Rafael Isidro Parra-Peña S., Phd Email and Phone Number

Rafael Isidro Parra-Peña S. is a Senior Specialist in Rural Development and Natural Resources at the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) - BID. With extensive experience in development economics, agriculture, and sustainable food systems, Rafael has managed and designed programs to address critical global challenges such as poverty, malnutrition, climate change, and biodiversity loss.Previously, Rafael held leadership roles as a policymaker in the Colombian Government, including Vice President of Agroindustry at Colombia Productiva, an agency under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism, and Director of the Sustainable Rural Development Unit at the National Planning Department (DNP). He also led a private sector research unit as Executive Director of the Centre for Coffee and Business Studies of the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (CRECE-FNC) and served as an associate researcher at the Fedesarrollo think tank. Additionally, Rafael has worked with multilateral and international organizations such as the World Bank, ECLAC, UNDP, and BiovIntCIAT/CGIAR in various roles as an economist and projects across different countries. Rafael holds a Ph.D. in Economics and a Master's in International Economics from the University of Sussex, UK, as well as a Master's and BA in Economics, with an option in Management, from Universidad de los Andes, Colombia. He is also a Rockefeller Foundation-Acumen Academy Food Systems Fellow, USA. Rafael has authored publications in economics, public policy, and agricultural economics, which are available online.Proficient in English, Spanish and some Italian Top skills: Strategic Planning Project Management Management Team Leadership Teamwork Negotiation Leadership Seniority level