Half of Haiti's population can be characterized as extreme poor, and face widening gaps in equality, increasing social marginalization, no sustainable livelihood options and increasing food prices. In response to this, Haiti's largest microfinance institution, Fonkoze, provided extremely poor households with a series of protective and promotional inputs for 18 months to help them build sustainable livelihoods. Importantly, the programme does not seek to graduate members ‘out of poverty’ but to a point where their livelihoods are strong enough to participate in a ‘small credit’ programme that seeks to further develop their assets and savings, and with significant hand-holding, ultimately graduate them into mainstream microfinance. This article seeks to explore the effectiveness of the intervention and its implications for the lives of Haiti's poorest, as well as reflect upon our understanding of the pathways out of extreme poverty.

Arias, D., E. Brearly (2006) ‘Restoring the Competitiveness of the Coffee Sector in Haiti’, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington DC, mimeo.

Concern Worldwide (2008) ‘Haiti: Rapid Food Security Assessment’, Concern Worldwide, mimeo.

Huda, K (2006) ‘Chemen Lavi Mayo: Process Documentation of the CLM Targeting Approach,’ Concern Worldwide (mimeo).

Arias, D., E. Brearly (2006) ‘Restoring the Competitiveness of the Coffee Sector in Haiti’, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington DC, mimeo.

Concern Worldwide (2008) ‘Haiti: Rapid Food Security Assessment’, Concern Worldwide, mimeo.

Huda, K (2006) ‘Chemen Lavi Mayo: Process Documentation of the CLM Targeting Approach,’ Concern Worldwide (mimeo).

Arias, D., E. Brearly (2006) ‘Restoring the Competitiveness of the Coffee Sector in Haiti’, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington DC, mimeo.

Concern Worldwide (2008) ‘Haiti: Rapid Food Security Assessment’, Concern Worldwide, mimeo.

Huda, K (2006) ‘Chemen Lavi Mayo: Process Documentation of the CLM Targeting Approach,’ Concern Worldwide (mimeo).

Arias, D., E. Brearly (2006) ‘Restoring the Competitiveness of the Coffee Sector in Haiti’, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington DC, mimeo.

Concern Worldwide (2008) ‘Haiti: Rapid Food Security Assessment’, Concern Worldwide, mimeo.

Huda, K (2006) ‘Chemen Lavi Mayo: Process Documentation of the CLM Targeting Approach,’ Concern Worldwide (mimeo).