There is no structured certification for cooperative agriculture in Haiti. SAKALA changes that. At full network scale... 344 franchises across 7 departments, each placing 10 youth... the system produces 3,440 certified cooperative workers annually across 20 distinct certification pathways spanning 7 industries.
The macro numbers speak for themselves: $30.1M in annual GDP impact at full scale. 7,160 to 12,880 formal jobs created in a country where formal employment sits at 13%. Every certification is designed for international transferability... a SAKALA-trained youth can work in Jamaica, Trinidad, Guyana, or Suriname on the same credential. This is not job training. This is the first cooperative workforce pipeline in the Caribbean.
Monthly Income
$160 - $220
GDP / Worker / Year
$4,300 - $5,500
Import Substitution
$1.03M - $15M
Intl Cert Equiv
UNESCO Ag Extension
University Depts
Agronomy / Crop Science
Top Provider
UniQ + UWI-STA
Monthly Income
$167 - $240
GDP / Worker / Year
$1,200 - $1,800
Import Substitution
$1.5M+
Intl Cert Equiv
Fair Trade Pathway
University Depts
Food Science / Agriculture
Monthly Income
$196 - $253
GDP / Worker / Year
$1,800 - $3,200
Intl Cert Equiv
Farm-to-Table
University Depts
Animal Science / Veterinary
Top Provider
UWI-STA (DVM) + Makouti
Youth Allocated
344 + hubs
Monthly Income
$210 - $320
GDP / Worker / Year
$1,500 - $4,500
Import Substitution
$5M+ export enable
Intl Cert Equiv
FDA / USDA Equiv
University Depts
Food Science / Quality Control
Monthly Income
$185 - $270
GDP / Worker / Year
$500 - $1,000 + pollination
Import Substitution
$279K - $418K
University Depts
Entomology / Agriculture
Monthly Income
$300 - $500
GDP / Worker / Year
$5,000 - $10,000
Import Substitution
N/A (services)
Transferability
EXCEPTIONAL
Intl Cert Equiv
AFA Certification
University Depts
Veterinary Medicine
Top Provider
FAMV + UWI-STA
Monthly Income
$348 - $514
GDP / Worker / Year
$2,600 - $4,100
Import Substitution
$392M market
Transferability
EXCEPTIONAL
Intl Cert Equiv
IBI Biochar
University Depts
Environmental Science / Energy
Top Provider
ADK + UWI-STA
Monthly Income
$600 - $1,367
GDP / Worker / Year
$14,000 - $25,000
Import Substitution
$20 - $40M value capture
Intl Cert Equiv
IFRA / ISO
University Depts
Chemistry / Agriculture
Monthly Income
$220 - $320
GDP / Worker / Year
$900 - $3,000
Import Substitution
$5 - $10M
Intl Cert Equiv
USDA Organic
University Depts
Food Science
Top Provider
UTT + UWI-STA
Monthly Income
$210 - $320
GDP / Worker / Year
$5,000 - $15,000
Import Substitution
5,000 formal jobs
Transferability
EXCEPTIONAL
Intl Cert Equiv
ICA Coop Cert
University Depts
Business / Economics
Top Provider
UniQ (CEI) + UWI-Mona
Monthly Income
$285 - $345
GDP / Worker / Year
$5,000 - $8,000
Import Substitution
$6.8M extension
Intl Cert Equiv
ODK / KoboToolbox
University Depts
Agricultural Research
Top Provider
FAMV + UniQ + UWI-STA
Monthly Income
$185 - $270
GDP / Worker / Year
$300 - $800
Import Substitution
$34 - $136M soil pres.
University Depts
Environmental Science / Forestry
Monthly Income
$185 - $270
GDP / Worker / Year
$600 - $2,200
Import Substitution
$34 - $204M loss prev.
Transferability
EXCEPTIONAL
Intl Cert Equiv
UNESCO IWRM
University Depts
Engineering / Hydrology
Top Provider
UWI-STA + UTech
Monthly Income
$235 - $520
GDP / Worker / Year
$2,500 - $6,000
Import Substitution
$250 - $500K fuel disp.
