IFD/CTI โ Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility (CCPF) Project Development Officer Consultant
Post of duty: Barbados
Established in 1959, the Inter-American Development Bank (โIDBโ or โBankโ) is the main source of financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. It provides loans, grants, guarantees, policy advice and technical assistance to the public and private sectors of its borrowing countries.
Within the IDB, its Competitiveness, Technology and Innovation (CTI) Division provides funding, technical assistance and knowledge products to support governments in key action areas that support innovation and productivity growth in the private sector. CTIโs action focuses on designing public policies to promote innovation, strengthening institutional capacity of the agencies and ministries that are responsible for implementing these policies, training in science, technology and innovation for advanced human capital, and strengthening scientific and technological infrastructure, among others.
CTI houses the Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility (CCPF), a US$27.5 million, private sector development program focused in the Caribbean region. The objectives of the CCPF are to (i) to support Caribbean firms to grow, innovate and enter new sectors and markets; and (ii) to promote an environment that enables innovation and growth. The program is structured into two pillars. Pillar I: Productivity and Innovation in Firms; and Pillar II: Business and Innovation Climate. The program is jointly funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Government of Canada (CIDA) and is executed by the IDB, through a Facility Coordination Unit (FCU) based in the IDBโs Barbados Country Office.
The CCPF is currently supporting projects in The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines. Each of the projects fall into one of the following instruments:
Projects financed by Pillar 1: Productivity and Innovation in Firms fall under one of the following three instruments:
1. Direct Support to Clusters and Value Chains
2. Stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation in the private sector.
3. Support for productivity through technology adoption
Projects financed by Pillar 2: Business and Innovation Climate fall under one of the following three instruments:
1. Supporting institutions in charge of public-private dialogue and private sector development for evidence-based policy-making;
2. Supporting the drafting and implementation of policies or regulations that can significantly improve the business climate, particularly the Doing Business indicators;
3. Data and knowledge generation for policy or regulatory reforms related to private sector development
Beyond the work of the CCPF, the IDBโs CTI division develops loan programs and additional technical assistance projects in the Caribbean, which are focused on increasing the ability of the regionโs private sector to be more competitive and to grow more dynamically.
Compete Caribbean currently has over 30 active private sector development projects throughout the 13 beneficiary countries. Of these, the facility is currently funding 11 blue economy projects valued at US$5.0 million. CCPF has funded the development of 8 cluster development plans and 7 innovative business plans that are focused on the blue economy, 7 of which are under implementation. CCPF has also contributed to developing the legal and regulatory framework around the development of the blue economy and sustainable use of marine resources, as well as supporting the promotion of foreign direct investment (FDI and other methods of financing expansion in the blue economy. The CCPF is expected to finish implementation of all projects by the end of June 2024.
CTI has an additional portfolio of technical assistance and loan operations, that will go beyond 2024. One of the technical assistance projects, RG-T4201 โ Strengthening the investment, innovation and business climate in the Caribbean, is funding the Economic Growth Initiative, which was designed to identify and finance innovative solutions that help unleash private investment in Latin America and the Caribbean. 8 projects have been selected for financing, which are all scheduled to be completed in 2025.
About this position
CTI and Compete Caribbean are looking for an experienced consultant that has successfully managed projects aimed towards increasing innovation or competitiveness in particular economic sectors and/or of a country as a whole.
You will work in CCPF part of the IFD/CTI department. This team is responsible for the efficient management of the resources of the Facility towards achievement of the Facilityโs planned outputs, outcomes and impacts.
What youโll do:
You will be required to support the execution of the Compete Caribbean blue economy project portfolio and CTIโs Economic Growth Initiative under the direct supervision of IDB Specialists and the Compete Caribbean Pillar coordinators, and independently; taking the lead on project-level activities, for projects of varying complexity,
Within these projects, you are expected to:
Accompany missions and provide content for dialogue with counterparts on both the technical side as well as on the operational detail of projects for which you are responsible. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and knowledge/prior experience in projects related to at least some of the instruments cited above is a requirement for this activity. Support and coordinate the day-to-day project implementation by being responsible for timely procurement of consulting services and managing the performance of contracted consultants, including being able to critically review deliverables and suggest improvements and/or acceptance to pillar coordinators. Strong organizational skills, time-management and trouble-shooting skills are required for this activity. Coordinate the relationship between the program and project intermediaries, project beneficiaries and other key stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation and/or to identify opportunities for technical assistance and/or leverage with other partners. Excellent inter-personal skills and a good technical grasp of the concepts behind some of the instruments outlined above is a requirement for this activity. Monitoring project performance and documenting progress towards objectives/outcomes by being responsible for the collection and storage of monitoring data (baseline and results data and stories from the field); and preparation of Progress Monitoring Reports (PMRs) and Project Completion Report (PCRs), including recording of this data in relevant IDB and Compete Caribbean systems. Contribute to develop and disseminate material (blogs, presentations, short papers, articles) capturing project results, knowledge products, and other communication products derived from the projects and/or their activities that can enhance the visibility of Compete Caribbeanโs and CTIโs work in the region and/or enhance understanding among policy-makers and key stakeholders of the kinds of interventions that can produce impact.What you'll need
Education: Masterโs degree in science, business, economics or related field; and project management certification. A minimum of five years of professional experience. Experience: At least five (5) years of project management or professional experience in identifying, preparing, and managing the execution of private sector development projects with a focus on improving innovation, productivity and competitiveness. Prior experience engaging in dialogue with senior decision makers on issues related to innovation, productivity and/or competitiveness (business climate reforms, e-government, entrepreneurship, innovation systems, clusters, strengthening business support organizations, etc.). Prior experience working with multilateral development institutions and knowledge of procurement policies and programming practices used by these institutions would be an asset. Experience in a developing country setting is required. Experience in the Caribbean would be a significant advantage. Languages: Proficiency in English.
Key skills:
Learn continuously. Collaborate and share knowledge. Focus on clients. Communicate and influence. Innovate and try new things.
Requirements:
Citizenship: You are a citizen of one of our 48-member countries. Consanguinity: You have no family members (up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including spouse) working at the IDB, IDB Invest, or IDB Lab.
Type of contract and duration:
Type of contract: International Consultant Full-Time. Length of contract: Twelve months Work Location: On site.
What we offer
The IDB group provides benefits that respond to the different needs and moments of an employeeโs life. These benefits include:
A competitive compensation packages. Leaves and vacations: 2 days per month of contract + gender- neutral parental leave. Health Insurance: the IDB Group provides a monthly allowance for the purchase of health insurance. Savings plan: โโโโโโโThe IDB Group cares about your future, depending on the length of the contract, you will receive a monthly savings plan allowance. We offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your family when it applies. Hybrid and flexible work schedules. Development support: We offer learning opportunities to boost your professional profile such as seminars, 1:1 professional counseling, and much more. Health and wellbeing: Access to our Health Services Center which provides preventive care and health education for all employees. Other perks: Lactation Room, Parking, and others.
Our culture
At the IDB Group we work so everyone brings their best and authentic selves to work, willing to try new approaches without fear, and where they are accountable and rewarded for their actions.