Juan Luis Bermúdez Madriz

A Costa Rican professional with a Master's degree in Development Economics with an emphasis on Macroeconomic Management and Public Policy, and a Bachelor's degree in International Relations with an emphasis on Administration and Management of International Cooperation, both from the Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica (UNA). Also holds a Diploma in Human Rights from the Université d'été des Droits de l'Homme - Collège Universitaire Henry Dunant, Geneva, Switzerland. For the last three years and four months, I have served as the Head of Office for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Costa Rica. Previously, I was the Minister of Human Development and Social Inclusion of Costa Rica (January 2019 - May 2022), responsible for national efforts in directing social policy to reduce poverty in the country. I also served as an Advisor to the President of the Republic of Costa Rica on issues including education, health, social security, risk management, and science and technology (May 2018 - January 2019). My background also includes roles as the Coordinator of the Advisory Team for the Executive Presidency of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) (2014-2017), Regional Advisor for the Health, Work and Environment Program in Central America (SALTRA) (2013-2014), and Technical Secretary of the Government's Social Council and National Coordinator of the Millennium Development Goals (2004-2006). I am passionate about contributing my knowledge, experience, and commitment to social justice to help countries in our region close inequality gaps and achieve common aspirations for sustainable human development.

• Selected Publications and Articles
• "Myths and recurrent errors when looking at Costa Rican social policy", Delfino.cr (May 2022).
• "Prioritization and exclusion in social programs", La Nación (February 2022).
• "Poverty and indifference are unjust and immoral", La Nación (November 2021).
• "The 50 years of IMAS", La Nación (May 2021).
• "The Atlas of Health Systems in Latin America: Health System of Honduras", Salud pública de México / vol. 53, supplement 2 (2011).
• "Universal Coverage In Costa Rica: Lessons And Challenges From A Middle Income Country", Article for the World Health Report 2010, World Health Organization (WHO).

• President of the Executive Board
• National Commission for Education Loans (CONAPE) of Costa Rica
• 2002 – 2003
• Advisor to the First Vice President
• First Vice Presidency of the Republic of Costa Rica
• 2001 – 2002 and 2003 – 2004

• Reviewer for the Pan American Journal of Public Health (PAHO/WHO)
• 2012 – 2022
• Active Member of the College of Professionals in Political Science and International Relations of Costa Rica
• 2002 – Present
• Collaborator for the Health Observatory for Latin America and the Caribbean (FUNSALUD)
• 2008 – 2014

• Course: Political and Economic Geography
• Universidad Internacional de las Américas, School of International Relations, Costa Rica
• 2009
• Course: Contemporary Social Processes (shared)
• Universidad Centroamericana de Ciencias Sociales, School of Psychology, Costa Rica