Kinisha Forbes has been appointed as the new Director of Programme Strategy for the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA), effective September 12.

The RDA is thrilled to have Ms. Forbes join their team and lead the development of immediate and long-term plans while overseeing the Programme Strategy Department.

In her new role, Ms. Forbes will be working closely with Chief Executive Officer Anthony McMaster to engage with and implement the provisions outlined in the signed Memorandum of Understanding between the RDA and the Ministry of Finance. Her responsibilities will also include directing the assessment and refinement phase of the planning process and providing strategic input throughout the project cycle. Collaborating with key partners, Ms. Forbes will tackle complex projects and contribute to the overall success of the RDA’s initiatives.

Ms. Forbes brings a wealth of experience to her new position. She joined the RDA in February 2019 as the Head of Monitoring and Evaluation, where she successfully developed the Monitoring and Evaluation Results and Value for Money frameworks. These frameworks have been instrumental in tracking the RDA’s project implementation and ensuring the achievement of set goals.

Before joining the RDA, Ms. Forbes held the position of Head of the Macro Fiscal Unit and worked as a Policy Analyst in the Ministry of Finance for an impressive seven years. During her tenure, she led the government’s macroeconomic and fiscal forecasting, research, and policy analysis program. Her contributions included the preparation of the annually-updated Medium Term Fiscal Plan and the reform of Central Government’s planning and tracking frameworks to prioritize results.

Prior to her work in the Ministry of Finance, Ms. Forbes served as a Research Officer at the International Labour Office (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland. Her research at the ILO focused on the impacts of the global economic crisis on inequality and vulnerable groups, with a specific emphasis on the role of public policy in mitigating these impacts.

Ms. Forbes holds a Master’s degree in Social Policy and Planning from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Women’s Studies, and Spanish from Georgetown University. With research interests spanning inequality, fiscal space for public investment, and the political economy of crises, Ms. Forbes continues to expand her knowledge and skills. Earlier this year, she achieved an Executive Certificate in Economic Development from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Expressing her gratitude for the opportunity, Ms. Forbes stated, “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.”