Banque Interaméricaine de Développement (IDB) recherche un(e) Consultant(e) principal(e) de soutien au projet de compétitivité technique, technologie et innovation pour le bureau national de la BID à Belize , Amérique du Nord.

 

 

 

 

Background of this search:

Innovation is a crucial factor for impacting firm level growth and productivity, which in turn contribute to a country’s economic growth. A strong innovation ecosystem supports firms and other key actors with the uptake and utilization of new digital technologies for increasing innovation levels, productivity, and overall competitiveness. Caribbean countries such as Belize, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago have made some strides toward establishing the necessary foundation for a strong innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Additional support, such as capacity-building and a widely supported country-level strategy for innovation, is required to encourage increased innovation outputs.

MSMEs within key economic sectors, such as tourism and agriculture, have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and require immediate support to innovate and adjust their business models to the new reality. Digital transformation is critical to these firms’ ability to compete, grow, integrate into value chains, and develop resiliency in the face of future crises. Firms differ on their level of readiness and digital maturity dimensions (see figure below) resulting in an overall digital maturity level (initial, beginner, competent, advanced, and expert). Within the tourism and agriculture industries, both of which have been severely impacted by the pandemic, there exist very few firms operating beyond the beginner-intermediate level of digital maturity. Yet in order to compete effectively and to tap into new markets, firms must adopt more advanced digital technologies.

Given the important role of the private sector in a post-COVID recovery, fostering private sector development with a focus on MSMEs is a top priority being pursued by Governments across the Caribbean region. To recover and achieve long-term growth, these countries must implement innovative approaches to boost economic development.

The team’s mission:

Established in 1959, the Inter-American Development Bank (“IDB” or “Bank”) 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. The IDB, through the Competitiveness, Technology, and Innovation (CTI) Division, provides funding, technical assistance, and knowledge products to support governments in key action areas such as firm-level innovation, entrepreneurship ecosystems, green innovation, digital transformation, creative economy, social innovation, and productive development.

IDB programs in these areas incorporate common themes, such as training in science, technology, and innovation for advanced human capital; strengthening scientific and technological infrastructure; designing public policies to promote innovation; strengthening the institutional capacity of the agencies and ministries that are responsible for implementing these policies.

What you’ll do:

Project Planning and Design:

  • Participate and support the design of proposals, technical cooperation’s, and loan program operations. This would include, but not be limited to, supporting the preparation of key project documents such as project abstracts, project profiles, project proposals, procurement plans, results matrices (with qualitative and quantitative indicators), budget, terms of references, and supplemental analyses contained in project annexes;
  • Participate in drafting, proofreading, and processing operational documents, including Development Effectiveness (DEM), Results Matrices, Environmental Safeguard Screening and Classification Forms, Environmental and Social Strategies (ESS), etc.

Execution and Monitoring:

  • Prepare project management plans for portfolio of projects;
  • Support the monitoring of project execution, meeting with consultants and stakeholders as necessary and maintaining close communication with Supervisors;
  • Collect relevant data for the preparation of the Project Completion Report (PCR) and support the preparation of periodic progress monitoring reports (PMR);
  • Draft and review terms of reference ensuring that project activities are consistent with procurement and annual operating plans;
  • Mange the procurement of consultants and consulting firms in adherence with requisite IDB policies;
  • Provide technical input to the deliverables submitted by consultants;
  • Process disbursement requests and other project documentation;
  • Provide support in managing key stakeholders;
  • Support the coordination of independent project evaluations if required.

Knowledge production:

  • Perform statistical analysis utilizing STATA and advanced Excel techniques to provide technical inputs into research and program designs;
  • Construct graphs and other visual aids utilizing indicators and data on the macro-economy, business climate, innovation, and competitiveness. Compile and organize these indicators into a database for monitoring.

