Background

The Caribbean Export Development Agency has recognized the barriers the region faces to digital transition, and as part of its strategic plan, aims to increase the use of innovative tools and technologies and promote digital transformation and e-commerce within the Caribbean private sector. This includes the innovation/digitization of business as a core component of building a more resilient, transformative Caribbean private sector. To this end, the Agency has been implementing programmes targeting digital transformation of Caribbean businesses, including the Caribbean Digital Transformation Institute (CDTI), an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded project. The CDTI, envisioned as a regional public good, will provide an online learning management platform where Caribbean businesses can access courses to build their knowledge capacity based on a digital maturity score following an assessment of the firm’s maturity via the digital maturity check-up tool. Caribbean Export will also be able to monitor regional digital maturity via the development of a digital maturity dashboard, which will inform further interventions to promote digital transition and overall digital transformation within the Caribbean private sector.

To support this digital transformation initiative, the Agency, with support from the European Union’s Third Regional Private Sector Development Programme, is developing a grant funding program to provide financial support to Caribbean businesses to implement and adopt digital technologies into their day-to-day business operations, enhance competitiveness and generate overall efficiencies. However, for this initiative to succeed, it is crucial to understand the current landscape of digital transformation initiatives in the region. To this end, Caribbean Export will retain a consultant to conduct a strategic analysis of digital transformation across the region.

The consultant will evaluate existing digital transformation funding programs, identify challenges and successes, as well as key intervention areas of digital transformation. This analysis should also draw lessons from other Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and similar economies who have successfully implemented digital transformation funding initiatives. The findings will inform policymakers of high-impact areas where grant funding can achieve the most significant impact, ensuring resources are allocated to sectors and initiatives with the highest potential for success.

Specific Objectives

The main objective of this consultancy is to undertake comprehensive research of the digital transformation support landscape in the Caribbean and in similar regions, that will inform Caribbean Export’s development of a grant support initiative to achieve the following:

• Increase adoption of new technologies within Caribbean businesses
• Increase overall digital maturity of Caribbean businesses
• Increase Caribbean businesses competitiveness through digital transformation

Logistics and Timing

Commencement date and period of implementation of tasks.
The expected start date for the consultancy is February 1, 2025 and conclude April 15, 2025.

Required Documentation

Interested candidates should submit the following:

• A detailed CV highlighting relevant experience.
• A technical proposal outlining the approach and methodology for the consultancy.
• A financial proposal detailing the consultancy fees, in EURO.
• Contact information for at least two professional references.
• Signed Application Declaration in paragraph 14.

All applications must be submitted by email to [email protected] and copied to Mr. Wayne Elliott, Manager – Technical Programmes at [email protected], no later than 4:00pm AST January 3rd, 2025.