Mario Torres Ph.D.

1500 First Avenue 4C

New York, NY 10075, USA

Tel.: (917) 969-2603

www.mtorresadrian.com

Professional Objective

International Development Expert in Human and Social Development seeking to promote research, training, institutional capacity building, and North-South partnerships. Major interests on social innovation, knowledge transference, evaluation, and policy impact studies and projects.

Qualification Highlights

30 years of international experience in project development across different countries and involving diverse partners and stakeholders.
Experience in the successful creation and coordination of international research and training networks.
Experience in the effective evaluation and dissemination of project results to key users.
Experience in expanding financial resources for project activities.
Effective administration of financial and institutional resources.
Communication skills for lobbying and involving key stakeholders.
Languages: English, Spanish, working Portuguese, working French.

General Experience

Partnerships

Establishment, coordination and administration of inter-institutional collaboration and partnerships projects between Northern and Southern academic and research institutions.
Preparation and implementation of marketing strategies for financing research and training activities.
Expansion of financial resources through negotiations with development banks, donors, and governments.

Networking

Creation and leadership of over 5 international research and training networks on education, health, local government, and social policy evaluation, including universities, governments, and private research centres.
Promotion and coordination of over 80 research projects in 19 Latin American countries on education, health, population, rural development, local government, gender, youth, social safety nets, and poverty alleviation.

Dissemination

Design and coordination of production of policy briefs for policy makers and program operators.
Facilitation of the publication of over 200 evaluation reports, training manuals, books, and papers produced by projects and networks.
Promotion, design, and administration of Internet web sites for the dissemination of knowledge, training materials, and other research products.

Evaluation

Leadership of a regional research program for the Evaluation of Social Policy Reforms in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Evaluation of the training program of the Social Investment Funds in Latin America and the Caribbean, done for the Organization of American States (OAS).
Co-responsible for the evaluation of the Higher Education System in Panama, done for the Inter-American Development Bank.
Evaluation of OAS multinational projects: Latin American Network of Social Funds, Distance Education in Central America, and Inclusion Education for Disabled Children in Latin America.

Education

Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, USA, 1976

M.A., University of Texas at Austin, USA, 1974

B.A., Catholic University of Peru, 1970

Work Experience

2009
Executive Director CEBEM International

2007 - 2010
Coordinator of regional projects Canada - Latin America (see Projects)

2001- 2007
International Consultant (see below)

1996-2000
Senior Program Specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Program on Assessment of Social Policy Reforms
International Development Research Centre-IDRC

1992-1995
Senior Program Specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Program on Social Policy
International Development Research Centre-IDRC

1988-1991
Senior Program Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean
Program on Population, Education and Society

1984-1987
Program Officer
Population Program
International Development Research Centre-IDRC

1983
Director of Research
National Population Council, Peru

1981-1982
Demography Researcher
Latin American Program of Social Research on Population
El Colegio de Mexico, Mexico

1978-1980
Professor
Social Statistics and Research Methodology
Central American Program on Economics and Planning
CSUCA, Honduras

1977-1978
Professor

Methodology and Statistics
Catholic University of Peru

Additional Information

Most recent publications are on Evaluation of Social Investment Funds, Re-Thinking Social Policy Options, Washington Contentious, and Sustainability of Social Investment Funds.

Lived in USA, Canada, Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, Peru, and Uruguay

Detailed information on work experience:

International Consultant

2006

Missions to the University of British Columbia (UBC) and CEBEM

Institutions: Centre of Intercultural Communication and the Centre of Human Settlements, University of British Columbia (UBC), and Centro Boliviano de Estudios Mutidisciplinarios.

Missions to UBC (Vancouver) and CEBEM (Bolivia) to discuss development of new project initiatives for knowledge partnerships.

Microempresas, Pobreza y Empleo en America Latina y el Caribe. Una Propuesta de Trabajo

Institutions: The Organization of the American States (OAS)

State-of-the-art review on the current situation, and programs and policies aimed at the sector of micro-enterprises (Mypes) in Latin America. The report included identification of new opportunities for adding value to current programs and policies aimed at the promotion of micro-enterprises in the region. A proposal for development of North-South and South-South knowledge partnerships, with a base on the networks led by the OAS, aimed at the development of the Mypes sector, was prepared.

Canada - Andes - Latin America Cooperation Partnerships for Mutual Development

Project completed.

Institutions: The Advocate Institute of Human Resources, International Development Research Centre (IDRC-Canada), and Centro Boliviano de Estudios Multidisciplinarios (CEBEM).

This pilot project, funded by IDRC-Canada, was successfully completed. The objectives were: to identify major stakeholders in Canada an Latin America who would benefit from partnerships; to identify potential supply and demand for short distance-education training courses targeting Latin American professionals requiring skills and knowledge upgrading; to identify the technical specifications for a portal or gateway to publicize and support core activities with relevant information, training and communication tools and services; to design a Canada-Andes exchange program for professionals, development practitioners, academics, researchers, and entrepreneurs; and, to design a strategy for on-line cost recovery modalities for delivery of distance education courses and information services.

