Mr. Jorge Barbosa
Sustainable Development Officer, Division for Sustainable Development Goals, UN DESA
Jorge Barbosa is a marine scientist by training with a Masters of Science from Yale University and over a decade of professional experience in program management, investment and policy on sustainable development issues, particularly on the blue economy and its linkages with climate change. Jorge has made significant contributions to the negotiations and drafting of the original SDG 14 concept note in 2013. As a refugee of conflict forcefully displaced from Colombia in the 1990s, and becoming a U.S. citizen, Jorge remains empowered and motivated to work towards sustainable management of the natural environment, social inclusion and the achievement of SDGs. This dedication is exemplified by his recent role with the World Bank as a Blue Economy Specialist leading projects, mobilizing multimillion resources, and building partnerships across the Latin American and Caribbean region as well as in the South Asian region. Having led the World Bank’s Youth Summit in 2018 and serving as a gender focal point, Jorge is equally passionate about youth’s and women’s role in shaping the solutions, policies, and investments that will forge a prosperous future.