PROFIT and SAMS promote cocoa and breadfruit

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JÉRÉMIE, Haiti (ILO News) - On 2 and 3 July 2026, a high-level diplomatic and institutional delegation travelled to Grand'Anse to observe the progress of the PROFIT and SAMS projects, which are strengthening the cocoa and breadfruit value chains, while promoting decent work, food security and more stable and substantial incomes for rural farmers.

Implemented jointly by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), with financial support from Norway, France and Switzerland, and in partnership with national and local authorities, the project aims to strengthen sustainable, resilient and inclusive agricultural value chains.

The PROFIT project demonstrates the importance of investing in the development of agricultural value chains in Haiti. The results seen today in the cocoa and breadfruit sectors show that the potential exists and that Haitians, particularly young people, are ready to get involved when concrete economic opportunities are offered to them. By developing these value chains on a larger scale, we can create more jobs, strengthen the local economy and help lay the foundations for greater stability and lasting peace in Haiti. - Dr Nicole Boni Kouassi, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Haiti, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator

The PROFIT project forms an integral part of Norway's efforts to support Haiti's long-term sustainable development. We very much hope that this project can help to realize Haiti's full potential, particularly in the agricultural sector - with the Grande'Anse region serving as a veritable green lung - and pave the way for other promising sectors that will strengthen development and create opportunities for the people of Haiti. - Susanne Gjonnes - Representative of Norway

The delegation included the Norwegian representative, the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, the Director of the ILO Office for the Caribbean, the ILO Representative in Haiti, representatives from the WFP, the ambassadors of the European Union, France, Spain and Brazil, as well as the Director of the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Departmental Director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR).

Agricultural sectors with high potential

Haitian cocoa, renowned for the quality of its aromas and unique flavours, offers prospects for access to specialised and high-value markets through fair trade. Breadfruit can contribute to food security, add value through local processing and help diversify incomes. In November 2025, producers supported by PROFIT showcased their products and derivatives at the Salon du Chocolat in Paris, where they attracted considerable interest from an international audience.

The ILO's work within the PROFIT project to create sustainable green jobs in rural areas fits perfectly with the support the organization has committed to providing to its Haitian constituents (government, employers and workers) as part of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP), recently signed in Port-of-Spain by the ILO's tripartite partners - Joni Musabayana, Director of the ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean

"These infrastructure projects demonstrate that investment in local food systems goes beyond agricultural production alone. These initiatives enable small-scale producers, particularly women, to gain better access to markets and create greater added value. By strengthening farmers' organizations and promoting the local sourcing of school meals, the WFP and its partners are helping to improve food security, rural incomes and the resilience of communities in Grand'Anse" said Lauren Landis, WFP Country Director in Haiti.

Stronger coordination on the ground

The results of these interventions depend on coordination between public institutions, technical and financial partners, private companies and producer organizations. This coordination makes it possible to tailor activities to local circumstances and to strengthen the services provided to cocoa and breadfruit producers.

PROFIT and SAMS in figures

Since its launch, the project has notably achieved the following:

• construction of a cocoa fermentation plant with a capacity of 250 tonnes per year and four breadfruit processing centres with a capacity of 100 tonnes per month;
• creation of 2,000 direct and indirect jobs;
• complete reconstruction of the Chambellan public market;
• technical and economic feasibility study on the processing of breadfruit into flour and derived products;
• registration and geolocation of more than 10,000 producers on the logistics intelligence platform;
• establishment of 70 operational mutual aid societies;
• training and strengthening of six agricultural service providers (FOSAGs) in order to improve the quality of services offered to cocoa and breadfruit producers;
• tripling of cocoa exports in Grande Anse within two years and sale of over 30 tonnes of breadfruit flour to WFP school canteens.
• 6,789 producers benefitting from the WFP's local procurement for school meals, representing an investment of over US$2 million.
• 1,978 leading farmers trained in agroecology, post-harvest management, aflatoxin prevention, and financial and commercial management.
• More than 2,000 farmers benefited from the distribution of 5 tonnes of seeds, 99,500 seedlings and 352 goats.
• Five beekeeping enterprises were set up to diversify the incomes of rural households.
• Rehabilitation of 2.5 km of farm roads and 1 lorry and 4 tricycles were made available to facilitate the transport of agricultural produce.
• Eight Mutual Solidarity Organisations (MUSO) were established, and eight micro-enterprises were selected for financial support.
• Structural investments were made through the establishment of 1 mill, 2 collection centres, 2 storage facilities and 1 drying area.
• 2,899 smallholder farmers were trained in the PICSA approach and received tailored climate information via text message and radio.
• Following Hurricane Melissa, 1,726 insured farming households received over US$81,280 in compensation to support their recovery and strengthen their resilience to climate shocks.

Members of the delegation

• Nicole Boni Kouassi - United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti
• Joni Musabayana - Director of the ILO Office for the Caribbean
• Susanne Gjonnes - Representative of Norway
• Fabrice Leclercq - ILO Representative in Haiti
• Wilfred Nkwambi, Head of Programmes at the WFP in Haiti
• Hélène Roos - European Union Ambassador
• Antoine Michon - French Ambassador
• Marco Penin - Spanish Ambassador
• Luis Nascente da Silva - Ambassador of Brazil
• Radhia Oudjani - Director of the AFD

Photos:

1. Visiting dignitaries incl. the representative of Norway, UN Resident Coordinator, Ambassadors of Spain, France and the European Union with managers and staff of Kauna at breadfruit transformation centre, Chambellan. Credit: Sylvain Barral/ WFP

2. Representative of Kaleos explaining the processing of sun-dried cocoa beans to the visiting delegation. Credit: Elie Prospere/ILO Haiti

3. UN Resident Coordinator in Haiti Nicole Boni Kouassi and representative of Norway, Susanne Gjonnes examine breadfruit at the breadfruit transformation centre. Credit: Elie Prospere/ILO Haiti

4. ILO Representative in Haiti Fabrice Leclercy and visiting dignitaries touring the reconstructed market in Chambellan. Credit: Elie Prospere/ILO Haiti

Press contact:

Sylvain Barral

Communications Officer

World Food Programme, HAITI

M +509 4726 5002

[email protected]

Resel Melville,

Communications and Information Management Officer

ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean

Tel.: +1 868 625 0524/ 868 392 3737

[email protected]