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Call for Applications!

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Applications are now open for the Eastern Caribbean Greenpreneurs Interest-Free Loan Program. The interest-free loan facility will be a feature of the Eastern Caribbean Green Entrepreneurship Initiative’s Accelerator Programme.

The goal of the accelerator programme is to contribute to the growth of green business resulting in the creation of green jobs and improved livelihoods for people of the OECS.

The programme targets high-potential enterprises in the growth stage, offering investor matching services and funding through the Global Green Growth Institute’s (GGGI) Green Innovation Fund.The Interest-Free Loan programme offers investments of up to US$ 50,000 to cover operation and/or capital expenses of selected beneficiary enterprises.

The programme aims to facilitate the development, establishment, and growth of innovative green enterprises in six (6) OECS Member States namely; Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The programme is being implemented by the Global Green Growth Institute in partnership with the OECS Commission with funding from the Qatar Fund for Development.

To be eligible, green entrepreneurs must have business models aimed at solutions addressing environmental or sustainable development goals and should meet the following criteria.

  • At least three years of operations as of the application date
  • Minimum average annual turnover of EC 120,000 (around USD 44,400) during the last 2 fiscal years
  • At least 25% revenue growth during the last 3 fiscal years (may be waived for Covid-19 related impacts)
  • Demonstrate sufficient financial resources, comprising working capital supplemented by credit lines statements or overdraft facilities and others, at least equal to the interest-free loan requested
  • Contribution to resilient low carbon development as demonstrated by relevant KPIs including, among others:
    • Greenhouse Gas (GHG) mitigation potential
    • Green job creation potential
    •  Increased resilience to climate change
    • Circular economy

This is the first in several planned calls for proposals for interest-free loans.  It is anticipated that additional calls will be launched in Q3 2022, Q1 2023, and Q3 2023.  In addition, the Greenpreneurs Accelerator program will also be hosting workshops and a program to facilitate links between investors and growing green enterprises later this year.  To keep informed of upcoming Greenpreneurs program events, please sign up for our mailing list.

The application deadline is April 24th, 2022.

A programme information webinar will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 11AM (AST), to provide potential applicants with more information on the programme. Click here to register for the webinar.

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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]