Project Name
Call For Application – Scholarship Opportunity: International Master In Public Procurement Management at The University of Rome Tor Vergata (2026/2027 Academic Year)
Role/Service
Scholarship for International Master in Public Procurement Management
Country
Deadline
04:00 PM
Type

Overview

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) actively support the enhancement of the public financial management systems of their Client countries, including in the area of public procurement. To further this mission, CDB and IDB are pleased to offer scholarships for a total of three (3) candidates to complete the International Master’s in Public Procurement Management (IMPPM) degree programme at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, for the academic year 2026/2027. 

Specifically, CDB and IDB will provide financing respectively for two (2) and one (1) scholarships. 

  • The IMPPM scholarship programme aims to facilitate the establishment of a potential route for Caribbean countries to build procurement capacity and enhance the professionalisation of the public procurement workforce, while raising awareness of best international practices in procurement.
  • Given the positive results and interest generated over the past years, this marks the third consecutive year that CDB and IDB are collaborating to jointly support this initiative, initially piloted by CDB in 2022.
  • The two partner institutions are dedicated to supporting the development of skilled procurement professionals capable of delivering the best value for money from scarce public funds, while ensuring the highest standards of integrity in their Client countries. This is essential for achieving the intended development outcomes under CDB and IDB-financed projects, and realising national strategic priorities.

The IMPPM Programme

The International Master in Public Procurement Management (IMPPM) is a full-time, in-person postgraduate programme which takes place at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy. 

Running from March to February, the one-year programme combines classroom lectures in Rome (March–July), a distance learning module, a mandatory professional internship with the student’s home company or institution, and a final thesis.

Delivered entirely in English, the programme consists of 4.25 consecutive months of in-person classes, covering 13 modules on key topics such as public procurement, procurement law and economics, integrity and anti-corruption, negotiations, sustainable and innovative procurement, and public–private partnerships. In line with the University’s formal requirements and the programme’s design, attendance at all modules is compulsory, and students are expected to actively participate. Each module concludes with an exam to assess the acquisition of skills.

The next edition is scheduled to start in late February 2026 until early March 2027.

Further information on the programme structure can be found at:  Program Structure - Public Procurement Management International Master (masterprocurement.eu)

Scholarship

The scholarship would cover:

  • the full tuition fee for the postgraduate programme;
  • travel costs to and from Italy for the in-class period of the programme 1, plus per-diem while in transit;
  • an allowance to live on campus at the University and for subsistance costs;
  • partial, lump sum coverage of visa fees and other essential bureaucratic expenses required to travel and study in Italy.

 

The selected candidate would be required to:

  • Attend in-person lectures in Rome for a continuous period of 4.25 months (February 23 – July 8, 2026. Students are required to be in Rome at least 1.5 week before the start of the programme).
  • Be formally released from professional duties by their employer organization for the duration of the in-person lectures in Rome, and have their employer’s support to undertake the distance learning module and any other required studies free from professional obligations 2 .
  • Complete a professional internship of 500 hours within their home organisation (or another institution acceptable to the University).
  • Prepare a final dissertation consisting of a case study on procurement issues relevant to their organisation, country, and/or the Caribbean region.
  • Continue serving their employer for at least 12 months after completing the programme. As a condition for confirming the scholarship award, an agreement must be reached with the candidate’s employer stipulating that the full tuition cost will be reimbursed if the candidate serves for less than the required period.

 

Meet the eligibility and selection criteria outlined below.


 [1] Travel costs to and from Italy for the dissertation defense, scheduled for early March 2027, are not included in the scholarship. Subject to the University’s approval, students may have the option to defend their thesis remotely, or fund their travel to Italy.

[2] Important Note: Candidates who are shortlisted will be required to obtain written confirmation from their employer granting release for the full duration of the programme (before proceeding to stage 2 of the evaluation). Applicants are encouraged to discuss this potential requirement with their employer early in the process to help avoid delays if selected.

