WORK
Work
From evidence to institutional capability
My work spans economics, data and public institutions. Across different roles and countries, the common thread has been translating complex evidence into tools, systems and decisions that institutions can actually use.
Data · Governance · Analytics · Institutions
Institutional Data & Decision Systems
Context
Public institutions often have large amounts of data but still struggle to discover what exists, understand how it can be used, combine information across teams and maintain clear standards and accountability.
Germán’s role
At the Inter-American Development Bank, I head the Regional and Sectoral Data Group and lead work to strengthen the regional and sectoral data agenda.
Approach
The work connects economists, data scientists, technical specialists, technology teams and institutional users around data discovery, governance, documentation, interoperability, analytical workflows and responsible applications of advanced analytics. Rather than treating data infrastructure as an end in itself, the focus is on making it useful for economic analysis, policy design, operational work and management decisions.
Why it mattered
The value of institutional data does not come from storing more information. It comes from making good information easier to find, understand, trust, combine and use.
Climate · Human Capital · Evidence · Policy
Climate Change & Human Capital
Context
Climate change affects people not only through physical infrastructure and economic losses, but through health, nutrition, education, employment and the accumulation of human capital across the life cycle.
Germán’s role
At the World Bank, I led and contributed to global analytical and policy work connecting climate change and human capital.
Approach
The agenda combined economic research, synthesis of global evidence, policy frameworks, analytical tools and engagement with country and global policy teams. It examined both sides of the relationship: how climate shocks and climate policies affect people, and how investments in people can strengthen adaptation, resilience and mitigation.
Why it mattered
Climate policy is ultimately also about people. Understanding its human-capital consequences helps governments design responses that are both environmentally effective and socially sustainable.
Migration · Labor · Data · Government Response
Migration, Labor Markets & Policy Response
Context
The Venezuelan displacement crisis created a rapidly changing policy challenge across Latin America. Governments needed timely evidence not only about migration flows, but about labor markets, poverty, public services and integration.
Germán’s role
I led and contributed to analytical and government-facing work in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.
Approach
The work combined economic research, administrative and survey data, high-frequency monitoring and institutional coordination. It connected ministries of finance, statistical institutions, migration authorities and other government actors with evidence needed to understand changing conditions and policy options.
Why it mattered
Migration is not only a demographic phenomenon. It affects labor markets, public services, fiscal choices and social cohesion. Better policy requires connecting those dimensions rather than analyzing them separately.
Government Systems · Delivery · Monitoring
Government Delivery & Administrative Data
Context
Many public-policy failures are not failures of ideas but of implementation. Programs may have clear objectives while lacking the registries, data systems, monitoring routines, institutional responsibilities or feedback mechanisms required to deliver.
Germán’s role
I have worked with governments including Honduras, Costa Rica and Guinea-Bissau on these implementation challenges.
Approach
The work has included social registries, monitoring frameworks, administrative-data integration, high-frequency indicators, implementation structures and mechanisms for reviewing progress and escalating problems.
Why it mattered
Evidence has greater value when it is embedded in the routines through which governments make decisions.
Statistics · Geospatial · Administrative Data · Innovation
Statistical Systems & New Sources of Data
Context
Traditional surveys remain essential, but governments increasingly need faster and more granular information.
Germán’s role
I led technical assistance to strengthen statistical systems and data infrastructure in countries including Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique and have used a wide range of conventional and nontraditional data in economic analysis.
Approach
My work has involved household surveys, administrative records, geospatial information, satellite data, mobile-phone data and high-frequency surveys. It has also included machine-learning applications and nowcasting approaches when they provide a credible improvement over conventional methods.
Why it mattered
New data are useful only when they improve measurement and decisions. Methodological novelty is not a substitute for validation, institutional ownership or good economics.
Human Capital · Partnerships · Global Policy
Global Human Capital & Policy Dialogue
Context
Human-capital challenges cut across ministries, sectors and development partners. Addressing them requires more than isolated projects.
Germán’s role
At the World Bank, I led and co-led international initiatives connecting evidence, financing, country action and senior policy dialogue. This included co-leading three global ministerial conclaves that brought together finance ministers, senior institutional leaders and leading academics.
Approach
The work combined substantive policy agendas, executive coordination, partnerships, country networks and follow-through.
Why it mattered
Global convening has value when it helps countries move from broad commitments toward clearer priorities, financing and implementation.
A common approach
Different problems. A consistent way of working.
Across economics, data and institutional work, my approach is consistent: understand the problem rigorously, build the evidence needed to make a decision, and help create the institutional mechanisms through which that decision can be implemented.
Contact
Ideas, evidence and better public decisions.
For professional collaboration, speaking engagements, research or other inquiries: