Informality in Haiti

Name of the informal group please write here a brief summary paragraph. Haiti has mainly an informal economy where informal activities represent around 70% of the economy in total. As such, it is time to pay a closer attention to the informal workers. Actually, the informal sector is the most neglected in Haiti. In the midst of the second phase of COVID-19, the informal workers are exposed to severe fatalities of the virus. Furthermore, they are more likely to face up irreversible economic setbacks of this global pandemic. As we focus on the "Madan Sara" which are mostly women who buy agricultural products to sell them in the urban markets, we don't want to forget that informality includes larger group of people vying to survive everyday.

Main content, don't forget to always put the name in italic by using: italic

Description

What is the name of the informal worker in local language?

Madan sara

Ti machann

How does this translate, and who does it refer to?​

Urban Agricultural Product retailers

Small vendors

How do you recognize members of this group? Do they have any specific traits?

In Haiti, the "Madan Sara" are mostly women who buy agricultural products from farmers or rural markets to re-sell them at big open markets in Big Cities like Port-au-Prince, cap-Haiti, Cayes...

Other questions to address could be: Can this worker be described through a persona?

The Madan Sara are most of the time mothers from rural communities in Haiti. Their age may be ranged, on average, from late thirties to sixties. They are usually poorly educated or even illiterate.

What are their perceptions and motivations?

Two or three weeks, I was engaged in a very informal conservation with a Madan Sara. She told me that she has been a Madan Sara since she was fourteen. She, then, added that she is very familiar with her goods (mainly beans, mills, Haitian rice such as TCS, Chela, Chelda) can easily identify the good quality ones. She was talking to me with such a pride and ease, I can confirm that she really likes what she is doing. Her story is just among many others.

Even though I didn't ask for her age. She might be in her sixties or even seventies which means she has a great motivation and a strong positive perception of her business.

Typically associated with a gender? Age group?

As I said earlier in this document, the Madan Sara are mostly associated with adult women having household and raising kids obligations.

Is this a full time or part time occupation?

It is their full time occupation.

They work in collectives or individually?

They work individually. But, sometime, these informal workers may be grouped in grassroot association which is formally registered and recognized by the municipality.

Is this a growing group?​

So far, I can say it is an alternative for the high unemployment rate which characterizes the labor market.

What are their struggles? What does their daily life look like? What are their needs?

As the agricultural products are highly perishable, the Madan Sara business activities are highly risky. In addition, the Madan Sara don't benefit an formal assurance coverage or any social protection. From this point of view, they are vulnerable and can encounter heavy economic losses during natural catastrophe events or during political unrest or disturbance.

Perceptions and Motivation

Intrinsic perceptions and motivations

How does this group perceive itself (or the individuals within)?

The "Madan Sara" are very proud women and represent the pillars (pito mitan in Haitian creole) of the rural households in Haiti. In addition, they ensure the connection between the farmers and the markets. Therefore, they play a key role in the Haitian economy particularly rural economy in Haiti. Around 90% (my own estimate) of agricultural products get access to the markets via "Madan Sara". By this, they both support the farmers whom easily sell their products and the urban consumers eager to eat biological and local products. You can access short testimonies of "Madan Sara" at [[1]] .

What motivates members of this group?

The "Madan Sara" are themselves most of the time farmers' wives or single mothers from rural communities. As such, they bear the responsibility to provide food to the household and to pay the school fees for their kids. Without minimizing the role of the men, the "Madan Sara" are both managers and key to the success of the households. Here in Haiti, what is considered to be successful households is when the parents raise their kids in way that they finish their classical schools and enter universities to gain diplomas in order become to very responsible adults.

Extrinsic perceptions and motivations

How this group perceived by others (including yourself)?

The "Madan Sara" are highly appreciated and perceived both in the cities and rural communities where they come from. They are responsible parents despite the hardship of life in Haiti and represent good examples for young ladies in rural communities. In addition, they facilitate the rural communities to access manufactured goods that they don't produce. They maintain a symbiotic relationship with their communities.

Other questions to be addressed could be: Is there a cultural or historic reference in the name?

Actually, "Madan Sara" refer also some very colorful, beautiful birds and laborious bird. Culturally, these birds are known for their ability to take good care of their kids and do all their best to protect them from external attacks or aggressors. Those birds live in colony and move from one place to another in order to survive. From a zoological angle, they belong to the Passeriform family and named scientifically as Proceus cucullatus.

Historically, according to the mythology, Madan Sara was the first Haitian woman to introduce the beautiful bird mentioned above.

Does the name have a positive or negative connotation?​

The name "Madan Sara" has a very positive connotation in Haiti. The society sees these women as heroic, laborious and examples to follow.

Are individuals in this group generally driven by survival or a business model?​

Are there positive aspects associated with this group? For example, flexibility, freedom, agility, or self organization

How do members of this group perceive more formal employment? What are the main deterrents of formalizing?​ The "Madan Sara" Does this group have any specific needs?​

System

What is the role of the informal worker in the broader informal ecosystem?

Who do they interact with. What kind of relationships do they need? 

What "problem or need" are they solving?

Other additional questions to be addressed could be:

What service or product is this group providing?​ What is that they need to deliver their service or product?​ Conditions, tools, skills to make a living​ Do they own their work tools? Their work?​ What sector does this group usually represent?​ Aproximately, how many people are represented by this group?" "how are they represented in the economy​? How has this sector been affected by public policy?​

Can you include a picture or a depiction?

References

Insert here any external references https://finca.org/madansarafilm/