Dr. Jenny Paola Cervera-Quintero

PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Industrial Engineer, Master in Social Policy, and PhD in Administration and Public Policy with more than 12 years of experience in research, higher education, public policy, and international cooperation. Research leader, university professor, and Director of Fundación EMFOCAH, with extensive experience designing and leading interdisciplinary projects on ecological regeneration, bioeconomy, territorial development, Indigenous and Afrodescendant knowledge systems, and community-led governance.

My work bridges scientific research, public policy, and practice through participatory, intercultural, and transdisciplinary approaches. I specialize in the co-creation of knowledge between academic, Indigenous, and local communities, contributing to evidence-based policy design, institutional strengthening, sustainability transitions, and regenerative territorial development. My research also explores scientific diplomacy, gender, and international collaboration as drivers of equitable and sustainable development.

# AREAS OF EXPERTISE

* Ecological Regeneration and Bioeconomy
* Public Policy Design, Analysis and Evaluation
* Indigenous and Afrodescendant Governance
* Territorial Development and Community-based Innovation
* Participatory Action Research (PAR)
* Qualitative and Mixed Research Methods
* Intercultural Dialogue and Knowledge Co-creation
* Science Diplomacy and International Cooperation
* Sustainability and Regenerative Governance

TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

**Research and Data Analysis**

* Atlas.ti
* NVivo
* R
* Python
* Tableau
* Microsoft Excel
* Google Workspace

**Core Competencies**

* Research Leadership
* Strategic Planning
* Policy Analysis
* Stakeholder Engagement
* International Project Management
* Intercultural Communication
* Facilitation and Dialogue
* Academic Writing and Scientific Editing
* Capacity Building

**Languages**

* Spanish (Native)
* English (B2)
* French (B2)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

General Director & Co-founder

**Fundación EMFOCAH (Colombia)**
March 2021 – Present

* Lead the strategic development of the Foundation and serve as its legal representative.
* Design and coordinate interdisciplinary research projects on ecological regeneration, bioeconomy, public policy, and territorial development.
* Develop partnerships with universities, public institutions, Indigenous organizations, NGOs, and international cooperation agencies.
* Lead fundraising, project management, scientific dissemination, and institutional strengthening initiatives.
* Coordinate multidisciplinary research teams and community-based participatory processes.

Senior Research Consultant

**SENA – Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje**
July 2025 – December 2025

* Designed and implemented Participatory Action Research (PAR) projects with Indigenous and peasant communities.
* Facilitated intercultural research processes integrating Indigenous knowledge systems with institutional research.
* Produced methodological tools and policy recommendations supporting territorial development and capacity building.
* Supported collaborative innovation processes within Colombia's popular and rural economy.

Professor and Researcher

**ECCI University**
February 2022 – May 2025

* Conducted research on Indigenous governance, public administration, ecological regeneration, and sustainability.
* Directed the TEIN Research Group (Minciencias Category B).
* Led curriculum innovation and international academic cooperation initiatives.
* Supervised undergraduate and postgraduate research projects.

Final Master's Project Supervisor

**International University of La Rioja (UNIR), Spain**
May 2022 – May 2024

* Supervised master's dissertations in public policy, sustainability, governance, and social development.

Professor of Public Administration

**Universidad Siglo 21 (Argentina)**
October 2017 – December 2018

* Taught undergraduate courses in Public Administration.
* Developed teaching materials in governance, policy analysis, and institutional management.

Professor of Business Administration

**Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios (UNIMINUTO)**
2018 – 2020

* Delivered undergraduate teaching in business administration and organizational management.
* Integrated sustainability, entrepreneurship, and public-private collaboration into academic programmes.

Specialist in Public Policy Formulation

**Bogotá District Government**
April 2016 – July 2016

* Contributed to the formulation of Bogotá's Public Policy on Animal Protection and Welfare.
* Participated in the institutional design leading to the creation of the District Institute for Animal Protection.

Professional Advisor

**Bogotá City Council**
December 2013 – December 2015

* Provided technical advice on public finance, governance, gender equality, Indigenous rights, and education policy.
* Supported legislative processes and evidence-based policy development.

EDUCATION

**PhD in Administration and Public Policy** (2021)
National University of Córdoba, Argentina

**Master in Social Policy** (2015)
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia

**Industrial Engineering** (2011)
Universidad Distrital Francisco José de Caldas, Colombia

ADDITIONAL TRAINING

* Diploma in Citizen Participation – ESAP (2021)
* Behavioural Economics for Public Policy – Inter-American Development Bank (2020)
* Protected Areas in Territorial Planning and Ethnic and Environmental Planning in Public Policy (2025)
* Innovation and Sustainability in the Popular and Peasant Economy – SENA (2025)
* Care for Victims of Sexual Violence and Chemical Attacks – Universidad del Rosario (2025)

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

* Editor. *Epistemologies of Ecological Regeneration: Indigenous and Afrodescendant Knowledge from Colombia and Mexico.* Springer Nature (2026).
* Public Policies Against Misinformation in Latin America (2016–2022).
* The Role of Open Data in Colombia's Public Policy (2016–2021).

SELECTED CONFERENCES

* ECOOVIDA – COP16, Cali, Colombia (2024).
* Latin American Forum on Diverse Economies (2024).
* Sustainable Engineering for a Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive Future (2024).
* Perspectives on Popular Economy in Latin America – OECD (2024).