Sílvio Aquino’s Post

Today the Brazilian media picked up the information about a #NASA’s report that Brazil could be uninhabitable in 50 years due to climate change effects. Although this is not exactly news, as a Brazilian reading this from many news outlets early in the day, it certainly shook me. We are arguably beyond the 1.5C target. The problem is complex and there is no single solution – but a coordinated approach to solutions is what would take us to a better path again. Tackling climate change requires a comprehensive approach to mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation. A lot is being done, but we are still behind of what is required for means of implementation, or in other words, financing. Although we often mention climate as the critical issue (and it is), this is strictly related to social and economic development as well: health, poverty, infrastructure – our safety nets and economic base…it is all connected. We need more capital flowing to solutions in all those areas as a prerequisite for change. According to UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), to achieve the #SDGs by 2030 (as a guiding light for change), it is required USD3.3-4.5 trillion per year investment to transition to a new economic matrix. These resources need to come from different sources, but particularly from the private sector. I've worked for years in the #ODA and #philanthropic markets, and we make a herculean effort to fund and to promote cutting-edge solutions for development, mostly de-risking projects and providing proofs of concept. However, governments and NGOs simply cannot provide all the resources needed. Investment flows from the private sector (which is where the bulk of the money is) also need to take this matter seriously and ensure that the projects funded do not set us back, while taking more chances to scale up the de-risked projects. Today there are financial products and financing structures with attractive returns that can make it happen, but they need to grow and become mainstream. Earlier this year I worked on this topic at the Sustainable Investing Research Initiative (SIRI) and my key take away is that impact/sustainable investments need to have more #reliant, #resilient and #responsible products that are traceable and underpinned by confident #impactmonitoringandmeasurement frameworks (#IMM). We need to make the best use of what we know and what works to be able to confidently say where and how capital deployed affects communities and the environment. I wrote a series of three blog posts published by #SIRI about this topic, which by no means intend to give all answers to the problem but rather hopefully to be good food for thought in the right direction: https://lnkd.in/eCSyfxtx https://lnkd.in/eugddzqt https://lnkd.in/eBrs4uQm

It's a wrap! At last, Master in Economic Policy with specialization in Development Economics from Columbia | SIPA! This past year was one of the most amazing and challenging years of my life and career altogether. I spent years dwelling with the dream and decision to take some time off my corporate career, take on a Masters program abroad, and the impact it would have in my life and my career progression. The truth is that the last time I was a full-time student was when I was in high school. When I joined university for my undergrad, I immediately joined the workforce. A choice of my own but stimulated by my parents to start early and gain early independence. Something that I thank them because they also gave the tools to do it: education and safety net. It's a priviledge! But being a full-time adult student was definitely unchartered territory for me. For years, I thought the time had passed and was not sure how much it would add to me at this point. But life proved me wrong. It was a difficult decision that impacted all aspects of my life looking back after this year, but it was also the best one I could have ever done. Some years ago, I could not dream to have an Ivy League degree. And now here I am. At Columbia | SIPA I definitely got what I wanted - a quantitative education that combined theory and practice on development economics. This is what I was lacking as an experienced development professional in my field. I specialized my economics knowledge in so many areas (particularly econometrics that was all new to me), expanded my horizons, learned from incredible professors and colleagues, and I was in the center of many discussions that shape global policy. Again, a priviledge not to be taken from granted, especially being the first generation in my family with a masters degree. And now as I return to the workforce, I am more certain about my contribution to the world: continue to work for inclusive sustainable economic development. But now with more skills, innovative tools, ideas and ambition. This is what we need now. The global events are showing that. I do hope to hone my #economics, #sustainablefinance #sustainableinvestment, #impactmeasurement, #campaigning, and #publicpolicy skills to do that. Building on what I have done before and looking to go further. Thank you to everyone who was part and helped me in this journey. You were many and I am forever grateful. Finally, it was not easy or given for me to get here. It was incredible and I am still sinking it all in. But also, I am just starting...

Today started the Winter/Spring semester and, sadly, also my last one at Columbia | SIPA, in this snowy weather. Such a beautiful way to kick off this next phase. Time has gone by so fast, and during the holiday break I took a moment to think about what I have learned so far. And it was a lot. Certainly my #economic skills have been significant upscaled by the content learned, several assignments and interesting discussions I had. I feel even more prepared to spearhead #development projects that will in fact generate economic growth, reduce poverty and inequalities with a much better academic foundation. For this next term I’ll focus my studies on #impactassessment, #sustainableinvestment and creating #socialimpact campaigns, on top of my regular #economics focus. I hope to merge all this knowledge to get a better sense of not just how to design and manage the right projects, but also how to measure their success from different angles. And the academic term started now, but last week I had the pleasure of being in DC for the SIPA Career Conference and have great chats with alumnis from the #MPAEPM and other SIPA alumni from The World Bank, International Monetary Fund, IFC - International Finance Corporation, Inter-American Development Bank, World Resources Institute, Eurasia Group and others. Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope we’ll do great things together soon. 2024 is off to a great start. Ready for this new chapter!