Event Coordination:

  • Provide support in the organization of seminars, conferences, trainings, webinars, regional dialogues, and meetings which include, but are not limited to, budget preparation, invitations, issuance of letter of agreements and corresponding disbursements, drafting presentation guidelines, speaking notes, and assisting with travel arrangements;
  • Assemble and consolidate documentation for meetings, seminars, presentations, and reports;
  • Provide support and research input in the development or event agendas.

Other General:

  • Review project reports for loans and technical cooperation’s in accordance with Bank’s policies, guidelines, and procedures;
  • Prepare memos and other communications required for document processing and distribution (example aide memoires);
  • Attend project operational review meetings;
  • Have knowledge of regulations and procedures of the Bank to effectively perform;
  • Other relevant tasks for the implementation of the program as they become necessary and are prioritized by Supervisors.

What you’ll need:

  • Citizenship: You are either a citizen of Belize or a citizen of one of our 48-member countries with residency or legal permit to work in Belize.
  • Consanguinity: You have no family members (up to fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including spouse) working at the IDB Group.
  • Education: Master’s degree or equivalent in Economics, Business Management, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Development Studies, or related field. Accredited Project Management training is highly desirable.
  • Experience: At least five (5) years of relevant professional experience in project management, in the public and/or private sector financed by multilateral development institutions or other external donors is preferred. Knowledge of national procurement policies, norms or practices and experience in writing reports. Experience in the areas of policy, private sector development and innovation. Experience in countries in the Caribbean or Latin American Region is preferred.
  • Languages: Fluency in oral and written English. Fluency in Spanish an asset.

Core and Technical Competencies:

  • The consultant should have a demonstrated track record of building relationships with key stakeholders and with coordinating and executing successful dialogues, workshops, and events in the Caribbean;
  • The ability to design and evaluate investment projects, including financial feasibility analysis, economic profitability analysis and the assessment of overall welfare impact;
  • Strong experience in business plan development and assessment;
  • Experience in negotiating and interacting with private and public sector leaders;
  • Highly developed communication and writing skills as evidenced by presentations and publicly available reports, blogs, articles, and/or academic pieces;
  • Strong knowledge and expertise in innovation and competitiveness including knowledge of trends related to digital skills;
  • Ability to manage client expectations, negotiate around project execution challenges, and identify possible solutions;
  • A strong knowledge of developing innovative solutions;
  • The ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks effectively;
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills are required, including the ability to synthesize key issues and draw lessons learned;
  • Experience in employing appropriate project life cycle management tools for high quality outputs;
  • Capacity to function effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, to search for common ground, to resolve problems, and where appropriate, to recommend decisive action.

Opportunity Summary:

  • Type of contract and modality: Full Time Consultant (CNS).
  • Length of contract: 12 months.
  • Location: IDB Belize Country Office.
  • Responsible person: Sector Senior Associate of CTI Division.
  • Requirements: You must be a citizen of one of the IDB’s 48 member countries and have no family members currently working at the IDB Group.

Our culture: Our people are committed and passionate about improving lives in Latin-America and the Caribbean, and they get to do what they love in a diverse, collaborative, and stimulating work environment. We are the first Latin American and Caribbean development institution to be awarded the EDGE certification, recognizing our strong commitment to gender equality. As an employee you can be part of internal resource groups that connect our diverse community around common interests. Because we are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, we embrace diversity based on gender, age, education, national origin, ethnic origin, race, disability, sexual orientation, and religion. We encourage women, Afro-descendants, and persons of indigenous origins to apply.

About us: At the IDB, we are committed to improving lives. Since 1959, we have been a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social, and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. We do more than lending though. We partner with our 48-member countries to provide Latin America and the Caribbean with cutting-edge research about relevant development issues, policy advice to inform their decisions, and technical assistance to improve on the planning and execution of projects. For this, we need people who not only have the right skills, but also are passionate about improving lives.

COVID-19 considerations: The health and safety of our employees are our number one priority. As a condition of employment, IDB/IDB Invest requires all new hires to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Our team in Human Resources carefully reviews all applications.

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