Speakers
Ms. Natasha Despotovic
Executive Director, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development
Natasha Despotovic is a national of the Dominican Republic and Croatia. She has occupied high-level positions in the private, public and non-governmental sector and her professional accomplishments have been achieved on an international scale and in a wide scope of work areas. She has lived and worked in United States, Dominican Republic, Spain, Morocco, France, England and Italy. Originally a graduate in French, English and Spanish Language, Literature and Linguistics, and Philosophy, Ms. Despotovic speaks seven languages fluently.
She was one of the Founders and Directors of Fundacion Global Democracia y Desarrollo, FUNGLODE, a private, not-for-profit institution dedicated to the promotion of knowledge and education and the design of public policies leading to improvement of the social, economic and democratic development of the Dominican Republic and the region. Further on, Ms. Despotovic developed FUNGLODE’s sister organization, Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), with presence in Washington, DC and New York City, where she is currently the Executive Director. GFDD is a private, non-profit institution that fosters exchange, knowledge and expertise transfer, and cooperation between institutions and professionals in the Dominican Republic and abroad. The Foundation develops alliances with international partners to formulate and implement initiatives promoting sustainable socio-economic development and the strengthening of democracy in the Dominican Republic and Latin America. FUNGLODE as well as GFDD were created by the current President of the Dominican Republic, Dr. Leonel Fernandez, who acts as their Honorary President.
Environment is one of the GFDD/FUNGLODE’s priority fields of interest. Both institutions have organized numerous lectures and discussion tables in order to strengthen public awareness and understanding of environmental issues. They have conducted training programs for professionals in the area and contributed to research and design of public policies that support sustainable development. Strong partnerships with domestic and international experts and organizations have been developed.
In September 2004 the International Center for Environment and Sustainable Development Studies (CIEMADeS) was launched by Université Quisqueya, from Haiti, Universidad del Turabo, from Puerto Rico, and FUNGLODE/GFDD. The Center’s areas of work are: professional and technical training, scientific research, sustainable development programs, and the promotion of environmental social consciousness. It brings together representatives from public, non-governmental, academic and business sectors in Puerto Rico, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with the aim of sharing experiences and resources, uniting efforts and coordinating activities among neighboring countries that confront common challenges.
Through the partnership with Counterpart International, a Washington based NGO, GFDD and FUNGLODE are implementing the Coral Gardens project, a public-private initiative to conserve and restore threatened Caribbean coral reefs and associated habitats in Marine Protected Areas at Punta Cana, Bayahibe, Samana and Sosua Bay in the Dominican Republic. The initiative is being developed in association with a series of national stakeholders: NGOs, divers' and fishermen's associations, hotel and tourism companies and associations, as well as representatives from the Ministries of Environment and Tourism. Ms Despotovic sits on the International Advisory Council of Counterpart International.
GFDD and FUNGLODE permanently host international gatherings, lectures, panels and seminars on pressing issues in the area of environmental protection and sustainable development. Special focus is being placed on the topics of sustainable energy and climate change. On April 19 and 20, 2006, GFDD/FUNGLODE hosted in Santo Domingo an international conference on “Dominican Republic and Climate Change: Future Perspectives.”
The Foundation works closely with the Ministry of Environment of the Dominican Republic and supports strongly, by means of research, education, public awareness and public policy proposals, the interest President Leonel Fernandez has placed on securing the sustainability of the country’s development and facing the growing global environmental challenges.