University Depts
Engineering
Top Provider
UWI-STA + UTech
Monthly Income
$130 - $1,200
GDP / Worker / Year
$750 - $2,950
Import Substitution
$2.5M+ fertilizer sub
Intl Cert Equiv
Circular Economy
University Depts
Environmental Science
Monthly Income
$200 - $1,500
GDP / Worker / Year
$3,000 - $7,000
Import Substitution
$5 - $10M construction
Intl Cert Equiv
LEED Pathway
University Depts
Engineering / Architecture
Top Provider
UWI-STA + AUC
Monthly Income
$2,283 - $4,667
GDP / Worker / Year
$25,000 - $50,000
Import Substitution
$20 - $40M value capture
University Depts
Chemistry
Monthly Income
$310 - $670
GDP / Worker / Year
$1,500 - $4,500
Import Substitution
$20 - $40M loss prev.
Intl Cert Equiv
APICS Prerequisite
University Depts
Business / Logistics
Top Provider
UWI-Mona + UTech
Monthly Income
$210 - $370
GDP / Worker / Year
$1,500 - $5,000
Import Substitution
$2.58M nutrition
Transferability
EXCEPTIONAL
Intl Cert Equiv
Red Cross / WHO
University Depts
Health Sciences
Top Provider
UWI-Mona + UWI-STA
Monthly Income
$235 - $370
GDP / Worker / Year
$1,700 - $4,000
Import Substitution
$2.06M external income
Transferability
EXCEPTIONAL
Intl Cert Equiv
Google / Microsoft
University Depts
IT / Computing
Top Provider
UWI-Cave Hill + UTech
Legend:
Excellent
High
Medium
Low/None
| Certification |
UEH/
FAMV |
UniQ |
UNIF |
AUC |
UWI-
STA |
UWI-
Mona |
UWI-
Cave H. |
UWI
Open |
UTech
Jam. |
U of
Guyana |
Anton
de Kom |
UTT |
NCU |
| 1. Hydroponic Agriculture |
HIGH |
HIGH |
MED |
MED |
EXCEL |
MED |
LOW |
MED |
HIGH |
HIGH |
MED |
MED |
MED |
| 2. Moringa Cultivation |
HIGH |
HIGH |
MED |
MED |
EXCEL |
LOW |
LOW |
MED |
MED |
MED |
MED |
MED |
LOW |
| 3. Rabbit Husbandry |
HIGH |
MED |
MED |
LOW |
EXCEL |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
MED |
LOW |
HIGH |
LOW |
| 4. Food Safety / HACCP |
MED |
MED |
MED |
LOW |
EXCEL |
MED |
LOW |
MED |
MED |
MED |
LOW |
HIGH |
LOW |
| 5. Apiculture |
HIGH |
HIGH |
MED |
MED |
EXCEL |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
MED |
MED |
MED |
MED |
| 6. Farriery |
HIGH |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
EXCEL |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
| 7. Charcoal Production |
HIGH |
MED |
MED |
HIGH |
EXCEL |
LOW |
HIGH |
LOW |
MED |
MED |
HIGH |
MED |
LOW |
| 8. Essential Oil Distillation |
MED |
MED |
LOW |
LOW |
EXCEL |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
MED |
LOW |
LOW |
MED |
LOW |
| 9. Food Processing |
MED |
MED |
MED |
LOW |
EXCEL |
MED |
LOW |
MED |
MED |
MED |
LOW |
HIGH |
LOW |
| 10. Cooperative Business Mgmt |
MED |
HIGH |
HIGH |
MED |
EXCEL |
HIGH |
MED |
MED |
MED |
MED |
LOW |
MED |
MED |
| 11. Agricultural Research |
HIGH |
HIGH |
MED |
MED |
EXCEL |
HIGH |
MED |
LOW |
MED |
MED |
MED |
MED |
LOW |
| 12. Agroforestry |
HIGH |
MED |
MED |
HIGH |
EXCEL |
LOW |
MED |
LOW |
MED |
HIGH |
HIGH |
MED |
LOW |
| 13. Water Management |
HIGH |
MED |
LOW |
HIGH |
EXCEL |
LOW |
HIGH |
LOW |
HIGH |
MED |
MED |
MED |
LOW |
| 14. Solar Energy |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
MED |
EXCEL |
LOW |
MED |
LOW |
HIGH |
LOW |
LOW |
MED |
LOW |
| 15. Waste Management |
