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Low interest loans for Cashew Hill and surrounding communities

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The Department of Environment and the Sustainable Island Resource Framework (SIRF) Fund is pleased to invite persons within the Cashew Hill sub-watershed to apply to the Revolving Fund Programme for Loans that would assist them in building resilience against the negative effects and impacts of climate change.

For the purposes on the Enhanced Direct Access (EDA) Project, the sub-watershed spans an area bounded by the capital city of St. John’s in the north and north-west; Ottos, Gray Hill and Golden Grove New Extension in the west; Bendals in the south and Potters in the East (see map attached).

This loan programme will provide small loans of up to EC $200,000 at a rate of 2% interest per annum for households and businesses to make improvements that help them better adapt to climate change impacts. Adaptation measures eligible for funding include:

Water management use and efficiency: 

  • Water efficient applications;
  • Water recycling systems;
  • Rainwater harvesting and storage;
  • Small irrigation measures; and
  • Septic systems for buildings.

Climate Smart Buildings – sustainable building practices and facility for extreme climatic events: 

  • Roof insulation and/or envelop improvement;
  • Green roofs;
  • Green gardens; and
  • Climate change resilience to existing storage structures (safe rooms/ bunker)

Flood control: 

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  • Green infrastructure (previous surfaces); and
  • Increasing foundation heights/stilts.

Structural adjustments that increase climate change resilience: 

  • Roof reinforcement; and
  • Strengthening windows and doors; and
  • Installing hurricane shutters.

Renewable Energy Systems: 

  • Enhancing access to clean energy solutions (e.g. solar cooling, solar water heating, energy efficient air conditioners, etc.);
  • Applications for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy as a part of a wider project for increasing resilience to climate change;

To be eligible to apply for this revolving loan programme, individuals should reside in the project area and own their homes and businesses. The project area is the following communities:

  • Cashew Hill;
  • Golden Grove and Golden Grove New Extension;
  • Nut Grove;
  • Ottos;
  • Belmont / Briggins;

To apply for the Revolving Fund Programme or for more information, interested individuals can visit the SIRF Fund office at The Victory Center, Nugent Avenue, or contact us at 464-5030 or 464-5031 (including WhatsApp). Application forms can also be found on the Department of Environment’s website at https://www.environment.gov.ag/en/sirf#application. The deadline for application is March 31st, 2021.

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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]