The Bank of the Republic of Haiti (BRH) informs the general public and the scientific community in particular of the opening of the 4th application period for funding for scientific research projects to the BRH Research and Development Fund (FRD-BRH).

For this 4th cohort, the selected research areas aim to strengthen scientific reflection on Haiti's economic, financial, and institutional challenges, prioritizing empirical and multidisciplinary work focused on diagnoses, development levers, and public policy recommendations. Key information regarding the priority areas for the period under consideration:

Submissions are open from June 15 to August 15, 2026, and projects must address the following sectors or areas :

Artificial Intelligence : Identification of levers related to artificial intelligence (AI) that can accelerate development, stimulate growth, or contribute to solving public problems. Research projects must also propose ways to use AI in monitoring, controlling, understanding, and analyzing certain economic and financial phenomena in specific sectors or industries.

Fintech and Financial Inclusion : A study of the obstacles and opportunities related to the development of the fintech sector in Haiti, as well as regulatory and investment policies likely to reduce the digital divide, promote the development of electronic payment platforms, and lead to a higher rate of financial inclusion. The research must highlight the real potential of the fintech sector, consumer expectations, and the regulatory mechanisms necessary for securing and protecting digital financial transactions.

SMEs and Economic Development : An analysis of the challenges faced by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Haiti and their role as drivers of growth and job creation, highlighting the challenges and opportunities, the financing structure, and the obstacles to the sector's development. The studies must also identify regional growth and economic development hubs, including the mechanisms for producing goods and services. Particular attention will be paid to the formalization of MSMEs and the implications of the informal nature of some of them for access to financing. The work will highlight the adaptation of tax legislation, the economic structure, the actual contribution of MSMEs to the economy in terms of job creation and participation in the productive system, as well as proposals for better financial integration of these businesses.

Public Security : Evaluation of the economic costs related to security constraints on production activities, the real sector, factor mobility, and the retention of skilled human resources in the country. The study must also analyze the phenomenon of violence in Haiti and its implications for macroeconomic stabilization efforts, particularly through the development of counterfactual scenarios. It must identify the challenges for economic policies.

Traditional Medicine : The study of medicinal plants existing in the country, the economic opportunities they represent, and their use in the management of pathologies, with a view to improving the health conditions of the population. Strategies for developing professional skills in the sector to ensure its full contribution to improving health and economic development, especially in rural areas.

Key Sectors of the Haitian Economy : A study of the key sectors of the Haitian economy. Initially, the research should include a documentary component covering as long a period as possible, going back at least to the 1950s. A dynamic analysis of the configuration of these sectors over a ten-year period should be integrated into the study. Subsequently, the study should establish a diagnosis of the current configuration of these economic sectors. It must include identifying the main sectors in the economy, selecting the most promising sectors for in-depth analysis, and mapping these sectors and their respective positions within the different branches of activity as defined in the country's national accounting system.

Note : The BRH strongly encourages project proponents to incorporate the principle of gender equality into their research, regardless of the field of study. Projects should consider gender issues in Haiti, their impact on economic growth, the reduction of inequalities, and financial inclusion.

For further information, please consult :

1 - Submission Procedure : https://frd.brh.ht/proceduressoumission.php

2 - Selection Criteria : https://frd.brh.ht/criteresselection.php

3 - Project Submission : https://frd.brh.ht/login.php

The submission period runs from June 15 to August 15, 2026.

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