Renato Vargas

Experience

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  Instituto de Agricultura, Recursos Naturales y Ambiente

  Mar 2006 - Jan 2013

  Researcher

  -Member of the team that implemented the System of Environmental and Economic National Accounts of Guatemala (Green National Accounting) and related publications (see website below).-Co-author of the “Perfil Ambiental de Guatemala 2008-2009” (Energy section of the Environmental Profile of Guatemala).-In charge of Energy Accounting (Work awarded the “Fernando Cuevas” energy prize from the Economic Comission for Latin America).-Counterfactual evaluation of the Ministry of Agriculture’s fertilizer subsidy program regarding objectives of improving maize and beans crop yield.-Agricultural producers’ database.-Beneficiary characterization.-Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis of the distribution mechanism. Show less

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  Instituto Centroamericano de Estudios Fiscales

  Feb 2013 - Mar 2014

  Researcher

  -In charge of the project “Fiscal Policy and Rural Developent in Central America, with activities in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.-Research and management activities for the Fiscal Policy, Natural Environment and Development area.-Media contributions (columns of opinion, press conferences).

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  The World Bank

  Feb 2014 - May 2015

  Natural Capital Accounting Consultant

  -In charge of the Work Plan of the WAVES initiative in Guatemala for the period 2015-2018 in order to institutionalize the production of Natural Capital Accounts and make sure their findings, figures, and indicators are used in evidence based public policies.-Coordinate activities between five government institutions (Ministry of Finance, Central Bank, Secretariat of Planning, Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Environment), regarding their roles in the WAVES initiative.-Commission technical studies to consultants and advisors in support of WAVES. Follow-up and assure quality of the work.-Report locally and globally about progress of the WAVES initiative in Guatemala. Show less

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  Independent Consultant

  May 2015 - Sept 2016

  Consultant on Environmental and Economic Macro-Accounting

  Expert on Environmental and Macro-Economic Accounting.

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  Independent researcher, writer and bid developer

  Aug 2017 - Aug 2018

  Lead Economist
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  Agropecuaria Popoyán, S.A.

  Oct 2017 - Nov 2019

  Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist for the USAID/Guatemala flagship rural development Feed the Future Guatemala Innovative Agricultural Value Chains Project. In charge of a team of professionals with two main tasks. First, the M&E department develops mechanisms to document all project activities related to the attainment of the indicators assigned by USAID in an efficient, transparent and valid manner, creating no additional burdens for our collaborators. Additionally, we analyze the information yielded by those mechanisms and propose changes of course of action to specialists in charge of program components. Second, the M&E department is in charge of the technological ecosystem of the project, which includes the development of a commercial mobile application for the agricultural sector, a field monitoring application for agricultural technical assistance personnel, and internal record keeping and administrative processes systems, all developed in-house. My unique position gives me a thorough understanding of the status of the entire organization, so I serve as a link between project leaders, the company's leadership, the donor, and other stakeholders. Show less

  • Monitoring And Evaluation Specialist

    Oct 2018 - Nov 2019

  • Economic Studies Manager

    Oct 2017 - Sept 2018
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  Freelance

  Jan 2018 - now

  Independent consultant in economics, sustainability, monitoring & evaluation, data analysis, and GIS

  Economist and independent consultant working in socioeconomic and sustainability issues, working in strategic, managerial, team leading, scientific, data analytical and mentoring roles in turnkey operations and special tasks. Worked with clients such as the World Bank and other United Nations Agencies, International Aid Organizations, and Private Enterprises in over a dozen countries around the world. Technical author of various peer reviewed and other editorial publications. International Speaker on the role of biology and the environment in business value creation. Show less