Carlos Alberto Ávila Cerón
Researcher PhD
E-mail: carlosalberto.avila1128@gmail.com
Phone: +57 310 6088226
CARLOS ALBERTO ÁVILA CERÓN is a specialist in Agribusiness with PhD research in planning, management and rural development. He has experience in university teaching and research groups in Colombia and Spain. As well as a continuous record of leadership and performance in the areas of agricultural policy, crop substitution, inter-institutional articulation as well as rural and alternative development. Carlos Alberto Ávila Cerón has over twenty years of experience working with vulnerable populations in conflict zones, coordinating technical, administrative and financial multidisciplinary teams in public and international cooperation programmes. In addition to his work experience, he published in chapters in specialized books and high impact journals.
ADADEMIC EDUCATION
PhD in Planning and Management for Sustainable Rural Development at UPM, Spain (2018). Awards and Honours: Outstanding
MSc. in Local Rural Development at UPM, Spain. Awards and Honours: Carolina Foundation Fellow
MSc. Territorial Threat Analysis, at Special Operations Command’s Joint Special Operations University, USA. Awards and Honours: Colombian Government Fellow
Certificate as IPMA expert in Project Management at UPM, Spain
Advanced Course in Analysis of Agricultural Projects and Integral Rural Development at the Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture, Egypt. Awards and Honours: Egyptian Government Fellow
BSc Agricultural Business Administrator at University of La Salle, Bogotá – Colombia
MSc. in Local Rural Development at UPM, Spain. Awards and Honours: Carolina Foundation Fellow
MSc. Territorial Threat Analysis, at Special Operations Command’s Joint Special Operations University, USA. Awards and Honours: Colombian Government Fellow
Certificate as IPMA expert in Project Management at UPM, Spain
Advanced Course in Analysis of Agricultural Projects and Integral Rural Development at the Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture, Egypt. Awards and Honours: Egyptian Government Fellow
BSc Agricultural Business Administrator at University of La Salle, Bogotá – Colombia
PROFESIONAL EXPERIENCE
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime UNODC, March 2017 – Present. Position: Coordinator of the Comprehensive Access to Land Grant
FAO – UPM, March 2016 - December 2017. Position: Coordinator for Colombia of the agreement
USAID / OTI Colombia Transforma Programme, November 2015 - May 2017. Position: Support for the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace of the Presidency of the Republic of Colombia
USAID / OTI Colombia Transforma Programme, November 2015 - November 2016. Position:National Development Program Officer
USAID Land and Rural Development Programme, May 2015 - December 2015. Position: Consultant for the Integral Directorate of Humanitarian Demining
Santo Tomas de Aquino University, January 2014 - June 2015. Position: Professor of the Faculty of Agricultural Business Administration.
USAID Colombia Responds Programme, May 2014 - May 2015. Position: Regional Coordinator
Administrative Unit of Territorial Consolidation, August 2012 - May 2014. Position: Regional Manager of Meta and Caguan
USAID / OTI Rapid Response Programme, January 2010 - August 2012. Position: Transition Plan Coordinator (Crop Replacement)
PCIM Macarena Integral Consolidation Plan, February 2008 - January 2010. Position: Transition Plan Coordinator (Crop Replacement)
Presidential Crop Replacement Program, August 2004 - February 2008. Position: Advisor of the Technical and Social Development Area
FAO – UPM, March 2016 - December 2017. Position: Coordinator for Colombia of the agreement
USAID / OTI Colombia Transforma Programme, November 2015 - May 2017. Position: Support for the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace of the Presidency of the Republic of Colombia
USAID / OTI Colombia Transforma Programme, November 2015 - November 2016. Position:National Development Program Officer
USAID Land and Rural Development Programme, May 2015 - December 2015. Position: Consultant for the Integral Directorate of Humanitarian Demining
Santo Tomas de Aquino University, January 2014 - June 2015. Position: Professor of the Faculty of Agricultural Business Administration.
