Background

With support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Caribbean Export Development Agency is initiating efforts to support the digital transformation of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Caribbean. The IDB, established in 1959, is the principal source of financing for economic, social, and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean, offering a comprehensive suite of services, including loans, grants, guarantees, policy advice, and technical assistance.

The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) leads private sector development programmes across the Caribbean through the provision of innovative, targeted initiatives designed to increase Caribbean business growth, sustainability and job creation.

The initiative aims to enhance the resilience and competitiveness of Caribbean MSMEs, in the post-COVID digital economy. By leveraging its expertise and extensive network, Caribbean Export is committed to ensuring that the objectives are achieved, thereby fostering sustainable digital transformation across the Caribbean.

Objective

The overall objective of this initiative is to enhance the resilience and competitiveness of Caribbean MSMEs in the post-COVID digital economy by facilitating comprehensive digital transformation. This objective is pursued through a collaborative effort between Caribbean Export and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). The initiative focuses on several key areas:

1. Policy Development for Digital Adoption: Crafting and implementing policies that facilitate digital adoption at the firm level, creating a supportive environment for transformation.
2. Supply-Side Enhancement: Expanding digital capacity-building offerings tailored to the Caribbean context, ensuring businesses have access to high-quality training and specialized IT consultants or resources required to support their digital transformation.
3. Skill Creation and Training: Addressing both advanced and basic digital skills to meet the private sector’s needs, thereby enhancing the workforce’s capability to utilize digital technologies effectively.
4. Digital-First Strategy: Encouraging a digital-first business approach, integrating digital technologies into core operations to enhance productivity and competitiveness.

Requirements

A team comprising of at least two qualified experts, with the following qualifications and
experience:

• A Postgraduate Degree in Social Sciences, Innovation and Entrepreneurship or a related field.
• A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in supporting private sector firms in the areas of digital business, e-commerce adoption, technology adoption, innovation or digitization.
• Strong project management skills – A certification in project management will be an asset.
• Knowledge of the various relevant regional trade agreements.
• Experience working with enterprises and with national trade promotion organizations and/or other business support organizations.
• Experience and a track record in resource mobilization.
• Proven relationship management skills.
• Fluent in English.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office programmes especially Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project and Microsoft PowerPoint.

Submission

To apply, please download the full Terms of Reference (TOR) and submit the required documentation, including the:

• Technical Proposal
• Financial Proposal
• Applicant Declaration Form

Submit these documents to Christopher Richards, Consultant, at [email protected], copied to Natasha Edwin Walcott, Manager (Ag), Competitiveness and Export Promotion, at [email protected] .

The submission deadline is 4:30 pm AST on September 20, 2024.