As a result a project entitled North-South Knowledge Partnerships: Promoting The Canada - Latin America Connection, was submitted for funding to the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) by the Centre for Intercultural Communication (CIC), University of British Columbia, Continuing Studies, and the Centro Boliviano de Estudios Multidisciplinarios (CEBEM). The project will be shortly approved and implemented in 2007-08.

2005

Exploring Andean-Canadian Partnerships

Institutions. The Advocate Institute of Human Resources, International Development Research Centre (IDRC-Canada), and Centro Boliviano de Estudios Multidisciplinarios (CEBEM).

Reports were prepared on the following topics: Knowledge Partnerships for Strengthening Social and Economic Development; Distance Higher Education using E-Learning; Creation of an Information Forum Andes-Canada-USA; A Canadian Program of Andean Internships for Academics and Professionals; and Proposal for the organization of a Bolivia Day in Ottawa and Washington DC.

2004

Organization of a Conference on Free Trade Negotiations and the Andean Countries

Institutions: Embassy of Peru, Center for Latin American Issues of George Washington University, and Peru Consortium for Social and Economic Research (CIES). October 7th.

Conference organized with the purpose to examine and discuss implications of free trade agreements in the Andean region, particularly the Free Trade Agreement Peru-USA.

Canada-Latin America Links

Institutions: International Development Research Centre and Peru Consortium for Social and Economic Research (IDRC)

Report prepared to discuss mechanisms for linking research and training centres in Latin America, particularly from the Andean area, with Canadian scholars and universities. A Map of Canadian Universities and NGOs with Activities in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia was prepared.

2003

Strengthening of Activities of the Social Network of Latin America and the Caribbean (Red Social)

Institution: Secretary General of the Organization of the American States (OAS). Inter American Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICD).

Evaluation to assess the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of project results obtained by the �Red Social�, which encompasses Social Funds in 29 countries of the region.

Mexico-Central American Cooperation Program on Distance Education

Institutions: Secretary General of the Organization of the American States (OAS). Inter American Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICD) and Coordinador General de Educaci�n Telesecundaria, Mexico. Countries: Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama

Evaluation of a project for the application of the distance education model produced by Telesecundaria Mexico for the benefit of secondary schools in rural and marginal urban areas of Central America.

Promotion of Inclusion Education of Disabled Population in Basic and Initial Education

Institution: Secretary General of the Organization of the American States (OAS). Inter American Agency for Cooperation and Development (AICD) and Secretariat of Public Education of Mexico. Countries: Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, and Uruguay

Evaluation of a project for preparation and implementations of a training program on the technical, methodological and didactic aspects related to education for disabled children.

Organization of International Seminars in Ottawa (Canada) and Washington DC (USA)

Institutions: PERU Consortium and International Development Research Centre (IDRC-Canada)

Seminars organized with the purpose to present CIES institutional strategy for the 2004-2007 period and its main research achievements in the area of poverty alleviation and employment, and to identify fundraising opportunities and partnership options.

Promotion of International Center for the Prevention of Crime (ICPC) in Washington DC

Institution: International Center for the Prevention for Crime. Canada

Series of meetings conducted in order to explore funding and partnership opportunities for ICPC�s program on youth, a program of cooperation in the Southern Cone of Latin America, and a network of Latin American cities interested in developing urban safety programs.

2002

Tertiary Education in Panama

Institutions: Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). Secretariat of Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT) of Panama. Country: Panama

Evaluation of the Tertiary Education System in Panama. The evaluation included examination of the role and capacity of tertiary education institutions in supplying quality and relevant programs, analysis of the financing of the post-secondary education system, identification of priority areas in need of further technical assistance, and preparation of a Plan of Action for policy intervention.

Red Latinoamericana de Informaci�n y Documentaci�n en Educaci�n (REDUC)

Institution: CIDE, Centro de Investigaci�n y Desarrollo de la Educaci�n. Chile

Preparation of a proposal for an additional phase of REDUC�s activities.

2001

Training Activities of the Social Network for Latin America and the Caribbean (Red Social)

Institution:Organization of American States (OAS).

Evaluation of lessons learned by the Red Social regarding activities ofcooperation among Social Funds (SFs) aimed at the training of human resources;networking mechanisms for transferring knowledge; and, dissemination ofinnovations to improve the design, execution, and evaluation of more effectiveand efficient programs. A particular attention was given to the regional programof internships supported by the Inter-American Development Bank. A model wasproposed to consolidate the role of the Red Social in theregion.

Peru Consortium.Promotion of Institutional and Research Activities in WashingtonDC

Institution: Peru Consortium of Economic and Social Research (CIES)

To conduct a series of meetings with the purpose to promote CIES among a select numbers of NGOs, research centers and development banks.

1984-2000
International Development Research Centre - IDRC / Canada

1996-2000
Senior Program Specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Program on Assessment of Social Policy Reforms

Responsible for the development, management, promotion, and evaluation of regional research projects and regional research networks in the areas of education, health, social security, and poverty alleviation programs.

