Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Oregon State University, United States and Bachelor of Sociology from Santo Tomás University, Colombia. Lately he has participated in projects related to non-agricultural opportunities for rural development, impact evaluation of rural development programs and projects, systematization of rural development experiences and combating rural poverty, development of some strategies for rural development; relationships between poverty and natural resource management. He has served as a consultant for international organizations such as IFAD, IDB, World Bank, FAO, IICA, USAID and UNOPS.He works at the Latin American Center for Rural Development RIMISP in Chile.