USAID, the U.S. government humanitarian agency responsible for many of Haiti's earthquake recovery projects, has opened up its "buy American" restrictions on the agency's supply contracts to include both local and regional sources. The policy change, which will come into effect this week, will change how Haitian and Caribbean businesses can participate in Haiti's recovery process.

"We want to work with a broader range of partners and increase competition," said Lisa Gomer, who heads the USAID policy reform. The policy change, a part of a wider reform effort called USAID Forward, represents a "different philosophical approach to development," says Gomer.

Previously, the U.S. agency was only allowed to source supplies from American-owned business, despite leading to higher costs and delays. For Haiti, this restriction led to much aid money being pumped back into American industries, instead of being invested in developing Haiti's economy and self- sufficiency.

The reform however does not include the sourcing of U.S. funded food supply. Federal law still requires that the majority of American food aid must be sourced from US suppliers.