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  • Dominica makes first export of Vetiver grass to Antigua and Barbuda under IICA-CBF EbA project

Dominica makes first export of Vetiver grass to Antigua and Barbuda under IICA-CBF EbA project

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The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) project hit a milestone with the first-time export of vetiver grass from Dominica to Antigua and Barbuda.

The project, “Strengthening Coastal and Marine Climate Resilience through Upland and Coastal Ecosystem Based Adaptation and Community Engagement”, is supporting climate change adaptation and poverty alleviation in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.

It is funded under the CBF EbA Facility, financed by the Government of Germany, German Development Bank (KfW) with resources from the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety.

Vetiver is seen as a green engineering solution to climate change. It is typical to Dominica, with farmers maintaining hedgerows in their fields, communities and around their homes to control water flow and soil erosion. One such farmer, Anthony Lucien of the Kalinago Territory sees vetiver as an inseparable part of Kalinago agriculture and culture.

“We need to keep our culture alive and, as a farmer, I am playing my part in growing the raw materials that my grandfather, father and people in my community still use to weave the baskets, mats and other crafts”, Lucien said.

Selected to supply the vetiver grass slips to Antigua and Barbuda, he is proud to be part of this historical moment and project milestone.

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Antigua and Barbuda have no significant sources of vetiver, hence the supply from Dominica. Under the project, the IICA Delegations and Ministries of Agriculture Plant Protection Units in Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica coordinated a process to complete a Pest Risk Assessment (PRA), a first for the region.

Kent Coipel of IICA Dominica coordinated the process of identifying and preparing the grass for export. The project provided Lucien with approved chemicals and safety wear for in-field treatment of plants and post-harvest treatment of clumps and slips, a first for Dominica.

In Dominica, the EbA project is being implemented in the rural areas of Petite Soufrière and Kalinago Territory, where the populations depend on coastal, marine and upland ecosystems for their livelihoods. These communities and their ecosystems are extremely vulnerable to climate change and adaptation and, as a consequence, mainstreaming grassroots EbA solutions will be important to building their environmental, economic and social resilience. This is in keeping with Dominica’s vision of becoming a resilient nation.

Coipel acknowledged the full and hands-on support of the Ministry of Agriculture of Dominica Plant Protection and Quarantine, and Extension Units in facilitating the Pest Risk Assessment, supervising in-field and post-harvest treatments, and clearing the packages for shipment on June 1st.

This is the first batch of 2,180 vetiver grass slips of a total of 7,000 to be exported to Antigua under the project brand ‘Vetiver4lavie’ (i.e., vetiver for life). They will be received by the IICA Delegation and the Ministry of Agriculture of Antigua and Barbuda for propagation to supply the grass for green engineering soil and land amelioration / rehabilitation solutions in the Cooks Landfill and training of young persons in vetiver handicraft as viable green business livelihoods.

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One response to “Dominica makes first export of Vetiver grass to Antigua and Barbuda under IICA-CBF EbA project”

  1. A technical invasion from a non indigenous flora and fauna plus,with the auspices of we own decadent GOAB institutions

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(CONSULTING SERVICES – INDIVIDUAL SELECTION)

 

OECS MSME Guarantee Facility Project

Loan No.: IDA-62670, IDA-62660, IDA-62640, IBRD-88830, IDA-62650

Assignment Title: Senior Operating Officer (SOO)

Reference No. KN-ECPCGC-207852-CS-INDV

 

The Governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have received financing in the amount of US$10 million equivalent from the World Bank towards the cost of establishing a partial credit guarantee scheme, and they intend to apply part of the proceeds to payments for goods, and consulting services to be procured under this project. 

The consultant will serve as the “Senior Operating Officer (SOO)” for the ECPCGC and should possess extensive knowledge of MSME lending with some direct experience lending to Micro, small and medium-sized businesses, knowledge of the internal control processes necessary for a lending operation and the ability to design and implement risk mitigation procedures. The ideal candidate should possess an Undergraduate Degree from a reputable college or university, preferably in Business, Accounting, Banking or related field, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in lending, inclusive of MSME lending. The initial employment period will be for two years on a contractual basis. Renewal of the contract will be subject to a performance evaluation at the end of the contractual period. The assignment is expected to begin on September 30th, 2021.  The consultant will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the ECPCGC.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be viewed by following the attached link below. 

 

https://bit.ly/3iVannm

 

The Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECPCGC) now invites eligible “Consultants” to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have:

  • An Undergraduate Degree from a reputable college or university, preferably in Business, Finance, Banking or related field; and
  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in MSME lending. Applicants should also have:
  • The ability to design and implement risk management procedures 
  • Extensive knowledge of MSME lending with some direct experience lending to small and medium-sized businesses
  • Extensive knowledge of MSME banking operations
  • Knowledge of the internal controls necessary for a lending operation and the ability to design and implement risk management procedures
  • Experience developing and presenting information in public, including responding to questions in real-time
  • Experience lending to MSMEs located in the ECCU
  • Knowledge of marketing and communicating with the MSME sector
  • Ability to draft procedures to be used in a lending operation
  • Familiarity with the mechanics of a loan guarantee program
  • Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills, and
  • Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office suite.

The attention of interested Individual Consultants is drawn to Section III, Paragraphs 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers July 2016, [revised November 2017] (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest. A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Approved Selection Method for Individual Consultants set out in the clause 7.34 of the World Bank Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers. 

 

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours 0800 to 1700 hours:

Eastern Caribbean Partial Credit Guarantee Corporation

Brid Rock, Basseterre,

St. Kitts.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form by e-mail by August 11th, 2021, to [email protected]

 

For further information, please contact:

Carmen Gomez-Trigg                                                            Bernard Thomas

Chief Executive Officer                                                          Chief Financial Officer

Tel: 868-620-8144                                                                  Tel: 869-765-2385

Email: [email protected]                                          [email protected]