Marcia Cota

Marcia Cota is a seasoned senior international development specialist with a rich background spanning over 25 years, focusing on program management, strategic planning, partnership building, fundraising, communications, and monitoring and evaluation.

Her expertise extends to environmental conservation and community-led development within the Latin America region, with a keen emphasis on promoting economic inclusion and empowerment for marginalized groups such as youth, women, Afro-descendants, and Indigenous populations.

She has a successful track record in securing funding from various sources including foundations, corporations, government agencies, and individuals, showcasing her prowess as an energetic and effective fundraiser in sustainable development.

Marcia excels in managing small teams and forging impactful partnerships with the private sector, demonstrating her skills as an interdisciplinary problem-solver with in-depth social, political, and cultural understanding of the region.

Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in International Relations and Affairs from the University of Brasilia, Brazil, and a Master's in Public Policy with a focus on Environmental Policy from the University of Maryland College Park.

Throughout her career, Marcia has held key positions in reputable organizations such as Inter-American Foundation, Rare, Conservation International, WWF, USFS, USAID, Winrock, and TNC, where she has showcased her expertise and leadership in development strategies and conservation efforts.

Marcia Cota is trilingual in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, which enables her to effectively navigate and engage with diverse stakeholders in her field of work.