Natasha Richardson is the IDBG Regional Private Sector Coordinator for the Caribbean Region. Natasha has worked in private sector development for the past 23 years in a variety of roles both with development finance institutions and directly with a private sector company. A dual citizen of Jamaica and Canada, Natasha holds a Master of Business Administration from the Ivey Business School – Western University and an H.B.A. from the University of Toronto with a specialization in International Relations and a minor in Spanish.
New data from the Caribbean shows that high collateral requirements and interest rates are among the top barriers for women-owned and -led businesses looking for financing. Overcoming these hurdles is an important challenge for the Caribbean, especially as firms seek to regain a foothold in a post-pandemic private sector.