Inter-American Dialogue

The Inter-American Dialogue is pleased to announce the appointment of Alfonso Blanco Bonilla as the new director of its Energy Transition & Climate Program. Blanco is a leading figure in the energy and climate sector in Latin America and the Caribbean, bringing a distinguished career and a wealth of experience to the role. Blanco served as the executive director of the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) from 2017 to 2023. Under his leadership, he advanced the organization’s role in shaping public policies related to energy transitions and regional integration. His tenure was marked by a strong commitment to decarbonizing regional energy systems and meeting climate commitments. Under his guidance, OLADE supported the regional Renewables in Latin America and the Caribbean (RELAC) initiative, aimed at achieving 70% renewable energy in Latin America and Caribbean countries.  From 2005 to 2013 while directing Uruguay’s national strategy for energy efficiency and biomass-based electricity generation, Blanco introduced innovative measures that enabled Uruguay to achieve an impressive 98% of its electricity generation from renewable sources. “Alfonso brings with him a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record in leading complex initiatives in the energy and climate sectors,” said Dr. Rebecca Bill Chavez, President & CEO of the Inter-American Dialogue. “His experience in the energy sector and in climate mitigation and resilience policy will provide a strong foundation for the Inter-American Dialogue to move the needle on securing a climate-smart future for the Americas.”  Blanco has served as a senior advisor to the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, CAF - Development Bank of Latin American and the Caribbean, and the United Nations. His advisory work has encompassed regulatory issues, energy policy, energy transitions, energy diplomacy, climate change, business development, and financing models in Latin America and the Caribbean. He has also served as inter-institutional coordinator of the Regional Energy Efficiency Program under the Regional Energy Agenda, which includes organizations such as the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), the Association of Oil, Gas and Renewable Energy Companies of Latin America and the Caribbean (ARPEL), Regional Electric Integration Committee (CIER), the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Organization of American States (OAS), OLADE, and the World Energy Council (WEC). The Inter-American Dialogue's Energy Transition & Climate Program aims to enhance regional energy security and climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience in line with the objectives and timeline of the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. 

"It was a wonderful opportunity to bring together a very diverse group of practitioners, policymakers, and civil society to discuss one of the most urgent challenges facing the region," emphasized Rebecca Bill Chavez, President and CEO of the Inter-American Dialogue during the #DialogoCAFOEA in Washington, D.C. Don’t miss the key takeaways from the conference, which proposed solutions to tackle insecurity across the Americas!

Gran convocatoria la semana pasada en la conferencia anual CAF -banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe- celebrada en asocio con Inter-American Dialogue y Organización de los Estados Americanos. Con la apertura del Presidente Luis Abinader, Sergio Díaz Granados Guida, Luis Almagro y Rebecca Bill Chavez se dieron cita Ministros de Estado, Embajadores, Expertos y líderes diversos. Complacida de haber la tenido la oportunidad de moderar el panel "La banca multilateral: los desafíos de la seguridad en las Américas" con la participación de The World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank y CAF -banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe-. Discutimos los nexos entre seguridad, desarrollo y democracia aportando entre otros los elementos y datos que nos proporcionan los informes del PNUD en América Latina y el Caribe. El tema no ha podido ser más propicio en momentos en que diversos países de la región enfrentan la penetración del crimen organizado en la política y a nivel de los gobiernos también. #seguridad #democracia #desarrollo

Thanks so much Asma Khalid for the opportunity to discuss Kamala Harris' foreign policy priorities on NPR's All Things Considered. 🙏 From the segment 👇 "Harris’ foreign policy developed through her work on intelligence... And she became particularly focused on international rules and norms, said Rebecca Bill Chavez, co-director of foreign policy for Harris’ 2020 presidential bid. It’s a throughline Chavez, now CEO of the Inter-American Dialogue, says she has seen with the vice president’s work in Central America. 'She’s been very active in working with the countries of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras in pushing for the rule of law and for judicial security,' Chavez said." 📻 You can find the full segment here: https://lnkd.in/dWavRY6b

