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Team Members

Cesarina Quintana

Deputy Director, Natural Infrastructure GovernanceNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Cesarina Quintana García de Paredes, an economist from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and with master studies in agribusiness from the Universidad Nacional Agraria del Perú.

Work experience in small business, foreign trade and international cooperation for almost 25 years working for rural development. Worked in the design, execution, management, monitoring and follow-up of projects of different international cooperation agencies USAID, European Union. She also worked for 17 years in the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC of the Swiss Embassy in Peru, in the division of Global Programs-Global Water Initiatives as Senior National Program Officer, Deputy for Cooperation and Regional Water and Sanitation Advisor for Latin America supporting innovative projects such as the Water Footprint in Colombia and Peru as the ASIR SABA Colombia project. She facilitated the exchange of experiences and knowledge management between Peru, Colombia, Brazil, Panama, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

She was the LAC Regional Coordinator of the Global Sanitation and Water for All-UNICEF Platform, Regional Coordinator of the SIRWASH Program (Bolivia, Brazil, Haiti, and Peru) and Consultant of the Water and Sanitation Division of the Inter-American Development Bank. She was also part of the Latin America Regional Hub team of the Skat Foundation and the global platform of the Rural Water Supply Network of Switzerland.

She has extensive experience in rural water and sanitation as well as in advocacy and public policy dialogue; she has been the coordinator of the Water Donors Roundtable in Peru and collaborated in the organization of the different versions of the Latin American Sanitation Conference LATINOSAN (2013, 2016, 2019, 2022).

She has participated as a speaker and moderator in World Water Week at SIWI, World Water Forum (Marseille 2012, Brasilia 2018), Brazil Water Week, and Water Economy Forum (Spain).

Flor Torres

MEVA SpecialistNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Magister en Administración de Negocios, MBA en la Universidad ESAN, Ingeniero de Sistemas, amplio conocimiento sobre el manejo de tecnologías de información, con experiencia en gestión integral de sistemas de monitoreo y evaluación en diversas organizaciones y proyectos de USAID, ONGs Plan International, World Vision entre otros, experiencia como docente universitaria y gestión integral de proyectos privados y sociales.

Ursula Ruiz

Blended Finance LeaderNatural Infrastructure for Water Security Project

Ursula es abogada de la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú y magíster en Gestión y Políticas Públicas de la Universidad de Chile. Ha sido directora de diversas organizaciones con y sin fines de lucro expertas en Obras por Impuestos y Responsabilidad Social. Ursula es también docente de Sostenibilidad de las Universidades ESAN, San Ignacio de Loyola y San Martín de Porres.

Fernando Leon

Deputy Chief of Party, Investments in Natural InfrastructureNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Fernando León is a professional with more than 20 years of experience in leadership positions in the public sector, as well as in international cooperation. He is the Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) of Forest Trends’ Natural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project. Fernando has designed and directed projects with implementation scope in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico, and Costa Rica. His contribution with innovative ideas has made it possible to develop the enhancement of ecosystem services, through the mechanisms of remuneration for ecosystem services (MERESE), economic contribution of protected natural areas, financial planning for the conservation of biodiversity and the climate, and the integration of natural infrastructure into public policy, planning, and practice.

Fernando participated in the founding of the Ministry of the Environment (MINAM) as Director General, and years later as Vice Minister of Strategic Development of Natural Resources, he has also led projects financed by USAID, GIZ, SECO, CTB. From 2010 to 2023 he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Fund of the Americas (FONDAM), the National Water Authority (ANA), the National Forestry and Wildlife Service (SERFOR), and the Environmental Assessment and Control Agency (OEFA).

Fernando holds an MBA from the Central American Institute of Business Administration (INCAE), in Costa Rica with a scholarship from the MacArthur Foundation, and Ph.D. studies in international biodiversity management at the International University of Andalusia, in Spain. He is an author, and co-author and has participated in preparing numerous publications.

Iván Amézquita

Senior CommunicationsNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Strategic Communications Specialist with more than twenty years of international experience contributing to Human and Sustainable Development programs. Master on International Affairs and specialized in Communications for Development and Social Change (Ohio University). International civil servant proven experience across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, Africa and the Pacific, joining UNICEF programs in emergencies and development scenarios. Skilled and passionate about strategic design, implementation, management, capacity development and community engagement in support of programmatic purposes and systems building. Personally, enjoys outdoor sports, nature and live music.

Diana Villaverde

Technical AssistantNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Diana is an economist from the University of Applied Sciences with experience in managing investment programs and projects financed by multilateral development organizations, cooperating agencies, and public and private entities. She also completed her Master studies in investment projects at the National University of Engineering and has professional certifications in evaluation of projects and program management.

Liliana Salome

Gender SpecialistNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Liliana is professor of Law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. Her experience includes being General Director of Gender Equality and Non-Discrimination in the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations in Peru (2019). In recent years Liliana has been working as consultant for various institutions concerned with gender equality and human rights, such as the Ombudsman’s Office, the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Her academic background includes two master’s degrees, as well as various courses and studies on gender equality and human rights. The last three years Liliana has taught the course “Gender Approach in Public Management” at the National School of Public Administration of Peru.