USAID Colombia Responds Programme, May 2014 - May 2015. Position: Regional Coordinator
Administrative Unit of Territorial Consolidation, August 2012 - May 2014. Position: Regional Manager of Meta and Caguan
USAID / OTI Rapid Response Programme, January 2010 - August 2012. Position: Transition Plan Coordinator (Crop Replacement)
PCIM Macarena Integral Consolidation Plan, February 2008 - January 2010. Position: Transition Plan Coordinator (Crop Replacement)
Presidential Crop Replacement Program, August 2004 - February 2008. Position: Advisor of the Technical and Social Development Area
PUBLICATIONS
Ávila Cerón, Carlos Alberto 2018. Planificación del desarrollo alternativo desde el modelo Working With People WWP : el caso del plan de consolidación de la Macarena en Colombia. Tesis (Doctoral), E.T.S. de Ingeniería Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas (UPM). https://doi.org/10.20868/UPM.thesis.52078
Ávila Ceron, C.A, De los Ríos-Carmenado, I. and Martin S., 2018. Illicit crops substitution and rural prosperity in armed conflict areas: A conceptual proposal based on the Working With People model in Colombia. Land Use Policy Volume 72, March 2018, Pages 201-214
Ávila Cerón, CA. and De los Ríos-Carmenado, I., 2017. Alternative Development in Rural Communities Affected by the Illegal Economy: The Case of La Macarena (Colombia). In: I. Nicolae, I. De los Ríos & AJ. Vasile. Rural Communities in the Global Economy: Beyond The Classical Rural Economy Paradigms (1st ed., pp. 23-38). New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
Ávila Ceron, C.A, De los Ríos-Carmenado, I. and Martin S., 2016. Effects of Alternative Development in Colombia: an analysis of the Macarena Consolidation Plan from Working with People. In: L. Chivu, C. Ciutacu, V. Ioan-Franc and J. Andrei, Economic Dynamics and Sustainable Development – Resources, Factors, Structures and Policies. Vol. I, pp. 171-198. New York: Peter Lang Publishing.
Ávila Cerón, CA, De los Rios-Carmenado, I., Rivera, M. & Martin S. 2016. Rural development planning in Colombia’s conflict zones: a proposal from the WWP model. Proceedings of the 7th International Scientific Conference Rural Development 2015.
Ávila Ceron, C.A, De los Ríos-Carmenado, I. and Martin S., 2014. Alternative Development from the wwp model working with people: Lessons from experience Vonsolidation Plan Macarena, 18th International Congress on Project Management and Engineering Alcañiz, 16-18th July 2014
Ávila Ceron, C.A, De los Ríos-Carmenado, I. and Martin S., 2010. Un nuevo enfoque para la planificación del desarrollo alternativo: Caso conceptual y análisis del Plan de Consolidación Integral de la Macarena (Colombia), XIV International Congress on Project Engineering
PAPERS AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
National University of Colombia - FAO / FGUPM Project “Curricula, case studies and seminars to increase the knowledge and capacity of universities in the Voluntary Guidelines for Land Governance”
San Marcos University - FAO / FGUPM Project. 2017. “Curricula, case studies and seminars to increase the knowledge and capacity of universities in the Principles of Responsible Agricultural Investment to secure basic rights, livelihoods and resources (IAR Principles)”
Proceedings of the 7th International Scientific Conference Rural Development 2015.
18th International Congress on Project Management and Engineering Alcañiz, 16-18th July 2014.
Polytechnic University of Madrid. 2013. Symposium, “From a professional University to a Research University: An Opportunity for Latin America”.
Polytechnic University of Madrid 2010. "XIV International Congress on Project Engineering".
AWARDS AND DISTRINCTIONS
Outstanding Doctoral Thesis (2018)
Member of the GESPLAN Research Group at UPM (Since 2013)
Member of the Superior Council of the University of La Salle (2013).
Fellow of the Carolina Foundation (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain) for the Master’s in Local and Rural Development (2003 to 2004).
Fellow of the Government of Egypt to study in-depth Integrated Rural Development in 2000 and Analysis of Agricultural Projects in 2002.
Member of the GESPLAN Research Group at UPM (Since 2013)
Member of the Superior Council of the University of La Salle (2013).
Fellow of the Carolina Foundation (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Spain) for the Master’s in Local and Rural Development (2003 to 2004).
Fellow of the Government of Egypt to study in-depth Integrated Rural Development in 2000 and Analysis of Agricultural Projects in 2002.
REFERENCES
Dr. Ignacio de los Ríos Carmenado
Professor UPM – Madrid.
Director of GESPLAN at UPM.
Director of GESPLAN at UPM.
Dr. Alvaro Balcazar Venegas
Policy Officer.
USAID/OTI.
USAID/OTI.