Eligibility and selection criteria

Eligibility

To be eligible for the scholarship, candidates must:

  • be a citizen and/or resident of an eligible country. Eligible countries are Borrowing Member Countries of CDB and of IDB in the Caribbean region: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, The Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands.
  • meet the mandatory scholarship requirements, which include the  Admission Requirements of the Master programme, as follows:
  1. Be employed, both at the time of application and throughout the duration of the programme, in a professional public procurement role within the government of a CDB/IDB Client country or a Caribbean public regional institution;
  2. having achieved at least a recognized Master’s level University degree 3;
  3. having at least4  five (5) years of relevant experience in procurement, of which at least two (2) in public sector procurement;  
  4. be proficient in written and spoken English;
  5. not have any business or personal relationships with CDB, IDB or the Tor Vergata University that would create an actual or perceived conflict of interest.

Note: 

  • To ensure the benefits of this capacity-building initiative are distributed equitably across all eligible countries, only one (1) candidate from the same country will be eligible for a scholarship award from the sponsors (CDB/IDB) in any given year.
  • This year, in order to promote greater gender balance among scholarship recipients, a margin of preference of up to eight points will be applied in favor of male candidates. For example, if the highest-ranked candidate is of the overrepresented gender and the next highest-ranked candidate is of the underrepresented gender with a score difference of eight (8) points or less, the scholarship will be awarded to the candidate of the underrepresented gender. This measure responds to observed trends in previous scholarship cycles, where applications and awards were concentrated among candidates of one gender.

 

CDB and IDB reserve the right to make exceptions to the above requirements in cases where there is a lack of other eligible candidates.

Evaluation Criteria

The selection criteria will place particular emphasis on the candidates’ relevant professional experience, leadership potential, and ability to apply the knowledge gained to advance procurement outcomes and modernization efforts in their home institutions, countries, and the wider Region, particularly in the areas of sustainable and inclusive procurement.

Post-Programme Commitment

Scholarship recipients will be expected to share the knowledge gained from the Master’s programme within their home country or region. This may include giving presentations, facilitating training, or leading discussions on topics such as sustainable procurement, digital transformation, or innovative procurement strategies. Activities will be agreed with the respective sponsor (CDB or IDB) and the recipient’s employer and may be adjusted to fit organisational needs. Around 6-12 months after graduation, CDB/IDB will follow up with recipients to assess the scholarship’s impact.


[3] Must be  equivalent to an Italian (2 years) Master of Science University degree (“Laurea Magistrale”, “Laurea Specialistica” or “Laurea vecchio ordinamento”). 

[4] Applications from motivated individuals who have recently graduated from a Master’s program and/or with limited professional experience in procurement might still be considered at CDB/IDB and University’s discretion.

Application submission and selection

Submission Instructions

Applications should be in PDF format and sent at MasterIPPM@caribank.org in copy to procurement@iadb.org. 

Submissions must include:

  • An updated Curriculum Vitae;
  • A motivational cover letter highlighting applicant’s interest in the scholarship programme; and
  • A signed Declaration that the candidate meets the above-stated eligibility requirements, including absence of conflict of interest.

Interested candidates may at any time request further information on the process by emailing procurement@caribank.org, in copy to Procurement@iadb.org.

Closing Date:

The closing date for applications is September 30th, 2025 at 5pm AST.

Selection Stages

  1. Shortlisting: After the application deadline, a joint CDB–IDB panel will review all submissions and shortlist up to six (6) candidates who best meet the eligibility and qualification criteria. Shortlisted candidates will then be contacted by the University to arrange an interview. At this stage, candidates may be asked to confirm their ability to be released from work duties for the required period, in accordance with the requirements in Section B above.
  2. Interviews and Final Selection: The University will interview shortlisted candidates to confirm their suitability for the programme. In consultation with CDB–IDB, the University will then identify three (3) candidates for scholarship awards.
  3. Successful candidates will receive an Admission Letter to the programme from the University and, in parallel, a Scholarship Offer Letter from CDB or IDB. The scholarship award will be confirmed upon the student meeting the University’s admission requirements5.

[5] The scholarship offer is conditional upon the candidate obtaining a CIMEA or Declaration of Value certificate confirming that their degree is equivalent to an Italian two-year Master’s degree, which is required to be enrolled in the Programme. No scholarship funds will be disbursed, and no travel arrangements will be made by CDB, until this confirmation is received.