The Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) has announced that Kinisha Forbes has been appointed as the new Director of Programme Strategy effective September 12, 2023. Photo: RDA

The RDA is a statutory body, set up under Virgin Island’s legislation, that works hand in hand with Ministries to deliver projects under the Recovery to Development Plan (RDP) – the Government’s ambitious plan for recovery and development that has been approved by the House of Assembly. Photo: RDA

Ms Forbes occupies the vacancy left by Dr Neil M. Smith, who served in that capacity from October 2019 to May 2023, before taking up the role of General Manager of BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC).

Forbes' role

In this role, Ms Forbes will provide leadership and direction in the development of the Agency’s immediate and longer-term plans while managing the Programme Strategy Department.

According to the RDA, Ms Forbes will support Chief Executive Officer, Anthony S. McMaster, in leading engagement and implementation of the provisions in the signed Memorandum of Understanding between the RDA and the Ministry of Finance. Key to her role is directing the assessment and refinement phase of the planning process. She will also work closely with key partners to tackle complex projects and provide strategic input throughout the project cycle.

The new Director of Programme Strategy said, “I am humbled by the confidence that the Board and Management of the RDA has placed in me to provide strategic input into the continued contribution of the Agency in our Territory’s recovery and development story. I look forward to helping to chart the way forward for the Agency in supporting the Government to tackle our development challenges."

Qualificaton & Experience

Ms Forbes joined the RDA as the Head of Monitoring and Evaluation in February 2019. In this role, according to the RDA, she successfully built the Monitoring and Evaluation Results and Value for Money frameworks which track the RDA’s implementation of projects and achievement of set goals.

Immediately prior to employment with the RDA, Kinisha was Head of the Macro Fiscal Unit, and worked as a Policy Analyst in the Ministry of Finance for seven years.

In this role, Kinisha led the Government’s macroeconomic and fiscal forecasting, research and policy analysis programme. This included preparation of the annually-updated Medium Term Fiscal Plan, and reform of Central Government’s planning and tracking frameworks to be more results-focused.

Prior to this, Kinisha was employed as a Research Officer with the International Labour Office (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland. At the ILO, she conducted research on impacts of the global economic crisis on inequality and vulnerable groups, specifically analysing the role of public policy in cushioning crisis impacts

Kinisha holds a Master’s degree in Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Women’s Studies and Spanish from Georgetown University. Her research interests include inequality, fiscal space for public investment, and the political economy of crises. Earlier this year, Kinisha achieved an Executive Certificate in Economic Development from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.