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Op-Ed: Human Rights Day

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By Didier Trebucq, UN Regional Coordinator

Every year around the world, Human Rights Day is celebrated on 10 December, which
coincides with the culmination of the observance of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-
based Violence.

This day is a chance to recognize the progress we have made in the protection of all people, especially of those who are neglected, stigmatized, or left behind.

We pause, with an eye on the past months, and we charter the future. We renew our
commitments to inclusion of all human beings, and to progress towards fairer communities
and societies.

This year is not different, except that we are looking far back to 1948, to a time that inspired one of the most powerful documents in History – the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We are also looking forward with expectation, as we embark on a year-long campaign to
celebrate its 75 th anniversary in 2023 and foster greater progress towards the Global Goals.

Be part of the conversation.

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The vision of a world that would ensure human development without distinctions was born in 1948 and remains at the center of the 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which aspire for peace and prosperity for people and planet.

The Universal Declaration recognized that a life in dignity could only be realized if we
ensured every person access to justice, several freedoms (of expression, of movement, of
religion, to name a few) as well as an adequate standard of health, food, housing and social services, employment, and education.

These principles are the bedrock of the SDGs, outlined by the UN in 2015, to which nearly
all countries worldwide have committed themselves, with a promise to work together to
improve the planet and the lives of its population by 2030.

These global targets seek to end extreme poverty everywhere, and to ensure that persons of every race, age, and socio- economic status, have access to optimum services and facilities, and are treated equally despite their gender, sexual orientation, or any other factors.

The days of discrimination in any form must end.

In 2021, the UN Secretary General issued a report, “Our common agenda”, that recognizes
the need for a renewed social contract, anchored in universal human rights.

It underlines a whole-of-society approach that is nourished equally by the State and its institutions, as it is by civil society, individuals, and the private sector.

In other words, our 21st century societies can only advance towards dignity and rights if the contributions and forces of individuals, organizations and private actors strive for equality for all, and commit to leaving no one behind.

In this context, we at the UN for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean recognize that some
challenges and needs are pressing, and that our work with and support to national and regional stakeholders must make a difference to women and men of all ages, and notably
those who are at-risk and marginalized.

The current concerns of the population, be it high youth unemployment, gender disparities in pay, raising cost of living and food insecurity, growing socio-economic inequality, and limited fiscal space for health, education, or social protection, cannot be adequately addressed without genuine participation and social inclusion.

While we have taken positive steps to create a space for the voice of youth, and ensure their inclusion in our planning and programmes, we recognize that there is still more to be done.

We must ensure more interaction with persons with disabilities, migrants and refugees, the
elderly, LGBTIQ people, and other marginalized individuals or groups.

Similarly, to address in an intersectoral perspective, environmental degradation, and climate- related disasters, and foster resilience of people, institutions, and infrastructure, we need more effective and widespread consultations among all stakeholders including governments, indigenous peoples, persons in rural communities and fisherfolk.

It is for this reason, that our campaign #MoreThan for Human Rights Day 2022 has focused
on inclusion and shared the voices of different people in the region.

I invite you to visit our social media channels and see how Roxanne, Abel, Anthony, and others are contributing to inclusion in our societies.

I invite you to join us as we continue to strive for a more inclusive society for all.

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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]