As traditional aid models are increasingly questioned and ignored, countries in the Global South are forging a new path—one led by the people, for the people. On April 3, 2025, Kuja hosted a powerful and timely conversation titled “Community-Led Development That Works: A Spotlight on Haiti.” It featured two Haitian leaders with decades of experience in grassroots community-led development. 

The conversation provided key insights into how local leadership, solidarity, mutual aid, and the circular economy can transform development in Haiti.

Watch the Full Webinar Recording on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKycMPeFS9c&ab_channel=KUJA

Key Takeaways

✅ Community-led development is not a buzzword—it is a proven path to resilience and autonomy.

Both speakers stressed that when communities set priorities and lead implementation, results are more sustainable and meaningful.

✅Endogenous development respects local knowledge and focuses on human dignity.

Both Jean-Patrick and L’Hérisson rejected top-down approaches that marginalize local knowledge and advocated for models that see communities as co-creators rather than beneficiaries.

✅ There is an urgent need to channel resources to local actors.

As the development aid sector continues to fragment, support for long-standing, locally rooted organizations is increasingly important. These groups already have the trust, infrastructure, and vision needed for long-term transformation.

✅ Haiti’s development model offers lessons for the entire Global South.

From biogas plants to community foundations, speakers’ work stressed that solutions already exist – what is needed now is global solidarity and investment in these models.

Speakers

Jean Patrick Lucien

With a background in Computer Engineering from Northeastern University and an MBA, Jean-Patrick has spent over 20 years as an Application Engineer at Siemens Corporation, where he applies his technical skills to solve complex global challenges.

Beyond his corporate career, Jean-Patrick plays a vital role in sustainable development initiatives in Haiti through the EDEM Foundation. His work focuses on education, economic development, and capacity building in Île-à-Vache and southern Haiti, where he owns and operates the Vacation Village Resort and the Village for Innovation, Technology, Education and Sport (VITES), contributing to local tourism and development. One of his key achievements is collaborating with the US Naval Academy to develop biodigesters—innovative systems that convert waste into methane gas for cooking and compost for agricultural use, aligning with Haiti’s sustainability and environmental goals. Currently, Jean-Patrick is leading the Safe Space Project in Haiti, which offers children access to campsites, school gardens, and safe learning environments. This project aims to nurture personal growth, safety, and education, while introducing children to sustainable practices through hands-on agricultural experiences.

L’Hérisson Hilaire

L’Hérisson Hilaire is a professional agronomist, specialist in plant production, agricultural entrepreneur. L'Hérisson joined the Fondation Communautaire Haïtienne-Espwa/The Haiti Community Foundation (FCH-Espwa) in November 2020 and is its current Executive Director. For more than four years, L’Hérisson has been deeply engaged in community philanthropy and endogenous development with FCH-Espwa in Haiti.