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Antigua and Barbuda diplomats discuss major priorities

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On the margins of the 2022 Effective Development Cooperation Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, Ambassador Walton Webson, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations in New York, paid a courtesy call on Ambassador Boris Latour, Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations Office in Geneva, and Ambassador Colin Murdoch, Permanent Observer of the Permanent Delegation of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva.

Ambassadors Murdoch and Latour warmly welcomed Ambassador Webson to Geneva and were eager to discuss key strategic priorities for Antigua and Barbuda at the multilateral organizations based in Switzerland.

Identified as major on their agendas was a more active role for Antigua and Barbuda at the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In recent years, Antigua and Barbuda has seen its role and prominence in global matters increase significantly. Serving as the current Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), hosting the OECS Assembly, and now preparing to host the UN Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (4th SIDS Conference) has brought the nation significant global attention.

As the Ambassadors candidly provided updates on their respective programs of work, Ambassador Webson emphasized the lofty undertaking of hosting the 4th SIDS Conference in 2024.

Success will require an all-Government approach and forging new partnerships.

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In this regard, Ambassador Latour expressed his commitment to supporting the Permanent Mission in New York in every way possible.

He further proposed establishing a coordination mechanism between the two offices to ensure that the country’s interests are widely represented and advocated for in one voice.

Nudging the discussion forward, Ambassador Murdoch iterated that Antigua and Barbuda remains a prominent and influential member of the OECS.

The commitment of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to strengthen the voice of the sub-region on critical issues at the WTO through his office in Geneva.

He believes that coordination between the OECS, Capitals and International Organizations could strengthen representation in the European theatre.

Ambassador Latour was recently appointed in October 2022 as the Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations Office in Geneva.

He brings a wealth of experience in renewable energy, information technology, real estate, hospitality, agriculture, and finance.

Present at the courtesy call with the Ambassadors were Timothee Bauer, Deputy Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations in Geneva, Joel Richards, Senior Technical Specialist, Permanent Delegation of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, and Javier Spencer, Adviser, Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations in New York.

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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]