En el marco de la Conferencia #DiálogoCAFOEA, nuestro presidente ejecutivo Sergio Díaz Granados Guida entregó una placa al secretario general de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA), Luis Almagro, en reconocimiento a su trayectoria y legado por nuestra región. Agradecemos el trabajo conjunto durante estos años para impulsar iniciativas en beneficio de la región. Esta relación histórica entre ambas instituciones seguirá fortaleciéndose para promover una mejor calidad de vida para latinoamericanos y caribeños.🤝

I am honored to have served as the Master of Ceremonies for the 27th CAF Annual Conference, co-hosted by CAF -banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe- The Dialogue and Organización de los Estados Americanos It was an incredible experience to engage with such remarkable leaders from across the Western Hemisphere. Fue un honor haber sido maestra de ceremonias de la 27ª Conferencia Anual de la CAF, coorganizada por CAF -banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe- The Dialogue y Organización de los Estados Americanos Fue una experiencia increíble formar parte de este evento con líderes tan destacados del hemisferio occidental

#DiálogoCAFOEA🌎📣 La 27 Conferencia Anual de CAF en Washington DC reunió a expertos internacionales para abordar cómo la inseguridad y la desconfianza ciudadana afectan la lucha contra la pobreza y el desarrollo en la región. El presidente de la República Dominicana, Luis Abinader, inauguró el evento subrayando la necesidad de unir esfuerzos para fortalecer las democracias de América Latina. Sergio Díaz Granados Guida, presidente de CAF, enfatizó que "sin seguridad no hay desarrollo". La cooperación entre gobiernos e instituciones es clave para enfrentar estos desafíos y cumplir con la Agenda 2030. 📈 Luis Almagro, secretario general de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA), y Rebecca Bill Chavez, presidenta del Inter-American Dialogue, destacaron la importancia de vivir en una región de paz. Revive esta importante discusión: https://lnkd.in/eDsMWEr2

Rebecca Bill Chavez, presidenta y CEO del Diálogo Interamericano, enfatiza la necesidad de unidad hemisférica para enfrentar el crimen organizado transnacional. En una próxima conferencia organizada junto con CAF -banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe- en la Organización de los Estados Americanos, líderes de las Américas se reunirán para discutir cómo mejorar la seguridad regional, el desarrollo económico y la gobernanza democrática. Figuras clave, incluidos los presidentes de la República Dominicana y Costa Rica, y el Secretario General de la OEA, Luis Almagro, contribuirán a los diálogos sobre soluciones colaborativas. Chavez subraya que enfrentar el crimen requiere un enfoque regional unificado y colaboración institucional. Via Infobae https://lnkd.in/dNnEzGky #DialogoCAFOEA

The President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, will deliver the opening speech at the 27th Annual CAF Conference, to be held on September 5, 2024, in Washington DC. Abinader will address the need to strengthen democracies in the region to achieve sustainable and inclusive development, promoting a better quality of life for citizens. The conference will focus on the challenges the region faces in the current global context. Since its inception in 1996, the Annual Conference of CAF -banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe-, organized in collaboration with the Inter-American Dialogue and the Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA), has become a key forum for analyzing political, economic, and social trends in Latin America and the Caribbean. #DialogoCAFOEA

Join us on Thursday Sept. 5 at the Organization of American States for the 27th annual Inter-American Dialogue, CAF -banco de desarrollo de América Latina y el Caribe-, Organización de los Estados Americanos conference, which will focus on security and development in the Americas. We have an amazing agenda with panels comprised of thought leaders from government, multilateral development banks, academia, and civil society. 🌎 We'll dive into discussions on the most pressing issues facing our region, explore innovative solutions, and build stronger partnerships for a more secure and prosperous future. Conversations will focus on the intersection of development and security, subnational approaches to creating safe communities, combatting gender-based violence, and transnational organized crime. You can find the full agenda here: https://lnkd.in/dR_cmfVn Don't miss out on this opportunity to hear from experts and network with members of a community dedicated to driving positive change in the Americas. See you there! 🙌