Latin American & Caribbean Energy Project Financing & the Path to Net Zero: Regional Challenges and Opportunities
October 14, 2021 | 
9:30am-10:30am PT | 
Virtual Forum
A Virtual Keynote Address featuring:
Jessica Bedoya, Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer
Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
A program jointly developed by the Institute of the Americas’
Energy & Sustainability and Environment & Climate Change Programs
For several Latin American & Caribbean (LAC) countries, notably Mexico, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina and Guyana, – production of oil and gas is vital for their fiscal health. This dilemma has only been exacerbated by the economic challenges derived from the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, countries in the region face growing pressure to de-carbonize their economies. To support LAC countries on the path towards net-zero objectives, international financial institutions and multi-lateral development banks – including the Inter-American Development Bank –are now de-emphasizing funding for fossil fuel-related projects. Indeed, a directive from the US Treasury Department in August notes that “the United States will promote ending international financing of carbon-intensive fossil fuel-based energy while simultaneously advancing sustainable development and a green recovery.”
To address these issues and the challenge of balancing energy transition and job growth with the realities of securing badly needed external financing to support economic recoveries, the Institute of the Americas is honored to host Jessica Bedoya, the Inter-American Development Bank’s Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer for our first hybrid forum.
We hope you can join us!
English/Spanish interpretation will be available
Keynote Speaker
Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer | Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
Jessica L. Bedoya
Jessica L. Bedoya is the Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Ms. Bedoya is the primary advisor to the President on matters of institutional strategy and investment policy, while leading the bank’s operations. She has extensive leadership experience in international affairs and policymaking and a track-record of successfully coordinating with the private sector across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Prior to joining IDB, Ms. Bedoya spent 15 years in the U.S. government, most recently serving as Managing Director for the Western Hemisphere and Senior Advisor to the CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). At DFC she led strategic business development in Latin America and the Caribbean and identified finance and investment opportunities of up to $1B in agriculture, infrastructure and technology. To further development policy priorities, Ms. Bedoya worked closely with senior U.S. and foreign government officials, coordinated with domestic and multilateral development finance institutions and expanded DFC’s private sector co-financing partners.
From 2018 to 2020, Ms. Bedoya served as the Deputy Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council (NSC), where she created and directed U.S. policy priorities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Ms. Bedoya strengthened bilateral relationships by increasing the U.S. presence in the region and expanding economic growth opportunities. In addition, as a regional expert she advised the National Security Advisor and led execution of América Crece (Growth in the Americas), which catalyzed private sector investment in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Prior to her time at the NSC, Ms. Bedoya served in the foreign policy and U.S. intelligence community informing, advancing and implementing policies across the Western Hemisphere. She mobilized international support for key initiatives by working with leaders from governments and the private sector. Additionally, she worked at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia and has worked in Haiti and the Eastern Caribbean.
Ms. Bedoya holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Politics and International Economics from the George Washington University, a Master of Arts in World Politics from the Catholic University of America and studied political science at the Sorbonne in Paris. She speaks English, Spanish and French.
Debating Energy Security & Climate Action – A Hybrid Roundtable
Discussants:
Jose Luis Manzano, Chairman, Integra Capital (via Zoom)
Carlos De Regules, Partner, Deloitte (via Zoom)
Decio Oddone, CEO, Enauta (via Zoom)
Jessica Bedoya, Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer, IDB (In-person)
Chaired by Tania Miranda and Jeremy Martin, IOA (In-person)
Latin American Energy Project Financing Path Net Zero: Regional Challenges and Opportunities
Featuring:
Jessica Bedoya, Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
Keynote Speaker
Jessica L. Bedoya
Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer | Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)
Jessica L. Bedoya
Jessica L. Bedoya is the Chief of Staff and Chief Strategy Officer at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Ms. Bedoya is the primary advisor to the President on matters of institutional strategy and investment policy, while leading the bank’s operations. She has extensive leadership experience in international affairs and policymaking and a track-record of successfully coordinating with the private sector across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Prior to joining IDB, Ms. Bedoya spent 15 years in the U.S. government, most recently serving as Managing Director for the Western Hemisphere and Senior Advisor to the CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). At DFC she led strategic business development in Latin America and the Caribbean and identified finance and investment opportunities of up to $1B in agriculture, infrastructure and technology. To further development policy priorities, Ms. Bedoya worked closely with senior U.S. and foreign government officials, coordinated with domestic and multilateral development finance institutions and expanded DFC’s private sector co-financing partners.
From 2018 to 2020, Ms. Bedoya served as the Deputy Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council (NSC), where she created and directed U.S. policy priorities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Ms. Bedoya strengthened bilateral relationships by increasing the U.S. presence in the region and expanding economic growth opportunities. In addition, as a regional expert she advised the National Security Advisor and led execution of América Crece (Growth in the Americas), which catalyzed private sector investment in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Prior to her time at the NSC, Ms. Bedoya served in the foreign policy and U.S. intelligence community informing, advancing and implementing policies across the Western Hemisphere. She mobilized international support for key initiatives by working with leaders from governments and the private sector. Additionally, she worked at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia and has worked in Haiti and the Eastern Caribbean.
Ms. Bedoya holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Politics and International Economics from the George Washington University, a Master of Arts in World Politics from the Catholic University of America and studied political science at the Sorbonne in Paris. She speaks English, Spanish and French.