Achievements:

Creation and management of regional research networks in social policy analysis and local government covering over 14 countries and involving more than 400 experts in the region.
Development of regional projects to carry out comparative analysis of social policy changes.
Development of national projects for assessing poverty alleviation strategies and social policy changes implemented through social service privatization and decentralization modalities.
Expansion of financial resources for applied research by attracting resources from government agencies, private sector, development banks, and donors.
Dissemination of research results across Latin America including organization of Internet sites.
Utilization of research results by policy-makers, practitioners, and development banks.
Transference of research results into training materials for the training of social managers.
Organization of international seminars and conferences for discussion of most recent policy relevant research results.

1992-1995
Senior Program Specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Program on Social Policy

Responsible for the development of regional projects, research networks, and comparative research initiatives.

Achievements:

Design, promotion, implementation, and monitoring of regional research program on social policy.
Development of national projects in non-formal education, technical education, youth policies, and municipal management of integrated social policies.
Organization of international workshops and seminars for launching regional research program in social policy.
Coordination of research activities with the Inter-American Development Bank for the evaluation of social policy reform processes across the region.

1988-1991
Senior Program Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean
Program on Population, Education and Society

Responsible for project development, monitoring and evaluation of applied research in the areas of education, health and social demography.

Achievements:

Design, promotion and implementation of research program on demographic aspects of health and education.
Development and monitoring of projects on child development, utilization of health and demographic knowledge for program implementation and training, adolescent health and sexuality, occupational health, and women and work.
Program design for Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and China).
Development of research initiatives on utilization of demographic data for planning purposes and community oriented programs.

1984-1987
Regional Program Officer for Latin America and the Caribbean

Program on Population and Development

Responsible for the coordination, development, monitoring, and evaluation of research projects on population and development, supervision of publications as well as organization of seminars, workshops and training activities.

Achievements:

Promotion and implementation of research program on population and development in Latin America.
Development of national research projects on migration, fertility, Third Age, demographic data for planning, demographic methods for social program evaluation, and labor markets and demographic behavior.

1983
National Population Council of Peru

Director of Research

Responsible for the design and implementation of national applied research program of the Council responsible for data analysis with policy design purposes, design of training activities and organization of dissemination seminars, and recruitment of personnel.

Achievements:

Design of national program on population policy research.
Provision of technical advice to sectoral projects in the Ministries of Health, Education, and Labor, and the National Planning Institute.
Preparation of requests for funding of applied demographic research and negotiations with donors.

OTHER POSITIONS

1982

El Colegio de Mexico

Centro de Estudios Demogr�ficos y de Desarrollo Urbano
Invited Professor in Social Demography.

Graduate Seminar on Population and Agrarian Structure (1 semester)

1981-1982

Latin American Program of Social Research on Population

Program Officer and Researcher

Responsible for the monitoring and provision of technical advice to research projects on population and development in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico.
Responsible for identification of potential donors, budget administration and in-house research. Responsible for programming and planning activities that were funded by IDRC, Rockefeller Foundation, UNFPA, Inter-American Foundation, the Norwegian Government, and the Tinker Foundation.

1979-1980

Confederaci�n Superior Universitaria Centro Americana
Central American Graduate Program on Development Economics and Planning
National University of Honduras

Professor on Research Methodology and Statistics

Graduate Seminar on Non-parametric and Parametric Statistics and Social Research Methodology (5 semesters)
Coordinator of Research Activities
Responsible for setting up a research program, including development of fund raising strategy; organization of international seminars; and recruitment of personnel
Director of research project on Population, Employment and Agricultural Production in Honduras. Design and supervision of sampling procedures, interviews as well as data processing and analysis

1978
Instituto de Neonatolog�a y Protecci�n Materno Infantil
Ministry of Health of Peru

Research Adviser

Advisor to project on Incidence of Abortion in Hospitals and Clinics. Responsible for overall design, sampling and data processing. Project funded by USA Agency for International Development.

1977-1978 / 1970-1972
Pontificia Universidad Cat�lica del Per�

1978
Director of Graduate Programme in Social Sciences

Responsible for academic and budgetary administration of a Faculty of 10 professors, 45 students and support staff.

1977-1978
Associate Professor

Taught graduate courses on Social Statistics (2 semesters) and on Research Methodology (2 semesters). Conducted seminars on Demographic Analysis (1 semester) and on Employment and Migration in Latin America (1 semester).

1977-1978
Director of Research Project on Seasonal Workers

Conducted a project on Seasonal Workers in two Coastal Valleys in Peru. Ca�ete and Bajo Piura. Responsible for overall design, sampling, data processing, and analysis.

1972
Secretary of the Faculty of Social Sciences

Responsible for academic administration and budget management of a Faculty of 35 professors, 350 students and 20 support staff.

1970-1972
Research / Teaching Assistant

Undergraduate courses on Social Statistics and on Methodology of Social Research (4 semesters). Responsible for questionnaire design and fieldwork supervision, co-responsible for data processing and analysis in projects on rural development, agrarian change, and industrial entrepreneurship.