HIGH |
MED |
MED |
HIGH |
EXCEL |
LOW |
HIGH |
LOW |
MED |
MED |
HIGH |
MED |
LOW |
| 16. Bamboo Construction |
MED |
LOW |
LOW |
HIGH |
EXCEL |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
HIGH |
MED |
MED |
MED |
LOW |
| 17. Perfumery & Cosmetics |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
EXCEL |
LOW |
LOW |
LOW |
MED |
LOW |
LOW |
MED |
LOW |
| 18. Supply Chain & Logistics |
LOW |
MED |
LOW |
LOW |
EXCEL |
HIGH |
MED |
MED |
HIGH |
MED |
LOW |
MED |
LOW |
| 19. Community Health |
MED |
MED |
HIGH |
LOW |
EXCEL |
HIGH |
MED |
MED |
MED |
MED |
LOW |
MED |
MED |
| 20. Digital Literacy |
LOW |
MED |
LOW |
LOW |
HIGH |
MED |
HIGH |
MED |
HIGH |
LOW |
LOW |
MED |
LOW |
Top PathwaysHydroponic Ag, Farriery, Ag Research, Agroforestry, Water Mgmt
DepartmentsAgronomy, Vet Med, Rural Engineering, Soil Science
Placement50-80 students/year (field practicum model). On-site in Damien.
ResearchStrong agronomy research tradition. SAKALA sites = living labs.
DistanceLimited. In-person only. Requires site visits.
Est. Cost$15K - $30K/year (faculty time, materials, transport)
Top PathwaysCoop Business Mgmt (CEI: 200+ enterprises), Hydroponic Ag, Moringa, Apiculture, Ag Research
DepartmentsCEI (Centre d'Entrepreneuriat et d'Innovation), Agriculture, Sciences
Placement60-100 students/year. CEI has existing enterprise incubation pipeline.
ResearchApplied research focus. CEI tracks enterprise survival rates.
DistanceEmerging online capacity. Hybrid possible for business certs.
Est. Cost$20K - $40K/year (CEI integration premium)
Top PathwaysCoop Governance, Community Health, Farmer Extension, Rural Youth Development
DepartmentsCooperative Studies, Agriculture, Community Development
Placement30-50 students/year. Rural campus = direct site integration.
ResearchCooperative governance models. Peasant organization expertise.
DistanceRural-first. Limited digital infrastructure.
Est. Cost$10K - $20K/year (lowest cost, highest alignment)
Top PathwaysAgroforestry, Bamboo Construction, Water Mgmt, Env Sci, Waste Mgmt
DepartmentsEnvironmental Science, Engineering, Architecture, Business
Placement40-70 students/year. Engineering practicum model.
ResearchInfrastructure and environmental applications.
DistanceSome hybrid capacity via US partnership network.
Est. Cost$20K - $35K/year
Top PathwaysAll 20 (EXCELLENT across board). Only English-Caribbean DVM. DAEE extension. Food Sci, Chem, Eng.
DepartmentsFood Production, Vet Med, Chemistry, Engineering, Life Sciences, DAEE
Placement100-200 students/year. Largest Caribbean ag faculty.
ResearchWorld-class. Tropical agriculture, food science, essential oils, vet med.
DistanceStrong. DAEE runs extension across Caribbean. Hybrid delivery proven.
Est. Cost$50K - $100K/year (anchor partner, highest capacity)
Top PathwaysCoop Business Mgmt (MSBM), Supply Chain, Community Health, Ag Research (SALISES)
DepartmentsMSBM, SALISES, Social Sciences, Basic Medical Sciences
Placement50-80 students/year. MSBM executive education pipeline.
ResearchPolicy research via SALISES. Caribbean economic development focus.
DistanceGood. MSBM has online MBA. Hybrid certificates feasible.
