Norbert Stimphil

He founded and led the group SMELCA which prepares school textbooks used in Haiti. These textbooks are edited by the catholic branch of education. Norbert has climbed all the steps of the educational system of Haiti for over 35 years, starting as a teacher at Secondary (High) schools, then inspector at the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training and finally as a university professor. He has worked as a senior education consultant and as an advisor to the Minister of Education, on education policy and reform of the education system.

Norbert has also been engaged in associative and advocacy groups for education.  He was the vice president of FONHEP (Fondation Haitienne de l’Enseignement Privé), vice president of COSPE (Consortium des Organisations du Secteur Privé de l’Education), leader of UNNOH (Union Nationale des Normaliens Haitiens), FENEH (Fédération Nationale des Etudiants Haitiens).

After acquiring his bachelor’s degree in education at “L’ Ecole Normale Supérieure” of the State University of Haiti, Norbert pursued specialized studies in Education and Development at the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, in Physiology at the University of La Havane in Cuba, in Didactics of Experimental Sciences at the University of Geneva in Switzerland, in Education Sciences at CEFOSED, Haiti, and in Chemistry at CHEMTEK, Haiti.

For several years, Norbert has been involved in various initiatives for local development in Haiti. With his long-time friends and colleagues from Haiti, he co-founded FINACT Foundation with the goal to promote coordinated interventions between Haitian abroad and those living in Haiti for sustainable local development in Haiti.