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UN says Antigua continues to build resilience post Triple Crisis

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The Barbados-based United Nations’ Resident Coordinator Office says the Government of Antigua and Barbuda is continuing to build resilience following the COVID-19 pandemic and the Triple Crisis, with a focus on protecting the most vulnerable and accelerating the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATSAPP GROUP FOR NEWS UPDATES.

As part of ongoing efforts, the Resident Coordinator’s Office on Friday said  Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Finance and Corporate Governance, in collaboration with the United Nations Barbados and Eastern Caribbean, hosted a panel discussion that brought together key development partners and members of the international community to explore effective policy solutions to enhance future resilience.

The high-level panel included representatives from the Ministry of Social Transformation, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Resident Coordinator’s Office said the talks centred on the impact and response to the crisis of food, energy and finance, as well as means to foster economic transformation, promote renewable energy and strengthen food security.

With a primary focus on advocating for those furthest behind, the discussion also explored financing options available to help Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to bounce back from the Triple Crisis, and how best Antigua and Barbuda could speedily access these resources, the Resident Coordinator Office said.

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In addressing the launch, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Corporate Governance, Gaston Browne, noted the link between resilience and vulnerability.

“SIDS vulnerability is unique,” he said. “Resilience is the opposite side of the vulnerability coin; we cannot speak of resilience without addressing the vulnerability of SIDS, which cannot be understated. We must redouble our efforts to build resilience and protect the most vulnerable.

“Antigua and Barbuda as part of its quest to build resilience is on a mission to rescue the Sustainable Development Goals,” he added.

“The SDGs represent a call to action to end poverty and inequality, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy health, justice, and prosperity. It aims to transform our world and it is critical that no one is left behind.”

UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Didier Trebucq also addressed the forum, reiterating that building resilience was critical to the survival of Caribbean SIDS.

“With the climate crisis hitting the region, the task of building resilience is critical,” he said. “The passage of tropical storm Brett yesterday was just another reminder. SIDS remain exposed to climate change-related disasters, volatile food and energy markets, and unfortunately declining official development assistance.

“Rest assured that the UN stands committed to Antigua and Barbuda to build resilience,” Trebucq said.

“This is at the core of our cooperation agenda for Caribbean SIDS. But if we are to be successful, strong partnerships are critical. Today’s panel discussion provides, in my view, a great opportunity for meaningful conversation on how we can strengthen our collaboration in practical ways.”

The Resident Coordinator’s Office said fast-growing indebtedness and low access to concessional financing have made it difficult for Eastern Caribbean SIDS to achieve self-sufficiency in the energy and food sectors, whilst building resilience against inevitable external shocks and stressors.

“The Government of Antigua believes that a critical step towards building resiliency and achieving the ambition of the SDGs – prosperity for people and planet – is to establish a joint commitment between the Government and development partners to create a viable roadmap,” it said.

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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]