Est. Cost$30K - $60K/year
Top PathwaysDigital Literacy, Water Mgmt, Env/Climate, Waste Mgmt, Charcoal/Biochar
DepartmentsComputer Science, Biological & Chemical Sciences, CERMES
Placement30-50 students/year. Dukes Park expansion adds capacity 2026.
ResearchClimate resilience, marine/environmental, SIDS vulnerability.
DistanceGood. IT department has online delivery infrastructure.
Est. Cost$25K - $45K/year
Top PathwaysCertificates via distance: Business, Food Safety, Digital Literacy, Coop Mgmt
DepartmentsOpen Campus sites across 17 Caribbean countries
PlacementScalable. BUT Haiti is not currently served... critical gap to close.
ResearchLimited. Delivery-focused, not research-intensive.
Distance100% distance. This is their model. Haiti site = new territory.
Est. Cost$15K - $30K/year (low per-student, high setup for Haiti node)
Top PathwaysSolar Energy, Water Mgmt, Digital Literacy, Supply Chain, Bamboo Construction
DepartmentsEngineering, Computing & IT, Built Environment, Agriculture
Placement40-70 students/year. Strong AgriTech and engineering practicum.
ResearchApplied technology focus. Renewable energy, precision agriculture.
DistanceEmerging. Some hybrid programs available.
Est. Cost$25K - $50K/year
Top PathwaysAgroforestry, Hydroponic Ag, Agribusiness, Aquaculture crossover
DepartmentsAgriculture, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Business
Placement20-40 students/year. CUCAER network enables cross-placement.
ResearchTropical agriculture, biodiversity, soil science.
DistanceLimited. In-person dominant.
Est. Cost$15K - $25K/year
Top PathwaysAgroforestry, Waste Mgmt, Charcoal/Biochar, Env Science, Soil Science
DepartmentsEnvironmental Science, Agriculture, Forestry
Placement15-30 students/year. CUCAER cross-placement available.
ResearchTropical forestry, soil remediation, biodiversity conservation.
DistanceLimited. Dutch-language instruction (Creole bridge possible).
Est. Cost$10K - $20K/year
Top PathwaysFood Processing, Food Safety/HACCP, Rabbit Husbandry, Animal Health
DepartmentsBiosciences, Agriculture & Food Technology, Energy
Placement30-50 students/year. Practical certification focus.
ResearchFood technology, post-harvest processing, energy systems.
DistanceSome hybrid. Practical components require in-person.
Est. Cost$20K - $35K/year
Top PathwaysAgribusiness short courses, Apiculture, Coop Mgmt, Community Health
DepartmentsAgriculture, Business, Health Sciences
Placement15-25 students/year. Smaller scale, community-focused.
ResearchLimited. Teaching-focused institution.
DistanceSome online. SDA network provides community access points.
Est. Cost$10K - $20K/year
End of Part A
Part B continues with Part V: Macro-Economic Impact Analysis, Part VI: The Ask, and closing arguments.
SAKALA_University_Portfolio_PartB.html
Part V
Macro-Economic Impact
344 franchise atoms, 7 departments, one national transformation.
Aggregate Impact at Scale
$30.1M
Total Annual GDP
(with 2.5x multiplier)
$12.04M
Direct Annual
GDP Contribution
34,400
Direct Family
Beneficiaries
$7.7-14.5M
Annual Import
Substitution
Household Income Generation
3,440 youth across 344 franchise atoms, earning $210-230 per month average. That is $86.7-94.9 million per year in household income increase flowing directly into Haiti's most underserved communities.
Each franchise atom costs $3,600 to launch and generates $25,164 in Year 1 revenue. That is a 699% return on investment in the first year alone. No aid program in Caribbean history has ever delivered that ratio.
The Multiplier Effect
$12.04M direct GDP becomes $30.1M total when you apply the standard 2.5x multiplier for agricultural economies. Every dollar earned by a SAKALA cooperative member is spent locally... on food, transport, housing, school fees. The money circulates. It does not leave.
