On September 23rd, 2026, Roots of Development announced our 2026 Commitment to Action at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting Haiti Action Network Working Session.
CGI is a convening of more than 2,000 leaders in business, government, and civil society that takes place each year during the UN General Assembly in New York City. CGI is focused on creating partnerships and bridging divides to solve the world’s most urgent crises, especially through their signature Commitments to Action—new projects and programs that bring together diverse actors around specific, measurable goals.
OUR COMMITMENT
Haiti is experiencing one of the most severe social, political, economic, and security crises in its history. While the causes are complex, many Haitians point to a common underlying challenge: generations of external intervention and development efforts that have too often overlooked, displaced, or weakened local systems, leadership, and solutions.
Despite decades of international assistance, there remains no widely recognized Haitian-developed framework through which international actors can engage with and support locally-led development efforts at scale. As a result, many well-intentioned interventions continue to struggle to achieve local ownership, lasting impact, and sustainability.
At the same time, Haiti possesses a rich tradition of collective action, mutual aid, and community problem-solving known as Konbit. Rooted in Haitian history, culture, and local agricultural practices, Konbit has helped communities organize, mobilize resources, strengthen social cohesion, and address shared challenges for generations. The historic practice has been revived and embraced by a younger generation, rural and urban alike, as a way to reawaken collective strength, civic responsibility, and to strengthen an inclusive, equitable civil society across Haiti.
Since 2021, more than 300 Haitian leaders have participated in a nationwide process led by Gwoup Konbit, a social movement in Haiti, to document, analyze, and define the values and principles of Konbit through 55 workshops conducted across the country. The result is the Konbit Guide, the first comprehensive articulation of Konbit as a framework for civic engagement, community development, mutual aid, and locally-led change.
As Haiti seeks pathways toward greater resilience, self-determination, and sustainable development, there is an opportunity to elevate Konbit as a Haitian framework through which both local and international actors can work together to support Haitian-led solutions.
In May 2026, Gwoup Konbit and its member organizations launched a nationwide campaign to reawaken, strengthen, and expand the practice of Konbit across Haiti. Through workshops, media outreach, leadership development, public education, and distribution of the Konbit Guide, the campaign seeks to reach communities across all ten departments and encourage Haitians to draw upon their own history, values, and traditions as they address the challenges facing their country.
As a strategic partner to Gwoup Konbit, Roots of Development commits to launching the International Konbit Partnership Initiative, a three-year effort, designed to connect Haiti’s national Konbit campaign with international NGOs, foundations, donor networks, diaspora organizations, academic institutions, and development agencies. The initiative will introduce international actors to Konbit as a Haitian framework for locally led development and create practical pathways for them to support and engage with the movement.
Roots of Development will leverage its experience in coalition building, research, advocacy, fundraising, communications, and partnership development, as well as its relationships with funders, aid organizations, academic institutions, policymakers, and global networks working to advance locally-led development. Gwoup Konbit will contribute its national network of leaders and organizations, its deep understanding of Haitian history and culture, and the values and principles articulated through the Konbit Guide.
Together, the partners will facilitate organizational partnerships, develop tools and case studies, convene learning exchanges, mobilize financial and technical support, and create opportunities for Haitian leaders to share lessons and perspectives with international audiences. Through this commitment, Roots of Development and Gwoup Konbit seek to elevate Konbit as a Haitian framework for locally-led development and a practical pathway through which international actors can support more locally-led, culturally grounded, and sustainable development efforts in Haiti.