Country:
Honduras
Organization:
U.S. Agency for International Development
Certificate:
Urban Climate Leadership
Three Cairns Fellows
José Daniel Madrigal
For José Daniel Madrigal, working in the U.S. Agency for International Development's Economic Growth Office in Honduras requires big-picture thinking at the nexus of the environment, food security, urbanization, and human rights. With its rich curriculum and international cohort, the Urban Climate Leadership certificate program, Madrigal said, is helping him develop the toolset, technical knowledge, and global network to take on this imposing challenge.
José Daniel Madrigal is a project management specialist for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Honduras, focusing on food security and the environment. In this role, he provides technical guidance and management for economic growth projects while liaising between USAID, NGOs, the private sector, and the Honduran government. Previously, he coordinated an ongoing climate governance project with the Asociación para una Sociedad más Justa and Transparency International.
Working in the environment and climate space in Honduras, however, requires grappling with a much broader set of challenges related to urbanization, human rights, and extractive industries, among other issues currently facing the country, he said.
Given that complexity, he’s actively involved in cultivating young leaders in the region. He teaches undergraduate courses in political science and international policy at the Central American Technical University and serves as a regional ambassador for One Young World, a nonprofit that aims to connect young people around the world.
Madrigal earned his master’s in urbanization and development at the London School of Economics as a Chevening Scholar, a prestigious award that enables international students to study in the United Kingdom. The Urban Climate Leadership certificate program is helping him build upon that experience with additional skills in climate communication, finance, and science, while giving him the opportunity to cultivate a global network, he said.
“Considering the pressing challenges Honduras and the region faces, I believe it is paramount to be prepared with the necessary tools and technical knowledge,” Madrigal said. “But I am particularly interested in engaging with my fellow classmates and teachers as they bring a deep knowledge and perspective from every continent in the world.”
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