How my journey began

In the academic field, I am a Doctoral Student at TU-DARMSTADT in Germany as external researcher of SEE URBAN WATER PROJECT; I earned my Master of Science Degree at IHE-DELFT in The Netherlands in 2010, an LLM Degree at UCA, Nicaragua in 2001, and my Bachelor in Law at UCA in 1998.

Currently I am the Executive Director at Fundación Costa Rica de Ciencias y Academia, an NGO devoted to improve research and academia, also comitted with the sustainable development goal number 4 wich requires to grant quality, inclusive and equitable education for all.

My past labor experience goes back twenty-two years as a public servant where my last three positions make sixteen years in the water sector, I worked as Project and Social Development Manager at FISE (SOCIAL INVESTMENT FUND), working in many development areas, but this is where I got in touch with the water sector, specifically rural water supply until 2007. That same year I was hired as the Executive Secretary of the National Water and Sewage Commission (CONAPAS) where I had the chance to get involved in policy-making for the urban water supply sector.

After I came back from The Netherlands I was elected at the age of thirty-six years, becoming the youngest officer ever selected by the Nicaraguan Congress - as the highest authority in the water sector in Nicaragua for a fixed term of five years; in this position I started working in the water resources sector; in 2015 I was re-elected for a second term which ended the 30th of June 2020.

After 10 years as founder and Minister-Director of the Nicaraguan National Water Authority (ANA), and now as Doctoral Student and Executive Director at Fundación Costa Rica, I am still learning and committed to improve water and environment in my home country and around the world through reseach and academia.

Despite my evident passion for water and the environment, I am an advocate for women and children’s rights; water is the first drop of justice but not the only problem lacking clear and urgent solutions!

Luis Ángel Montenegro Padilla