Sustainability HUB

Building Sustainable Pathways: The Innovation Hub for Sustainability Project

In collaboration with

The Haitian Fund for Innovation and Reconstruction at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors

Project Overview

The Innovation Hub for Sustainability Project provides an inclusive pathway for the citizens of Haiti to rebuild their lives and communities. The project utilizes a collaborative design platform that integrates the citizens of Haiti with leading local and international partner organizations. Each partner is committed to a sustainable economic development approach that leverages their respective resources, talents and tools, while honoring the economic and cultural anthropology of Haiti; the latter being mandatory criterion for inclusion. This unique inclusive collaboration model creates an environment for best practices to be co-developed intelligently and delivered cohesively to ensure both short term/high impact results, and a sustainable, long-term rebuilding platform. It serves as a leading demonstration model of how self-determination, resiliency and sustainability are at the heart of personal freedom, economic stability and environmental stewardship.

The establishment of the Innovation Hub for Sustainability on a rural, 300-acre parcel provided by the Haitian League in the agriculturally rich central plateau is the project centerpiece and will provide a continuous learning laboratory for Haiti’s sustainable economic development. Curriculum delivered in classroom and experiential learning modules includes green building design, sustainable agriculture, zero waste management and permaculture, along with leadership fundamentals and enterprise development skill building. The Hub will feature One Global Economy’s Community Knowledge Center as well as community classrooms, cyber-café, yoga studio, and lodging, all constructed in partnership with the trainees. Additionally, the research and education center will incubate and deliver best in class practices through ecological design system demonstration sites.

Community asset mapping will be deployed to identify additional locations throughout Haiti for Community Knowledge Centers (CKN) to provide distributed access to best-in-class innovation, natural building and reconstruction, leadership, entrepreneurship, networking and IT training. CKNs will reflect the unique needs of their communities and deliver essential employment and enterprise development opportunities. A regional support network utilizing information technology including will enable participants to communicate, share best practices and leverage collective knowledge.

The second and third years of the project build directly off the pathways established in the first twelve months. Year two focuses on expanded Leadership Training with a particular emphasis on youth, a diversified permaculture curriculum and the introduction of the Entrepreneurship Training and Microfinance program to further business development and expand employment. The latter sets the stage for the Enterprise Development program that will commence in the third year.