(Online) Enrique García Leadership Award Ceremony
Sign up and join us for the live stream of the Enrique García Leadership Award Ceremony on July 24 starting at 5:30 p.m. (Colombia time). CAF will honor young people aged 18 to 30 who are leading social enterprises with a transformative vision, driving inclusion, sustainability, and better opportunities for their communities.
Event date:
July 24, 2025
Online
As part of “Iberoamérica 500+: Cities with a Legacy for the Future,” CAF will present the second edition of the Enrique García Leadership Award — a recognition that celebrates the commitment, innovation, and positive impact of young people across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Created in honor of CAF’s former Executive President Enrique García, this award highlights young people between 18 and 30 years old from the institution’s shareholder countries who are leading social enterprises with a transformative vision. This edition focuses on those who apply business strategies to address social and environmental challenges, improving the quality of life in their communities while promoting inclusion, equity, and sustainability.
This symbolic event not only honors the individual achievements of these young leaders but also underscores the crucial role of new generations in building fairer, more resilient, and more sustainable cities.
Date: Thursday, July 24
Time: 5:30 p.m. (Colombia time)
Join the live stream
Agenda
Day 1
July 24, 2025
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Karen Carvajalino, CEO and Co‑Founder of Biz Nation
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Alejandra Claros Borda, Secretary General of CAF
- Manuel Estrada, CEO of Estrada Design
- Andrés Rugeles, Vice President of the Colombian Council on International Relations (CORI), Associate Member at the University of Oxford, and Advisory Board Member of the Global South Unit at the London School of Economics (LSE)
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Enrique García, Former Executive President of CAF
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Enrique García, Former Executive President of CAF
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Sergio Díaz‑Granados, Executive President of CAF
Welcome
Keynote on Youth Leadership
Introduction to the Second Edition
Creative Process Behind the Award Statuette
Special participation on behalf of the Jury members
Announcement of Winner and Special Mentions
Award Presentation
Remarks from the Winner and Special Mentions
Closing
The focus of this second edition
In its second edition, the Enrique García Leadership Award shines a spotlight on young people from Latin America and the Caribbean who are leading ventures with social and environmental impact, combining purpose, innovation, and financial sustainability. This edition recognizes initiatives that demonstrate adaptive leadership, strong community engagement, environmental responsibility, and viable business models, with priority given to geographic and gender diversity—aligned with CAF’s core pillars: sustainable development, regional integration, and climate action.
The award offers USD 7,000 to the winner. Applications were accepted between September 9 and December 15, 2024, and an international jury will select the honorees.
First Edition of the Enrique García Leadership Award
The first edition of the Enrique García Leadership Award, presented by CAF focused on recognizing young people between the ages of 18 and 30 who lead initiatives with a positive impact on ecosystem services and biodiversity. A total of 24 applications were received from the 21 shareholder countries, with six finalists from Barbados, Ecuador, Jamaica, Peru, and Uruguay.
The award was presented to Ángela Sofía Ortiz Bastidas, a young Ecuadorian honored for her community leadership and her efforts to ensure access to safe water and nutritious food for vulnerable families. The ceremony took place in Panama City and was attended by CAF’s Executive President, Sergio Díaz‑Granados, along with regional authorities.
During the event, a Special Mention was also awarded to Ashley Lashley from Barbados, founder of The Ashley Lashley Foundation and HEY, in recognition of her commitment to social development, environmental stewardship, and the rights of children and women.
About Enrique García
Enrique García served as Executive President of CAF – Development Bank of Latin America – for 25 years (1991–2017). During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in driving CAF’s growth and transformation. Under his leadership, the institution reached milestones that significantly broadened its scale, scope, and impact on Latin America’s development.
He previously served as Bolivia’s Minister of Planning and Coordination and Head of the Economic and Social Cabinet, and also held positions at the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and Fonplata. In addition, he chaired CAF’s Board of Directors and was a member of the Development Committee of both the IMF and the World Bank. In the multilateral arena, he worked at the IDB for 18 years, culminating his tenure as Treasurer.
He is currently Vice Chair of the Boards of Banco BISA, Grupo Financiero BISA, Universidad Privada Boliviana (UPB), and Fundación Solides in Bolivia. He also serves on advisory boards for various private and non‑governmental organizations focused on development and international relations, including Brennan and Partners (UK) and Georgetown University (US), among others.
Enrique García has been recognized with numerous international honors and awarded honorary doctorates for his outstanding contributions to economic and social development, as well as to regional integration.
