Student Loan Scheme - St. Kitts & Nevis (2020)

In October 2008, the Caribbean Development Bank approved a loan in the amount of USD6.2 mn to St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank Limited (National Bank) to assist with financing sub-loans under the Student Loan Scheme (SLS) to eligible persons wishing to upgrade their skills and qualifications at the vocational, technical and professional levels. The objective of the project was to assist the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis (GOSKN) in developing its human resources through education and training.

Barbados Country Strategy and Programme Evaluation 2010-2018

This is the first country strategy evaluation of Barbados commissioned by the Office of Independent Evaluation. It covers two strategies: the 2010-13 Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) and the 2015-18 Country Strategy Paper (CSP). It also comments on the developments in the first year since the new government formed after May 2018, going slightly beyond the CSP period (by an additional 6 months) since these are highly relevant to the issues covered.

Sixth Consolidated Line of Credit - Belize (2019)

In March 2009, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) approved a loan in the amount of ten million (mn) United States dollars (USD10 mn) to the Government of Belize (GOBZ) to assist in providing finance to priority sector areas including student loans, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), agricultural and industrial credit (AIC), low income housing, and microfinance. CDB also approved a grant to GOBZ of USD150,000 for the institutional strengthening of the new Development Finance Corporation (DFC) which was the Executing Agency for this Line of Credit. The overall objective of the project was to enhance the development of the credit market to promote financing on affordable terms to market segments that were not readily catered for by commercial banks and other Financial Institutions (FIs).

Cluster Country Strategy and Programme Evaluation of OECS and ODT Borrowers 2010-2018

CDB’s Office of Independent Evaluation (OIE) Five-Year Plan (2017) highlights Country Strategy and Programme Evaluations (CSPEs) as one of its key activities. This evaluation examined CDB’s support to the region’s small economies, including countries and territories that are members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Following an evaluability assessment in 2017/18, OIE launched this evaluation in November 2018, and it was carried out between late January and July 2019.The objective of this evaluation was to assess Bank programming and performance in up to ten of its Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs), using the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) evaluation criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability. The evaluation is intended to inform the design and implementation of future Country Strategy Papers (CSPs) and programme interventions. The intended audiences for the evaluation are the CDB Board of Directors, CDB management and staff, governments of OECS member countries and territories, and CDB’s other development partners.

Evaluation Brief: Gender Equality Policy and Operational Strategy 2013-2018

This evaluation examines the Caribbean Development Bank’s performance in gender equality since 2008, the year in which its Gender Equality Policy and Operational Strategy (GEPOS) was approved. The evaluation assesses the relevance of the Bank’s approach to promoting and catalysing gender equality, the effectiveness of its operations, sustainability of institutional improvements, and enabling factors within the Bank itself.

Haiti Country Strategy and Programme Evaluation 2007-2015

Haiti formally became a member of the Caribbean Development Bank in January 2007, setting the stage for full engagement by the Bank in support of its economic challenges and developmental agenda. Despite some delays, due to Haiti’s high-risk environment, the Bank managed to deliver its projects with a smart choice of implementation approaches. This Report presents the findings of the Haiti Country Strategy and Programme Evaluation, 2007 – 2015. The evaluation was conducted in two phases and addressed CDB’s operations in Haiti under the Country Strategies for the period 2009-2012 and 2013-16.  The evaluation assessed the effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of the Country Strategies by examining individual projects undertaken during the two CSP periods and the extent to which the portfolio of projects supported the CSP objectives and country priorities.The document highlights 26 findings, 3 recommendations and 2 corporate considerations that may influence the implementation approaches that the Bank takes over the coming CSP period.

Disaster Management Strategy and Operational Guidelines 2009-2018

In 1998, CDB implemented its Natural Disaster Management Strategy and Operational Guidelines (NDMSOG) under which approximately 11% of the Bank’s total lending and technical assistance was expended in the period up to 2008.In 2009, CDB’s Disaster Management Strategy and Operational Guidelines (DiMSOG) replaced NDMSOG as it was noted that “with increasing frequency, countries in the Region are facing situations in which scarce resources that were earmarked for development projects have to be diverted to relief and reconstruction following disasters, thus setting back economic growth”.This evaluation covers the period from 2009 to 2017 and was intended to:(a) gather evidence and lessons to inform a new iteration of DiMSOG;(b) understand the relevance and effectiveness of DiMSOG; and(c) identify CDB’s comparative advantage regarding Disaster Risk Management in the Region and the best role for the Bank to play given its focus, capacity and lending instruments.The evaluation cites 15 main messages, and 9 recommendations.

Agriculture Support Project - Jamaica (2018)

In December 2008, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) approved a loan in the amount of seven million, eight hundred thousand United States dollars (USD7.8 mn) to the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) to enable it to support access to credit by small farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs in order to spur food production and underpin income growth. CDB also provided a technical assistance grant in an amount not exceeding the equivalent of USD50,000 to assist in financing the services of short term consultant(s) to develop a system to monitor and evaluate project outcomes and impact and a mid-term review. GOJ provided counterpart funding of USD11,000.

Second Water Project - Belize (2018)

In December 1997, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) approved a loan in the amount of USD13.83 million (mn) to the Government of Belize (GOBZ) to assist in financing the Second Water Project - Belize. This was the second project and the fifth loan provided to GOBZ, by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), in the Water and Sewerage sector. The loan was to finance approximately 79% of the estimated project costs of $34.95 mn (USD17.47 mn). The funds were to be utilised for: upgrading of intake works and a water treatment plant; supply and installation of a transmission main; upgrading of two re-lift pump stations; expansion of a distribution network; non-revenue water reduction measures (including the installation of new or recalibration of existing bulk flow meters); and upgrading of the computerised billing and accounting system. The GOBZ and the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) were to provide counterpart funding of $0.44 mn (USD0.22 mn) and $6.85 mn (USD3.42 mn) respectively, to meet the remaining project costs.

Student Loan Scheme - Jamaica (2018)

In May 2010, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) approved a loan in the amount of twenty million United States dollars (USD20 mn) to the Students’ Loan Bureau (SLB) of Jamaica to assist in improving the country’s human resource capacity by providing loans to eligible students under the Bank’s Student Loan Scheme (SLS) for upgrading tertiary level skills in professional, technical and vocational programmes. SLB provided counterpart funding of USD80 mn over a period of five years made available from reflows. In December 2012, CDB approved a second loan to SLB in the amount of USD20 mn to facilitate the continued expansion of tertiary education for citizens from low-income households in Jamaica.