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  • CDB provides funds to Dominica to help island build back better

CDB provides funds to Dominica to help island build back better

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The Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is providing Dominica with funds to “build back better” following the island’s devastation by Hurricane Maria last year.

The CDB said that it is extending the implementation timeline for projects under the Bank’s Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) and that it has approved a proposal to allow US$1.9 million in already-committed BNTF resources to remain available to Dominica until December 31.

Under BTNF cycles seven and eight which began in 2012 and 2014 respectively, country projects-designed to support improvements in water and sanitation; education and human resource development; and access and drainage, were scheduled to be completed by December 31.

However, the Bank’s board of directors acknowledged that the devastating passage of Tropical Storm Erika in 2015 and Hurricane Maria in 2017 severely hampered the country’s ability to implement the BNTF projects on time.

Director of Projects at CDB, Daniel Best said the bank was sensitive to the fact that two severe weather systems in the span of three years had had a wide-ranging impact on the planned BNTF projects.

“Dominica was still in the process of recovering from Tropical Storm Erika when Hurricane Maria hit. The effects of these storms coming so close together can be seen in the persistent challenges still being experienced — especially in the construction and ancillary services sectors in Dominica. With all of the ongoing BNTF 7 and 8 sub-projects for Dominica being infrastructure or civil works this has understandably delayed progress on this work,” said Best.

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He said that in addition to shortages of building materials; a shortage of skilled and unskilled construction workers; and heightened demand for local contractors, the staff of the local BNTF implementing agency were personally affected by the storms’ passage.

“Taking all of this into consideration, CDB considers it important to recognise the challenges faced by Dominica and to continue to be responsive to the Government of Dominica’s commitment to ‘building back better’,” stated Best.

The CDB said that the decision means that funds which had been committed but not yet disbursed, will remain available to complete several important projects.

It said these include water supply rehabilitation projects in several communities including La Plaine, Salisbury, Bagatelle, Fond St. Jean and Boetica, building the Grand Bay/Dubique Resource Centre and rehabilitation of the San Sauvier Primary School.

BNTF is CDB’s flagship programme for fighting poverty in the region.

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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]