Empowering Procurement Professionals: CDB's Commitment to Caribbean Excellence
CDB's Procurement Scholarship Recipient Amoi Romero centre
“Public procurement isn’t just about purchasing—it’s a powerful tool for economic growth and social progress.”
This perspective drives the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB, the Bank) to invest in developing procurement professionals across the region. By awarding scholarships, funded through technical assistance funds provided to the Bank by the Government of Italy, CDB continues to empower Caribbean leaders with world-class training at the International IMPPM programme, at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.nts.
Bridging the Procurement Skills Gap
Many Caribbean nations are modernising their procurement systems, but there’s a shortage of trained professionals to implement and sustain these reforms. To bridge this gap, CDB’s scholarship initiative gives regional professionals access to one of the world’s leading procurement masters programmes, equipping them with the expertise to promote transparency, efficiency, and best practices in public procurement.
A World-Class Programme with a Lasting Impact
The IMPPM programme integrates cutting-edge procurement strategies, from digital transformation to green and emergency procurement. At the programme’s opening ceremony on March 4, 2025, Ms. Liverpool-Young of Trinidad and Tobago’s Office of Procurement Regulation (OPR) emphasized its transformative power.
"Every dollar invested in this programme multiplies in impact as graduates return home equipped to reform systems, fight corruption, and enhance transparency. This investment isn’t just in us—it’s in our communities and nations,"
The ceremony also celebrated the 2024 graduates, including CDB scholarship recipient, Amoi Romeo, who works at the Tobago House of Assembly. Amoi’s dissertation focused on innovative strategies to increase Small Micro Enterprises (SMEs) participation in government contracts to enhance fiscal development of the Caribbean. According to Romeo, who strongly endorsed the value and quality of the IMPPM
“I am grateful to the Caribbean Development Bank for giving me the incredible opportunity. This programme increased my understanding of public procurement, and its impact on the economic development of the Caribbean.”
Over the past three years, eight regional professionals have successfully completed the programme, bringing valuable expertise back to their home countries.
Expanding Opportunities: A CDB and IDB Partnership
Recognising the growing demand for procurement specialists, for the second consecutive year, CDB partnered with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to expand scholarship opportunities for this academic year. This collaboration has enabled three more Caribbean professionals—Robert Tatum (Cayman Islands), Tamara Peters (Trinidad and Tobago), and Angeles Itzab (Belize)—to join the prestigious programme in Rome.
Robert Tatum, this year’s CDB awardee, shared his excitement,
“My expectations for the IMPPM programme were high, and in just my first week, they’ve already been exceeded. I look forward to the challenges ahead and appreciate CDB’s commitment to this high-quality programme.”
A Global Learning Experience with Local Impact
Over the next year, these scholars will engage with professionals from around the world, gaining insights that will directly benefit the Caribbean. By investing in procurement capacity-building, CDB ensures that regional governments have the leadership and expertise needed to sustain reforms and maximise development impact.
While the 2025/2026 IMPPM cohort will complete their studies in March 2026, the knowledge, networks, and skills they acquire will drive procurement modernisation efforts across the Caribbean for years to come.
