ICT Innovations for the Development of the
Masquerade Industry in Trinidad and Tobago
Project Information
1. Background
The Project ICT Innovations for the Masquerade Sector in Trinidad and Tobago TT-M1021 was selected for financing by the Multilateral Investment Fund through a competitive call for proposals under the MIF’s ICT4BUS Program. This project, which was developed and presented to the MIF by the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Service Industries (TTCSI), was selected as being highly innovative and was the first project originating in the Caribbean to be selected for funding in this highly competitive program.
Trinidad and Tobago is known as a world leader in the organisation and presentation of carnival festivities both in Trinidad and Tobago and in other cities across the world. The local Masquerade sector, which focuses on design, production and presentation of costumed bands, has become one of key drivers in the Carnival business landscape of Trinidad and Tobago. Having emerged primarily as a creative activity and a socio-cultural practice, the Masquerade industry has now evolved to also become a substantial contributor to the local economy during the Carnival season. In addition, Carnival festivities are viewed as a potentially viable and sustainable global economic industry supported by talent, expertise, skills and knowledge that are almost exclusively indigenous to Trinidad and Tobago. Carnival is in this context considered Trinidad and Tobago’s most important cultural export.
The proposed project seeks to contribute strengthening and promoting economic growth in the micro; small and medium size businesses in the Masquerade sector. To facilitate increased economic participation of MSMEs in the masquerade sector in the global business of Carnival, the project will equip these enterprises with skills and capacity as well as access to ICT solutions including a web-based platform, the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival HUB as a mechanism for improving and expanding business processes, business models and market reach and strengthening competitiveness.
2. Objectives of the program and priority issues of this call
2-1 Objectives:
The general goal of the project is to support the globalization of the Trinidad and Tobago Masquerade industry. The purpose of the project is to develop an ICT platform to enhance competitiveness, market reach and sustainability of MSMEs within the Masquerade sector in Trinidad and Tobago. The specific project objective is to increase the awareness, use and leverage of ICT by 50 MSMEs in Trinidad and Tobago’s Masquerade sector.
2-2 Actions:
The project will directly benefit 50 MSMEs that are currently operating in the masquerade sector in Trinidad and Tobago, and which are primarily involved in costume design and fabrication and in the production and promotion of masquerade bands. These MSME’s are expected to achieve better business results as a result of ICT enabled collaboration and improved management of their core and support business processes.
2.3 Priorities:
The NCDF has estimated that in Trinidad and Tobago there are approximately 450 MSMEs engaged in the production/promotion of costumes and masquerade bands. These may be grouped into 3 categories, medium enterprises that are involved in local and international carnivals (large bands), small enterprises that are involved primarily in Trinidad and Tobago Carnival (medium bands) and microenterprises that are involved solely in Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, most of which do not produce a band but are involved in some discrete service such as costume design, specialist fabrication or costume production (small bands and artisans).
3. Timetable
(The following associated dates may be changed according to the project steering committee decision)
- Applications must reach the TTCSI later no than November 19, 2010
-The maximum duration of the project is: 24 months
4. Eligibility of applicants (who may apply)
In order to be eligible for participation on the pilot project phase 1 the following criteria must be fulfilled:
- MSMSE is currently involved in the production of masquerade costumes / production and promotion of carnival masquerade bands on a commercial basis.
- MSME is or will become a member of the National Carnival Development Foundation before the signing of the beneficiary contract.
- The MSME beneficiary must engaged in export or demonstrate a willingness to do so.
- The selected MSME beneficiary must be willing to participate in the project and share information on project results and benefits, including sales data, realized as evidenced by the willingness of the MSME principals to enter into an MOU with the TTCSI.
Potential applicants may not participate in calls for proposals or be awarded funds if :
a) They are bankrupt or being wound up, are having their affairs administered by the courts, have entered into an arrangement with creditors, have suspended business activities, are the subject of proceedings concerning those matters, or are in any analogous situation arising from a similar procedure provided for national legislation or regulation.
b) They have been convicted of an offence concerning professional conduct by a judgment (i.e. against which no appeal is possible)
c) They are guilty of grave professional misconduct.
d) They have not fulfilled obligations relating to the payment of taxes in accordance with the Trinidad and Tobago legal provisions.
e) They have been the subject of a judgment for fraud, corruption, and involvement in a criminal organization or any other illegal activity.
Applicants are also excluded from participation in calls for proposals or the award of funds if, at the time of the call for proposals, they:
g) are guilty of misrepresentation in supplying the information required by the executing agency as a condition of participation in the pilot project or fail to supply this information .
h) have attempted to obtain confidential information or influence the evaluation committee or the executing agency during the evaluation process for beneficiaries selection .
5. Evaluation and selection of application:
Applications will be examined and evaluated by the executing agency with the assistance of project partners. All action submitted by applicants will be assessed according to the following criteria:
Administrative compliance
Verification that the application is complete in accordance to the requirements.
Eligibility of the applicants.
Verification that the applicant is eligible according to the criteria set out.
Evaluation of the beneficiary MSMEs evaluation.
An evaluation of the readiness of the MSMEs will be carried out in accordance with the evaluation criteria set out .
6. Selection criteria
The selection criteria shall be such as to make it possible to assess the applicant’s ability to complete the proposed actions and work program.
7. How to apply:
7.1 Beneficiary form and supporting documents
-Applications must be submitted according to the previous guidelines and in the format illustrated in following section 8.
-Hand writing applications will not be accepted.
7.2 Acknowledgement of receipt:
Following the proposal inspection session, the contracting authority will send an acknowledgment of receipt to all applicants, indicating whether or not their proposal was received prior to the deadline and informing them of the reference number they have been allocated. This confirmation will be sent to the applicant's e-mail.
7.3 Further information:
Questions may be sent by e-mail or by fax no later than 7 days before the deadline of the receipt of proposals to the e-mail address:
e-mail: flouis@ttcsi.org
OR Fax:+868 622-9229 ext 35
Questions that may be relevant to other applicants, together with the answers may be published on the internet at www.ttcsi.org
8- Application Form (Annex I)
Applications are closed.