Formal Employment
13%
Haiti's Current
Formal Employment
7,160-12,880
New Formal Jobs
Created by SAKALA
+1.5-2.7%
National Formal
Employment Increase
Haiti has approximately 13% formal employment. SAKALA creates 7,160-12,880 formal jobs. That is a 1.5-2.7% increase in national formal employment from a single program. No bilateral aid package, no World Bank project, no UN initiative has ever moved that number by more than a fraction of a percent.
Structural Transformation
| Problem |
Haiti's Baseline |
SAKALA's Response |
Mechanism |
| Food imports |
80% of food imported |
$7.7-14.5M/yr import substitution |
Every trained farmer produces food locally |
| Deforestation |
<1% forest cover |
Charcoal workers retrained |
Bamboo charcoal + agroforestry replaces wood charcoal |
| Informal economy |
87% informal |
10 formal jobs per cooperative |
Cooperative registration, payroll, certification |
| Youth unemployment |
>60% |
3,440 youth employed |
Franchise atom = immediate livelihood |
| Brain drain |
Steady emigration |
Local economic opportunity |
Certified skills + cooperative ownership = reasons to stay |
Per-University Return on Engagement
University Investment
Consulting fees (20 days)
$5,000-10,000
Short course development
$4,000-8,000
Faculty travel (2 visits)
$3,000-5,000
Administrative overhead
$2,000-4,000
Total Year 1 Cost
$14,000-27,000
University Return
GDP impact claimable
$30.1M
Research publications
10-20/yr
Student placements
50+/yr
Donor credibility
Permanent
Leverage Ratio
2,143x
CUCAER Alignment
The Caribbean University Consortium for Agriculture and Extension Research has a stated goal: reduce the Caribbean's $5 billion annual food import bill by 25%. SAKALA is a vehicle purpose-built for that goal. Same target, same beneficiaries, same metrics. The only difference is that SAKALA already has the operational model, the sites, and the youth ready to work.
Part VI
What Universities Get
Eight concrete benefits. Zero ambiguity.
| Benefit |
Detail |
| Published Research |
Real-world cooperative agriculture data from 344 sites across 7 departments. Multi-year longitudinal data. KoboToolbox feeds. Soil, crop, economic, social data. This is the largest agricultural research dataset in Haiti... and the university that partners first gets first authorship. |
| Student Placements |
50+ field placement opportunities per year across 10+ active sites. Thesis research. Practicum. Extension practice. Students work with real cooperatives generating real revenue, not simulations. |
| Real-World Data |
Every franchise generates daily data: harvest logs, financial records, weather observations, quality inspections, soil measurements. 344 sites = the largest agricultural dataset in Haiti. Updated daily. Cleaned. Georeferenced. |
| Donor Credibility |
"Our university helped build a cooperative network that employs 3,440 youth across 7 departments." That sentence goes in every grant application, every accreditation report, every donor pitch. Documented, measurable, verifiable. |
| CARICOM Alignment |
CUCAER's mandate is reducing Caribbean food imports. SAKALA reduces food imports. Same goal, same beneficiaries, same reporting metrics. Partnership = automatic alignment with regional priorities. |
| New Program Development |
SAKALA's 20 certification pathways = 20 potential new certificate programs for the university catalog. Cooperative management. Tropical agriculture. Food safety. Essential oil distillation. Bamboo construction. Each one is a new enrollment stream. |
| Community Engagement Metrics |
Accreditation bodies increasingly require documented community engagement. SAKALA provides exactly that: ongoing, measurable, multi-year, multi-site. Not a one-day service project. A permanent institutional relationship with 344 community cooperatives. |
| Faculty Consulting Revenue |
$5,000-10,000 per year in consulting fees for 20 days of expert input. Faculty choose their own schedule. Applied work that generates both income and publications. Teaching load stays the same. |
The Data Advantage
Most agricultural research in Haiti relies on small samples, short timelines, and single sites. SAKALA offers 344 sites, multi-year data, and standardized collection protocols. For any agricultural researcher in the Caribbean, this is the dataset they have been waiting for. The first university to sign the MOU gets exclusive first-look access for the first 18 months.
Part VII
The Ask
Seven specific asks for universities. Two for CARICOM. Each one shows what flows in both directions.
