Nationality: Ecuador
Residence: Quito
Field of study: Economics: Econometrics & Public Administration
University: University College of London
Work experience: Innovator and digital strategist with over seven years of experience in development contexts, specializing in program advisory, management, advocacy, partnership building, resource mobilization, and monitoring and evaluation. I excel in driving digital and social innovation portfolios by designing sourcing strategies, piloting transformative solutions, and scaling impactful initiatives. My expertise includes policy advisory informed by economic data analysis, consistently delivering data-driven insights and programmatic support to empower decision-makers in advancing inclusive and sustainable development policies aligned with the 2030 Agenda. I have collaborated with United Nations agencies and international organizations such as the University of Oxford, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the World Bank. My work covers diverse countries and contexts, providing policy advisory and technical support with a focus on innovation and digital transformation, both in the field and remotely. A dynamic and strategic collaborator, I thrive in high-pressure, complex environments, leveraging my ability to multitask and navigate challenges to achieve meaningful, sustainable results.
Current affiliation: United Nations Development Programme
Current position: Head of Exploration at the Accelerator Lab of United Nations Development Programme
Why is DeFi interesting? Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is intriguing for development work because it offers innovative ways to enhance financial inclusion, providing underserved populations access to banking, credit, and insurance without traditional intermediaries. Additionally, DeFi can enable more efficient cross-border remittances and micro-financing, directly benefiting communities in low-resource settings. Its potential to democratize finance and empower marginalized groups makes it a powerful tool for advancing equitable economic development.
My touchpoints with DeFi so far: My touchpoints with blockchain and DeFi for development have focused on exploring their transformative potential while addressing practical challenges. For blockchain to achieve widespread adoption and impact, it must become more accessible and better understood by the average person, as its complexity often limits broader use. Security and cybersecurity remain critical concerns, with vulnerabilities that can undermine trust and progress, issues that even financial audits cannot fully resolve. To unlock the potential of DeFi for unbanked and vulnerable populations, we need to create an enabling environment that fosters trust, accessibility, and resilience.
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