Gilmer Medina

Specialist in Natural Infrastructure and Landscape PlanningNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Gilmer is a Geographer with a Master’s degree in Environmental Sciences with a major in territorial planning and project management from the San Marcos National University. He has more than 15 years of experience in planning and management for the conservation and implementation of ecosystem services projects. He is also a senior lecturer in the Academic Department of Geographic Sciences at San Marcos National University.

Luisa Cifuentes

Technical AssistantNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Luisa is a professional in Environmental Sciences from the University of Applied and Environmental Sciences UDCA Bogotá (Colombia) with a Master’s degree in Water Resources Management from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, with more than 8 years of experience in the public and private sectors on ecosystem conservation projects, sustainable management of natural resources, climate change and water resources management. Luisa has also been a lecturer at Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and San Pablo Catholic University. Her areas of research are focused in biophysical and sociocultural valuation of ecosystem services with local and indigenous communities in Peru and Colombia.

Mabel Pajares Policarpio

Administrative CoordinatorNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Mabel holds a bachelor’s degree in Systems Engineering. She has extensive knowledge in office automation, administration and accounting, and has more than 7 years of experience dealing with administrative, accounting, logistical and human resource issues.  In the past, she has worked for private companies, as well as both local and international NGO’s, through projects funded by USAID, The Big Lottery Fund of the United Kingdom, and the Canadian Embassy. Mabel is an optimistic, responsible, humble, goal-oriented team player.

Alex Zambrano Ramirez

GIS Specialist for Investments in Natural InfrastructureNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Alex is an Environmental Engineer from the Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal with a specialization in Business Intelligence from ESAN University, with more than 15 years of experience in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing applied in processes of Ecological and Economic Zoning, investment projects related to ecosystems, ecosystem services, disaster risk management, and environmental diagnostics and assessments. He is also knowledgeable with Integrated Management Systems (ISO 9001, 14001 and OSHAS 18001) and Environmental Legislation, and is experienced in public management for the design and implementation of public and sectoral policies with a territorial approach, elaboration of sectoral planning instruments (environment sector), management of budget by results, management of public projects, sustainable economic development, environmental and forestry financing mechanism.

Angel Soto

Deputy Director of Operations and FinanceForest Trends Peru

Angel has over 20 years of experience in finance and operations with international nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining Forest Trends, he held the position of Senior Manager, Global Administration at Rainforest Alliance, where he led all operational aspects of the organization in the Latin America region. Before Rainforest Alliance, Angel worked at Conservation International (CI) as the Operations Director for Mexico and Central America, where he led efforts implement financial and operational strategies for the region. He also worked at Save the Children Guatemala, leading financial and operational functions for USAID funded projects.

Yessica Armas

Senior Public Investment SpecialistNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Yessica is a civil engineer with more than 13 years of experience in programming, formulation, evaluation and management of public investment programs and projects on environmental issues with national financing, public debt, and international technical cooperations. She has led technical teams from the Ministry of Environment of Peru for the development of regulatory, methodological, and technical instruments related to public investment in Natural Infrastructure in Peru. She studied Pollution and Environmental Management at the Private University of Moquegua and has a master’s in Investment Projects and Environmental Technologies. She also has a Post Degree in Project Management (PMBOK) and Climate Change.

Guisella Infantes Bracamonte

Training Programs CoordinatorNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Guisella studied Education for Development at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and, in recent years, has specialized in e-learning. She is an instructional designer and e-learning content developer. Her training and knowledge come from her work as a project assistant, virtual tutor, course coordinator, instructional designer, and e-learning consultant for different institutions, such as NGOs, universities, and public entities. Her goal and motivation is to design learning experiences that respond to the needs of users.

Mia Smith

Program ManagerGlobal Water Initiative

Mia completed a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering at MIT, where her thesis evaluated green infrastructure alternatives for stormwater management in urbanized watersheds. She has worked as an engineering consultant designing a variety of water treatment and reuse plants, including wastewater to drinking water, recycled urban stormwater, groundwater remediation, and industrial treatment. She is passionate about community-driven environmental projects and has traveled across Latin America working on projects in Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, and Ecuador.

Patricia Olinda Carillo Montenegro

Leader, Social Inclusion and GenderNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Patricia is a lawyer and feminist. She has served in the Ministry of Women (Promudeh and MIMP) and the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Peru and has consulted for MINAM, MIDIS, NGOs, international cooperation organizations, and international organizations. As General Director of Mainstreaming of the Gender Approach of the MIMP, she was responsible for the process of preparing the Action Plan on Gender and Climate Change. She graduated from the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos and has a master’s degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.

