For the fifth straight year, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is opening new doors for early-to-mid career public procurement specialists across the region, launching applications for two fully-funded scholarships to attend a prestigious international postgraduate programme for the 2026/2027 academic cycle.
The competitive awards will cover enrollment at the International Master in Public Procurement Management (IMPPM), hosted by the University of Rome Tor Vergata in Italy. Eligible candidates hail from all 19 of CDB’s Borrowing Member Countries, including Dominica, whose qualified professionals are explicitly invited to submit applications before the closing date of October 3, 2026, per an official CDB press statement.
This ongoing scholarship initiative is a core component of CDB’s broader regional strategy to reinforce public financial management across the Caribbean. By investing in specialized advanced training for local practitioners, the bank aims to grow the region’s homegrown procurement expertise, formalize professional standards for the field, and drive broader adoption of internationally recognized best practices.
Naomi Akoy-Bouguenon, Acting Division Chief of CDB’s Procurement Policy Division, emphasized that robust, well-governed public procurement systems are a foundational pillar of equitable sustainable development. “These systems ensure that tax dollars and public development resources are allocated efficiently, deliver maximum public value, and serve the needs of all community members,” she explained. The master’s training, Akoy-Bouguenon added, equips participants with the cutting-edge skills required to modernize outdated procurement frameworks, embed stronger transparency and accountability measures, and scale up sustainable, inclusive procurement practices across national public sectors.
The IMPPM at the University of Rome Tor Vergata is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading postgraduate programs focused exclusively on public procurement. Its comprehensive curriculum covers a full range of critical modern topics, from procurement strategy and international legal frameworks to supply chain resilience, professional ethics, and the integration of sustainability and inclusive priorities—including gender equality across procurement operations.
Since the CDB scholarship program launched four years ago, it has cultivated a growing interconnected network of trained procurement professionals across the Caribbean. Alumni of the program have already begun leveraging their advanced training to reform local procurement systems, strengthen public sector governance, and deliver more equitable, impactful development outcomes for their home countries.
To qualify for the 2026/2027 scholarships, candidates must hold citizenship or permanent residency in one of CDB’s Borrowing Member Countries, hold at minimum a relevant existing master’s degree, demonstrate documented professional experience working in procurement, and provide clear evidence of their commitment to advancing improved procurement practices in their home nation after completing the program.