access to a productive and skilled labor pool; improve the sustainability of Haitian businesses benefiting from LEVE; and identify and improve synergies among existing activities and interventions. Based on key informant interviews with 45 respondents and four focus group discussions with students at technical and vocational schools that benefited from LEVE support, the Activity was a qualified success. The Activity achieved all four of its objectives in the agriculture and the apparel and textile sectors. However, an issue beyond LEVE?s control ? specifically the sector?s informality ? hindered its ability to achieve its objectives in the construction sector. LEVE achieved its objectives in two sectors because of its ?light-touch? Activity design, which was predicated upon facilitating business linkages, training new laborers, and organizational capacity building. These interventions empowered local business leaders to grow their operations, and, because they do not require direct LEVE support to continue, are likely to be sustainable over the long-term. The Activity?s adaptive management approach was critical to its success; LEVE tailored its interventions to individual businesses as well to the dynamic Haitian business environment. Longitudinal surveys with LEVE beneficiaries will be essential to evaluate the extent of LEVE?s long-term impact and sustainability.