For Universities
1
Curriculum Co-Development
Design certification modules jointly with SAKALA. Your faculty bring academic rigor. Our field teams bring operational reality. The output is a curriculum that actually works in the field.
University Provides
Curriculum design expertise, academic standards compliance, pedagogical frameworks, assessment rubrics, accreditation pathway
SAKALA Provides
Field-validated content, 344 active training sites, real-world case studies, cooperative management data, youth cohort for piloting
Output
20 certification modules ready for delivery. Each module = a new program in the university catalog and a new credential for SAKALA graduates.
Who Benefits
University (new programs, enrollment), SAKALA youth (recognized credentials), Haiti (skilled workforce), CARICOM (food security capacity)
2
Faculty Consulting
Experts teach specialized topics: soil science, cooperative law, food safety, essential oil chemistry, bamboo engineering. Twenty days per year. Faculty set their own schedule.
University Provides
Subject-matter experts (20 days/year), specialized technical knowledge, quality assurance, research supervision
SAKALA Provides
$5,000-10,000 annual consulting fees, field logistics, translation support, publication-ready data from consulting engagements
Output
3,440 youth trained by university-caliber faculty. Applied research papers. Faculty consulting revenue. Field experience for academic CVs.
Who Benefits
Faculty (income + publications), youth (expert training), university (community engagement credit), SAKALA (quality assurance)
3
Student Placements
Students conduct field work at SAKALA sites for thesis, practicum, and extension practice. Real cooperatives, real data, real communities.
University Provides
50+ students per year for field placements, thesis supervision, ethical review board clearance, academic credit frameworks
SAKALA Provides
10+ active field sites, housing coordination, community liaison, structured data collection protocols, KoboToolbox access
Output
50+ thesis projects per year. Longitudinal datasets. Trained graduates who understand cooperative agriculture from the inside.
Who Benefits
Students (field experience + thesis data), university (research output), SAKALA communities (technical assistance), Haiti (human capital)
4
Lab Access
Soil testing. Food safety analysis. Water quality monitoring. Essential oil composition. Bamboo structural testing. SAKALA needs labs. Universities have them.
University Provides
Laboratory facilities, analytical equipment, trained technicians, quality certification standards, ISO-compliant testing protocols
SAKALA Provides
344 sites of samples requiring analysis, testing fees, co-branded quality certification for cooperative products, publication data
Output
Certified product quality. Export-grade documentation. Soil health baselines across 7 departments. Published analytical data.
Who Benefits
SAKALA cooperatives (certified products), university labs (utilization + fees), consumers (quality assurance), export markets (compliance)
5
Research Partnerships
Co-author papers on cooperative agriculture, food security, youth employment, rural development, and agroecology. The data exists. It needs authors.
University Provides
Faculty co-authors, statistical expertise, journal access, peer review networks, grant writing capacity
SAKALA Provides
344-site longitudinal dataset, field access for primary research, community consent protocols, operational context for interpretation
Output
10-20 publications per year. The largest cooperative agriculture dataset in the Caribbean. Grant applications with built-in field sites.
Who Benefits
Faculty (publications + grants), university (research ranking), Caribbean agriculture (evidence base), SAKALA (validated methods)
6
Accreditation
Issue recognized certificates for SAKALA graduates. A credential that means something. A certification that opens doors.
University Provides
Accreditation authority, certificate design, academic standards verification, recognition within CARICOM education framework
SAKALA Provides
Trained cohorts ready for assessment, field portfolios documenting competencies, cooperative revenue data proving applied skill
Output
Recognized certifications for 3,440 youth. Portable credentials valid across CARICOM. A new certificate program in the university catalog.
Who Benefits
Youth (credential + mobility), university (enrollment + community impact), employers (verified skills), CARICOM (workforce quality)
7
Distance Delivery
Extend online programs to Haiti through existing platforms. UWI Open Campus already has the infrastructure. SAKALA has the students.
University Provides
Learning management system, online course delivery, remote assessment, digital credentials, Open Campus infrastructure
SAKALA Provides
3,440 enrolled learners, local facilitation hubs at cooperative sites, internet access points, community learning coordinators
Output
Distance education reaching Haiti's rural departments. University enrollment expansion. Blended learning model combining field practice with online theory.
