Wednesday, October 14 | 9:00 AM–12:20 PM
A regional approach to smarter procurement
Join CCREEE and RELP for a pre-conference workshop exploring CCREEE’s Energy Investment Platform for Pooled Procurement Initiative and its potential to transform how Caribbean countries access renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies.
By bringing Member States together to aggregate demand, the initiative enables the region to approach the market with the purchasing power of a much larger economy. Participants will explore how pooled procurement can help secure better prices, improve access to high-quality technologies, reduce procurement costs, and strengthen regional energy sovereignty.
Strengthening the Caribbean’s purchasing power
Small Island Developing States often face higher costs and fewer supplier options because of limited market size and fragmented demand. By combining procurement needs across multiple countries, the Caribbean can create a stronger and more attractive regional market.
This approach enables governments, utilities, and other participating institutions to pursue greater value than they may be able to achieve independently. It also gives suppliers greater visibility into regional demand and creates larger, more commercially viable opportunities.
Building energy security and resilience
The initiative extends beyond cost savings. It is designed to strengthen Caribbean energy security and sovereignty, giving countries greater control over their clean energy future while reducing exposure to volatile global energy markets.
Coordinated procurement can also help the region build stronger buffers against external shocks, including fuel-price volatility, supply-chain disruption, and restricted access to critical energy technologies.
Advancing standards, transparency, and regional capacity
Through the Energy Investment Platform, CCREEE is supporting greater alignment across participating markets. The initiative promotes harmonized technical standards, transparent procurement processes, and stronger institutional capacity at the national and regional levels.
Together, these measures can strengthen procurement outcomes and support the development of more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy systems throughout the Caribbean.
Turning collective action into collective power
Pooled procurement represents a practical opportunity to advance regional integration while accelerating the Caribbean’s transition to a cleaner, more resilient, and more energy-independent future.
Ultimately, it is about powering the Caribbean together: procuring smarter, strengthening regional energy security, and building a more resilient energy future.
Participation and registration
Participation is complimentary for eligible representatives of Caribbean governments, utilities, and regulatory bodies; the fee for all other attendees is $325. Capacity is limited.
Hosted by:
Workshop Partner:
AGENDA:
9:00 – 9:05: Opening Remarks
9:05 – 9:40: Opening: The Regional Imperative
- Fireside Chat with Regional High-level Representative:
Hon. Vince Henderson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy, Dominica
Judith Ephraim Schmidt, Sustainable Energy Coordinator, Caribbean Development Bank
9:40 – 9:55: Scene-setting – Building a Caribbean Market: The Energy Investment Platform
- Introduction to the EIP as the regional framework for aggregation, investment mobilisation and pooled procurement and clarify how stakeholders can participate.
Kiesha Farnum, Head of Partnerships and Programmes, CCREEE
9:55 – 10:05: Welcome remarks and Scene-setting – RELP CAPP
Ramiro Gómez Barinaga, Global Director for Country Delivery, RELP
10:05 – 10:50: Session 1 – One Regional Objective, Multiple Mechanisms: Aligning Partners Around the EIP
- Exploring how existing regional and international initiatives can contribute different capabilities to a common Caribbean procurement and investment architecture.
Dr. Ashok Sarkar, Task Team Leader & Senior Energy Specialist, The World Bank
Ramiro Gomez Barinaga, Global Director for Country Delivery, RELP
Isabel Beltran, VP Latin America and the Caribbean, Global Head of Programs
Moderator: Kyle Farnum, Programme Manager, Energy, Delegation of the European Union to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States and the OECS
10:50 – 11:35: Session 2 – From Demand to Deal: What Does It Take to Make a Regional Transaction Work?
- Government, utility, regulatory, and financing perspectives on the practical requirements for turning aggregated demand into an executable transaction.
Jonathan Kelly, Energy Transition Manager, SKELEC, SKN
L. Nigel Burgess, Director of Utility Regulation Regulatory Authority Bermuda
Dr. Lavern McFarlane, Senior Economist, Chief Underwriter, CARICOM Development Fund
Marsha Atherley-Ikechi, Executive Director, OOCUR
Neha Mukhi, Senior Energy and Climate Change Specialist, World Bank Group
Moderator: Ian Welch-Phillips, Manager, Global Islands Program, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)
11:35 – 12:15: Session 3 – From Partnership to Implementation: CAPP, RELP’s flagship pooled- procurement programme, and a proven implementation pathway for EIP transactions
Facilitator: Wayne Grant, Country Energy Expert (Jamaica), RELP
Juan Tamaro, Ssr Market Data Analyst, RELP
Kevin Webster, Senior Lawyer, RELP
12:15 – 12:30: Closing Challenge: From Workshop to Transaction