For more than a decade, Rachel Pierre-Champagne has been building a successful career in the field of international development, managing projects with an emphasis on community empowerment, social inclusion, education, and workforce development. Rachel is the Founder and CEO of Innovators for Change (IFC) which aims to act as a catalyst for transformation, innovation or disruption in Haiti’s development framework by harnessing the talent, vision and ideas of innovators to create sustainably effective initiatives.
Concurrently, Rachel serves as the Director of Building Capacity at Fondasyon Kolè Zepol (Fonkoze), Haiti’s leading microfinance institution, to design and deliver digitally based adult education courses to help Haiti’s ultra-poor get on the pathway out of poverty. Prior to her stint at Fonkoze, Rachel served as Head of Projects for nearly seven years at the Digicel Foundation and was responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of education programs and community projects to further influence the sustainability and effectiveness of schools built by the Digicel Foundation, and to promote social inclusion and the advancement of marginalized communities through its grants program.
Prior to the Digicel Foundation, she has served as a consultant and leader for development projects in informal and continuing education, youth financial literacy and empowerment, and disabilities rehabilitation services at reputable non-profits and international non-governmental organizations such as Making Cents International and BRAC International.
Being socially engaged, Rachel serves as Board Chair for Special Olympics Haiti supporting the development and training of nearly 400 athletes living with intellectual disabilities.
Rachel holds a Master of Art and Master of Education from Columbia University in International Educational Development and a Bachelor of Art from Wheaton College in International Relations and French Studies. Currently, Rachel works in Haiti and has also worked in the United States and France.