Gena Gammie

DirectorWater Initiative

Gena Gammie is Associate Director of Forest Trends’ Water Initiative, which aims to scale up incentives and other economic tools that recognize the value of nature and upstream communities in assuring secure, safe water. In this role Gena works collaboratively with civil society, government, and professional associations to systematically address barriers to realizing effective watershed investments and leads Forest Trends’ work on analyses and tools for evaluating the cost-effectiveness of green infrastructure, with the aim of promoting performance-based investments in green infrastructure by mainstream water resources managers. Gena brings to this role experience on forest carbon project development and analysis, climate policy analysis with ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, and strategic communication at McKinsey & Company’s Sustainability and Resource Productivity practice. Gena holds an MSc with Distinction in Environmental Policy & Regulation from the London School of Economics, where her dissertation focused on multi-stakeholder platforms for cooperative water resources management.

Fernando Momiy Hada

Chief of PartyNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Fernando Momiy is an internationally-recognized champion of natural infrastructure in Peru and is the Chief of Party (COP) of Forest Trends’ Natural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project. Fernando holds an MBA and MA in Regulation of Public Services and Infrastructure Management. He has held numerous leadership positions in his nearly 25 years of government service at Peruvian infrastructure and sanitation agencies. Most recently, Fernando has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Latin American Association of National Water and Sanitation Regulators (ADERASA), the President of the Board of Directors of Peru’s National Superintendence of Sanitation Services (SUNASS), and Director of Investment Promotion at the Agency for Promotion of Private Investment. In these roles, he has promoted more than 100 public-private investment projects in the infrastructure sector, created a regional Green Infrastructure Working Group in Latin America, and led Peru’s water sector tariff and regulatory reforms.

Abel Aucasime

Leader, Integral SolutionsNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Abel directs coordination of integral solutions for water security for the NIWS Project. He has 18 years of experience in issues that link environmental management and strategic development of natural resources.

Notably, he has promoted and participated in the design and implementation of public and sectoral policies aligned with territorial policies and developed sectoral planning and technical instruments within the framework of the National Environmental Management System (SNGA) in Peru. He has also provided technical advice on the following topics: governance and implementation of public institutional management, results-based budget management, management of public and private projects in biodiversity and environmental conservation, environmental financing, environmental information management, evaluation and valuation of ecosystem services, and others. Abel has a degree in Biology with a specialty in Natural Resources and Ecology from the National University of San Cristóbal de Huamanga.

Óscar Angulo

Leader, Natural Infrastructure for Drinking WaterNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Óscar is a biologist with an MSc in Integrated Water Management from University of Queensland, Monash University, Griffith University, and Western Australia University. He is a senior lecturer at Catholic University (PUCP) and Scientific University of the South (UCSUR) in Peru and has more than ten years experience working in public and private institutions. His main areas of research are natural resource management, integrated water resource management in both rural and urban areas, community development, green infrastructure public investment, and drinking water & sanitation programs.

His work with Forest Trends, to date, has focused on the development of environmentally sustainable socio-economic strategies, integrating socio-economic and hydrological monitoring, and evaluating natural infrastructure investment.

Doris Mejía

Communications LeaderNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Doris is a communication specialist from Lima University, with a master’s in Social Management from the Catholic University of Peru. She has more than 20 years of experience creating and delivering development communication strategies and products.

As a communication manager for Practical Action Latin America, she worked closely with international teams, other NGOs, cooperatives, authorities, and communities on a variety of significant issues such as climate change, renewable energy, risk management, environment, agriculture, ICTs, etc.

In the last 5 years she created and lead important strategies and campaigns for the Andean Community, WWF, IDB, Belgium Embassy, European Union, among others. Doris is the creator and administrator of Comunicambio-Communication and development, an active network for 12,500 development specialists from all over the country.

Fiona Morelli

Contracts and Awards SpecialistNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Fiona has more than 10 years of experience in finance and operations with global nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining Forest Trends, she was Project Finance Specialist and Project Management Specialist at the International Potato Center, where she managed a portfolio of over 20 projects from Africa, Asia, and South America. She also managed regional projects at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and has close familiarity with the regulations of many major donor institutions (e.g. BMGF, USAID, IFAD, EU, UNDP and FAO). Before working for nonprofit organizations, Fiona worked in the private sector for 10 years in banking and transnational companies.

Mercy Sandoval

Leader, Capacity Building and LocalizationNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Mercy has a Master’s Degree in Social Management (PUCP), Municipal Management (ESAN), and Corporate Social Responsibility (PUCP. She has twenty years of experience in the design, implementation and monitoring of development projects, focused on public policy, building capacity and citizen participation areas. Mercy is an expert in designing training programs, particularly in the areas of gender and multicultural training.

Gabriel Rojas

Communications CoordinatorNatural Infrastructure for Water Security (NIWS) Project

Gabriel is a communicator for the NIWS Project. He has more than five years of experience developing and implementing communication strategies with a gender and intercultural approach for international development projects and the public sector. He has a communication degree from the University of Lima and is currently completing his master’s in Human Development Approaches and Policies at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP).