ABOUT DESPRI

(Développement Entreprenariat Social Production Rural Intégré) is a Haitian development organization founded in 2012. DESPRI is a registered NGO with the Ministry of Plannification.

Vision: Rural communities across Haiti have diverse opportunities to develop their capacities, protect and regenerate their environment, and take a leadership role in innovative and dynamic livelihoods

Mission: Build vibrant local economies and thriving communities in rural Haiti

Learn more about our approach and programs.

Our Team

Richard Beausejour, Executive Director

B.A. in Business Management from ESIG (Geneva-Switzerland), M.A. in marketing management from Centre Philip Kotler. Richard has a long and significant experience in commercial and development project management with institutions such as PSI-Haiti, CARE-Haiti, Chemonics International, Coca-Cola, and the French oil company Total, where he proved strategic and operational management has no secrets for him. Rational, rigorous, and organized, Richard is a professional leader driving the organization to realize targeted and relevant actions with accountability to both funders and community since 2018.

Gaston Leonel, Director of Administration and Finance

Gaston has been with DESPRI since 2014, and is responsible for the administrative and financial structure set in place to ensure transparent and systematic decision-making and accountability of all projects and funds which we manage. A certified accountant, Gaston brings to the team an impeccable attention to detail, thoroughness and long experience in management and accounting.

James Metayer, Environmental Programs Coordinator

With an M.S. in Ecological Biodiversity from University of Montpellier, France, James brings to the team not only extensive practical knowledge of ecosystem management, but also experience leading large scale evidence-based environmental projects. He is the designer and manager of our coastal mangrove and mountain systems protection and restoration program focused on protecting and regenerating the endangered mangrove areas and critical watershed in his native Anse Rouge, while also holding a faculty position at the Universite Quisqueya.

Marie-Anette Jn Charles, Women’s Self-Help Group Leader

Marie-Anette has been the team leader of our women’s Self-Help Group field trainers since DESPRI’s foundation. An experienced and passionate community leader active in women’s rights and local development projects, she is committed to improving the leadership and livelihood of women in the 60 villages we work with.

Emmanuel Alexis, Community Organizer

One of the original founders of the biggest grassroots peasants’ movement, Moveman Payzan Papayii (MPP), Manno has led DESPRI’s community organization and capacity building programs for 15 years. An experienced and dynamic communicator and trainer, his strength lies in efficiently boiling down complex ideas and patiently helping solve conflicts in an inclusive and participatory manner.

Sherly Charles, Chief Accountant

Holding degrees in accounting and administration, Sherly heads our accounting department. A licensed accountant with years of experience in organizational audits, she brings invaluable attention to procedures and details, and a strong work ethic.

Our Board of Directors

Demeter Russafov, Founder and Board President

Born in Bulgaria, Demeter holds a B.A. and B.S. in Environmental Planning and Fine Art from University of North Carolina, M.A. in Education from Endicott College, and a postgraduate professional certificate in Humanitarian Project Management from BioForce, France. Has held top management positioons in planning, construction management, humanitarian relief and development. Passionate about environmental and social entrepreneurship innovation, and empowering diverse teams to reach their full potential.

Innobert Pierre, Founding Member and Vice-President

Innobert PIERRE has been involved in managing large scale public health and community services programs in rural Haiti since 2000. A medical doctor and administrator, he has held the position of Director of the Saint Boniface Hospital in Font de Blanc for more than 15 years, and has served in leadership roles in a variety of other programs and Boards.

Sara Elizabeth Wolf, Founding Member, Education and Women’s Empowerment Initiatives Specialist

A Graduate of Harvard School of Education (M.A.) and Haverford College (B.A.), Sara has been the driving force behind all of AMURT’s innovative education initiatives over the past 12 years. Voted Teacher of the Year by the NY United Federation of Teachers in 2008, she brought to Haiti 15 years of hands-on innovative teaching experience in NYC and India, Cuba, and Africa. She led her team in creating the Vibrant School methodology, focusing on child-centered participative modalities of teaching appropriate for the Haitian context and promoting Kreyol culture and language.

Remise Belisaire, Advisory Member

Remise was the principal pillar of our establishment of the women’s Self-Help Group structures in the Northwest of Haiti, and has been closely involved in their continuous capacity building and empowerment. In 2017 she was nominated as Haiti’s Social Entrepreneur of the Year by DigiCel Foundation, representing DESPRI’s innovative social entrepreneurship structures. She is passionate about women rights, literacy, and empowerment, and is closely connected to many of the women SHG leaders and facilitators.

Jacky Lumarque, Founding Member

Jacky Lumarque has served in senior leadership positions in Haiti for the past 40 years. He holds degrees from Université Toulouse III, France (Mathematics), Université Nice-Sophia Antipolis (MBA), Université Lyon III (Law). He’s the President of Université Quisqueya, Member of the Board of Directors of AUF (Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie), Coordinator of the Presidential Working Group on Education, amongst others.

Yves Joseph Gerard Pierre-Louis, Founding Member

Yves GERARD is a Medical Doctor and Programs Manager with more than 25 years of experience in planning, coordinating and implementing public health projects with multiple donors like Global Funds, USAID, CDC KFW, World Bank, DFID, UNICEF, etc. He is currently the Executive Director of the Ministry of Health with direct responsibility to manage donor funds, and has held positions as a Deputy Director of PSI International, Director of PREVSIDA, and other other Global Fund Managing positions.

Thierry Daher, Advisory Member

Thierry is a former tech and media entrepreneur with more than 30 years experience in various creative and business domains in NYC and France. He has founded and managed several Foundations and non-profits striving to achieve food sovereignty for local communities. When not working as a coach and mindfulness instructor or building the capacities of community-based organizations you will likely find him in the ocean surfing.

Garvey Lundy, Advisory Member

As Garvey describes it, “As a child of Haiti and as an academic situated in the West, I have had a long-standing interest and passion for my country and its people. I believe the world owes Haiti a debt of gratitude, yet unpaid, for its fearless and heroic challenge to white supremacy, during an era ill prepared to meet such challenges. Indeed, if the arc of the moral universe is long, and bends toward justice, that arch must surely bend through Haiti”. Garvey is a professor of Sociology at Temple University, and maintains a close engagement with Haiti and various development and social initiatives.

Paul Ziade, Advisory Member

Paul spent 2 years coordinating our project activities in the NW of Haiti in the very first years of DESPRI. He has a background in International Business Development and 15+ years experience in complex multi cultural team and project management, fundraising and new business development for both the private and NGO sectors. Passionate about impact, Paul has built capacities of local organizations, worked for international NGOs, cofounded 2 social businesses and most recently worked in the mobile for development industry, living and working in over a dozen of countries in the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean.