Andean Region and Southern Cone

Myriam Méndez-Montalvo

Representative Santiago

As the representative for the Andean Region and the Southern Cone, Myriam Méndez-Montalvo oversees all of the foundation’s work at the regional office in Santiago, Chile. The chief priority in the region is to tackle social and political exclusion and discrimination, which affects racial and ethnic groups most severely. Her individual grant making focuses on promoting transparency and accountability for greater equality.

Before joining the foundation in 2011, Myriam served as a democratic governance policy adviser at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She held a number of leadership roles at UNDP since 2003, providing strategic direction for governance programs globally and for the Latin America and Caribbean region, and promoting democracy and state building in countries undergoing transitions and post-crisis situations.

Previously, Myriam led country programs across Latin America for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance and worked with the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. She began her career as a lawyer in Colombia.

Myriam holds an M.P.A. from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and an L.L.M. from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia.

Issues and Initiatives

Myriam Méndez-Montalvo manages the regional strategy in the Andean Region and Southern Cone integrating the following initiatives:

Issue	Initiative
Democratic and Accountable Government	Promoting Transparent, Effective and Accountable Government
Human Rights	Advancing Racial Justice and Minority Rights Strengthening Human Rights Worldwide
Economic Fairness	Building Economic Security Over a Lifetime Expanding Livelihood Opportunities for Poor Households
Educational Opportunity and Scholarship	Higher Education for Social Justice