Who Benefits
Youth (access to higher education), university (enrollment in underserved market), Haiti (educational infrastructure), UWI (mission fulfillment)
For CARICOM
A
Recognize SAKALA Certifications Through CUCAER Framework
CUCAER already has the mandate to coordinate agricultural education across the Caribbean. SAKALA certifications, co-developed with member universities, should be recognized within that framework. This is not a new bureaucratic structure. It is using the one that already exists.
CARICOM Provides
Regional recognition, CUCAER endorsement, cross-border credential portability, inclusion in Caribbean Vocational Qualification framework
Output
SAKALA graduates with credentials recognized across 15 CARICOM member states. Agricultural workforce mobility. Regional food security capacity.
B
Include SAKALA in Caribbean Food Security Strategy
The Caribbean imports $5 billion in food annually. CARICOM's food security strategy needs operational vehicles that actually reduce that number. SAKALA is one. $7.7-14.5 million in annual import substitution from a single program.
CARICOM Provides
Strategic inclusion, policy alignment, regional funding access, visibility at Heads of Government meetings
Output
SAKALA as a recognized vehicle within CARICOM food security architecture. Access to regional agricultural development funds. Policy coherence.
Part VIII
The Numbers That Make It Impossible to Say No
The closing argument. Data wall. Pure math.
The Math
$14-27K
University
Investment (Yr 1)
7,160
Formal Jobs
(Low Estimate)
12,880
Formal Jobs
(High Estimate)
$7.7-14.5M
Import
Substitution
10-20
Research Pubs
Per Year
50+
Student Placements
Per Year
699%
Franchise Atom ROI
($3,600 in, $25,164 out)
20
New Certificate
Programs Possible
344
Research Sites
Across 7 Departments
| Metric |
Value |
Context |
| University investment |
$14,000-27,000 |
Year 1 total: consulting + courses + travel + admin |
| GDP impact |
$30.1M |
Annual, with 2.5x multiplier. Direct = $12.04M. |
| Leverage ratio |
2,143x |
$14K investment claims $30M impact. No aid program matches this. |
| Youth employed |
3,440 |
Across 344 franchise atoms in 7 departments |
| Families impacted |
34,400 |
10 family members per youth (Haiti avg household) |
| Formal jobs created |
7,160-12,880 |
1.5-2.7% increase in national formal employment |
| Import substitution |
$7.7-14.5M |
Against Haiti's 80% food import dependency |
| Research publications |
10-20/year |
From 344-site longitudinal dataset |
| Student placements |
50+/year |
Thesis, practicum, extension across 10+ sites |
| New certificate programs |
Up to 20 |
Each SAKALA pathway = one university program |
| Household income increase |
$86.7-94.9M/yr |
3,440 youth at $210-230/mo average |
| Franchise ROI |
699% |
$3,600 in, $25,164 Year 1 revenue out |
The question is not whether this is worth doing.
The question is which university gets there first. The first mover gets exclusive 18-month data access, first authorship on the foundational papers, and the permanent distinction of having built the Caribbean's largest cooperative agriculture certification program. Everyone after that is following.
Implementation Roadmap
Phase 1 — Months 1-3
Agreements
- Sign MOUs with UniQ, UNIF, FAMV, and UWI-St. Augustine
- Designate faculty liaisons at each institution
- Establish joint curriculum committee
- Define data sharing protocols and ethical review
Phase 2 — Months 4-9
Development
- Co-develop first 5 certification modules
- Deploy first student placement cohort (15-20 students)
- Begin lab analysis partnerships (soil + food safety)
- Faculty consulting visits to active sites
- KoboToolbox data feeds connected to university research teams
Phase 3 — Months 10-18
Delivery
- First certified cohorts graduate with university-recognized credentials
- First research publications submitted from 344-site dataset
- CUCAER recognition process initiated
- Distance delivery pilot launched through UWI Open Campus
- Second round of 10 certification modules in development
"The question is which university gets there first."
Daniel Tillias
Co-Founder & Board Member, SAKALA
Wesley Bertil
Research Director, BARSS
SAKALA × BARSS · April 2026