PROJECT BACKGROUND
Leveraging Effective Application of Direct Investments (LEAD) is a USAID-funded $12 million project implemented by the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) from July 2011 and recently extended to March 2017. It was conceived as a pilot project with the objective of stimulating growth and employment by supporting Haitian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and social enterprises (SEs) through small grants and technical assistance. The LEAD Project is designed to support USAID contribution to increased economic security and increased employment, contributing in turn to increased food and economic security in Haiti.
EVALUATION PURPOSE AND EVALUATION QUESTIONS
The evaluation provides USAID and PADF information on the overall impact of the LEAD project and designed to inform decision making to improve program effectiveness and sustainability. The primary stakeholders for this evaluation includes: USAID/Haiti, PADF, the Haitian SMEs, the Diaspora community, and the Government of Haiti (GOH). The evaluation responds to the objectives articulated in the following evaluation questions:
- To what extent did the business competition model implemented by PADF attract investment and generate more employment?
- To what extent was the LEAD project able to test and develop innovative approaches for capturing a greater portion of the Diaspora remittances for development?
- What issues and gaps still need to be addressed by the project to mobilize Diaspora investment as sources of capital for SMEs?
- To what extent did the Technical Assistance provided to SMEs help them improve their business operations?
