Marcela Chaves is a senior leader and strategic thinker with 26 years across international development and the private sector, specializing in mobilizing investment for inclusive, sustainable economic growth, particularly in agriculture.

She has led complex, cross-sector initiatives and multidisciplinary teams to deliver collective impact, aligning governments, communities, and private partners around land policy reform, illicit-crop substitution, environmental conservation, and market-driven development.

Projects under her leadership have mobilized over US$240 million and cut government service delivery costs and timelines by 60% and 30%, respectively, in developing-country contexts globally.

Marcela brings deep expertise in program design, stakeholder coalition-building, and results-based management. She holds an MBA from the University of Maryland and is a native Spanish and English speaker, working comfortably across cultures and sectors.