Regional Director, Colombia
Rodolfo Rodriguez has a Master’s of Science Degree in Tropical Agricultural Development with an emphasis on Economic Development and Planning from the University of Reading (UK). He has more than 20 years’ experience as a project manager for sustainable development, climate, zero deforestation, conservation and rural development projects with vulnerable populations. He has worked with international cooperation donors such as USAID, World Bank, FAO in different roles starting with a Learning and Innovation (LIL) Project for the sustainable development of the Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta in Colombia. He has been Agribusiness Regional Specialist (ARD Inc) for the More Investment to Alternative Sustainable Development Program (MIDAS-USAID), implementing Cocoa, Coffee, Tropical Fruits and Oil Palm productive projects run by strategic commercial alliances. He has been General Coordinator for the GEF Project (World Bank-TNC) Sustainable Livestock in Colombia, for the promotion and adoption of environment friendly Silvopastoral Production Systems (SPS), to improve natural resource management and enhance the provision of environmental services (biodiversity, land, carbon, and water). More recently, he served as Leader for the Zero Deforestation Agreements (multi-stakeholder partnerships) for forest risk supply chains: cocoa, meat, milk, oil palm, coffee and legal wood in Colombia, operated by the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development with funding from the Joint Declaration of Intent (Norway, UK & Germany).