Haiti Small Business

Independent Films, Web Series, Women

Since Haiti's devastating earthquake last year a World Bank program, Business Edge, has been working to support small business interests, helping them increasing efficiency of money transfer and generally expand their business to keep pace and assist with financial recovery and reconstruction of the country.

Haiti's small and medium businesses represent an estimated 80 percent of all employment in the country and the amount of transfers and clients has greatly increased. Owner Charline Dubuisson says having good customer service skills is a must.

SOUNDBITE (French) Charline Dubuisson, Business Owner:"We took training in customer service which is a key point in business. There were details I didn’t know before the training, which taught me marketing and how to manage personnel."

Charline is one of more than 600 small and medium business owners in Haiti, who has received training under the program developed and paid for by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group.

Charline says the training taught her not only how to better manage her staff and make more money, but also how to diversify. She has now expanded her money transfer business to include the sale of cell phones and computers.

SOUNDBITE (French) Charline Dubuisson, Business Owner:"We used to do only money transfers until through the training I learned to diversify, using the same space, which gives us more revenue."

Gas-station owner Harry Clesca says the training is translating into better sales and more money which benefits him as well as the 56 people he employs.

SOUNDBITE (French) Harry Clesca, Business Owner:"I take marketing and personnel management training, and my employees take courses in customer service and group leadership."

Transcripts / Production notes / Scripts

Its midday rush at this money transfer office in Port au Prince.

Since the earthquake last year, the amount of transfers and clients has greatly increased, says owner Charline Dubuisson. Having good customer service skills is a must.

SOUNDBITE (French) Charline Dubuisson, Business Owner:
“We took training in customer service which is a key point in business. There were details I didn’t know before the training, which taught me marketing and how to manage personnel.”

Charline is one of more than 600 small and medium business owners in Haiti, who has received training under a program developed and paid for by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group.

Charline says the training taught her not only how to better manage her staff and make more money, but also how to diversify. She has now expanded her money transfer business to include the sale of cell phones and computers.

SOUNDBITE (French) Charline Dubuisson, Business Owner:
“We used to do only money transfers until through the training I learned to diversify, using the same space, which gives us more revenue.”

The training program, Business Edge, aims at raising productivity, profitability and competitiveness of Haiti’s small and medium enterprises, thought to represent about 80 percent of all employment in the country.

Gas-station owner Harry Clesca says that the training he receives through the program is so beneficial that he brings some of his staff along.

SOUNDBITE (French) Harry Clesca, Business Owner:
“I take marketing and personnel management training, and my employees take courses in customer service and group leadership.”

He says the training is translating into better sales and more money both good for him, and for the 56 people he employs.

Tags

• haiti
• small business
• World Bank
• money transfer
• gas station

Directors:

• Tom Osborne UNTV

Producers:

• Muhamed Sacirbey