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World AIDS Day message from CARICOM S-G

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Each year, December 1 is observed as World AIDS Day. The theme for this year is “Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility”.

On this day, we take time to reflect upon the global response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic by remembering the lives lost over the past four decades. We celebrate our achievements over the past years, and pledge to work in even more inclusive and innovative ways over the coming year to end the AIDS epidemic that is still a public health threat.

World AIDS Day this year is being observed in the shadow of the Coronavirus pandemic. These are challenging times for all of us. COVID-19 is not only directly causing high morbidity and mortality, it is also disrupting essential systems for health, as well as programmes to address HIV and other global health priorities.

Service disruptions associated with COVID-19 are impacting global, regional and national efforts to end the epidemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is threatening access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care. A survey conducted by PANCAP and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) highlighted numerous disruptions in these areas among National Programmes in the Region.

Without strategies to meet these needs, we may see a resurgence of HIV that can threaten our public health response to COVID-19.

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COVID-19 has demonstrated that during the pandemic, no one is safe until everyone is safe.  Leaving people behind is not an option, if we are to succeed.  Therefore, the HIV response must be maintained and actions to respond to HIV must be accelerated.

Eliminating stigma and discrimination, putting people at the centre, and grounding our responses in human rights and gender-responsive approaches are crucial to ending the pandemic of COVID-19 and the epidemic of HIV/AIDS.

The theme of global solidarity and shared responsibility highlights the need for all of us to show support for people living with HIV.  Solidarity, collaboration, support and individual action are all needed, if we are to end the epidemic.

When our own Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) was established almost twenty years ago, this was a demonstration of Caribbean solidarity.

It involved Governments, Civil Society Organisations, Regional Institutions and Development Partners committed to working together in response to the threat of HIV to sustainable human development in the Region.

Today, the Partnership stands strong and continues to lead the regional response, guided by the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework, to accelerate progress for achieving the UNAIDS 90-90-90 Targets and ending AIDS in the Region.

This is all part of the effort to attain the Sustainable Development Goals, which requires an unprecedented level of global solidarity and resolve for us to live in a better world.

The work in the Region must not be halted by the pandemic.  The CARICOM Secretariat recognises the hard work of all partners working in the Region and would like to express our appreciation.

I therefore call on all of us to do everything possible to support the HIV response to ensure the sustainability of the gains of the past decades, and to intensify future efforts to end the epidemic.

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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]