Yesterday I concluded the Inside the Situation Room class taught by former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the SIPA Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo for the first time. This class was all about foreign policy decisions and the processes around it. This is the only foreign policy class I took at Columbia | SIPA so far, and it was an interesting experience for different reasons. First, it has been a long time since I was in a class about pure international relations - since my Bachelors. And revisiting some of the theories and ideas that first prepared me for my career in international affairs kept my heart warm and reminded me of why I am in this game. Second, as someone who was taught IR primarily in Brazil, my main conceptions of analysis come from a place of cooperation, interdependence and critical theory. It was initially a challenge, and then a new analytical process learning IR from the perspective of the US which contains a much more realistic (in the sense of realpolitik) approach. Of course, I read this in books and experienced it in the many interactions I had through my career, but while diving into theories and discussing papers written for the US audience, the small nuances that I picked up from the Professors in their discourse and the considerations in the decision process brought by Hillary that made me realize our starting points may come from different ends. And reconciling those require a lot of resilience and the ability to transit in different spaces. Nevertheless, it is important for us (Brazilians, Latin Americans, the Global South) to firm our grounds so there is a conversation and that perceptions do not get shadowed simply by who is speaking louder or thinks of interventions first. Third, due to several reasons, including the breakout of the horrible war in Gaza in the middle of the term, the sole participation in this class made everything more political. It was emotional, it was a life experience, and the environment made it more than just a class by seeing how people from all parts of the world position in relation to one critical issue. Finally, I confirmed again that narratives and the theory of speech have power. Hillary is an excellent public speaker and it is definitely one skill I observed a lot and hope I am able to apply to my future roles. It was rewarding. And the journey continues… #SIPA #IR #InsidetheSituationRoom

Foi um prazer reencontrar ontem com Marcos Troyjo depois de alguns anos de trabalho juntos no #ProsperityFund. Mas dessa vez em Columbia | SIPA, ouvindo sua palestra sobre as pluri oportunidades e principais desafios atuais para o desenvolvimento econômico no mundo e como a América Latina, e principalmente o Brasil, se posicionam. Very glad to have met again yesterday with Marcos Troyjo after a few years we worked together on the #ProsperityFund. But this time at SIPA to hear his perspectives on the multiple opportunities and main challenges for economic development in the world and how the Latin America, and particularly Brazil, are positioned. #economicdevelopment

Today I had the pleasure to attend the Paraguay Investor Summit and see the President Santiago Peña, who is a fellow Columbia MPA EPM alumni. Very interesting to hear his and the Minister of Economy’s thoughts on the important economic relationship with Brazil. Particularly their recent conversations with President Lula about the Itaipú hydropower, the intersection with climate resilience, and how important this is for Paraguay’s business environment and development.

The Fall Term is here! After only almost two weeks of break, Iwas happy to go back to SIPA today and resume the intense MPA Economic Policy program. I start this new chapter now focusing on more advanced economic issues, especially development economics, which is one of the main reasons I’m here. Time is flying!

Legacy — everyone wants to leave a legacy somehow. By creating a family, working, helping someone out or in many other collection of actions, which we hope will turn into a great thing. It is the idea to contribute to something and make a difference. However, many times we don’t know if we actually created a legacy or not, and what’s its real impact. It may take a long time to happen (especially in the development workspace), and no legacy is really created alone. But when you can find ways to clearly pinpoint your contribution to something that became a legacy, this is one of the best realizations and what keeps you believing, moving forward. Last week some colleagues wrote to me in relation to the news below. They’ve seen it in different places and the news came from different sources. The AmazonFACE was the last project I led in the Uk in Brazil. In the beginning, it was a bit of an ‘underdog project’ because it was tricky, very different from what we used to do, and the wider teams did not really understand what it was about — “Are you going to inject CO2 in the middle of the Amazon?”, they asked, “How? Is it safe?”. My friend and former workmate Mari Da Veiga conceptualized the project and led all the scientific policy arrangements to open doors for this project. And then she turned to me and asked me to lead on one of the things I like the most: turn the policy idea into action. In other words, to structure the project and take it out of the paper. I accepted this project because it was one of the most challenging ones I have seen in terms of governance and workpackages, and it seemed like the good project to end this cycle in the British development service. It was also a new type of the project for the British government in Brazil - one with high capital investment, which requires other types of control and compliance. We were ‘creating something new’ (another part that I love and whenever I said it, I would give Samantha Albuquerque chills :). I miss those times.). Well, we made it happen. I am really proud to have led to take this project off the ground in such a way that it has become the most important scientific project between UK and Brazil right now, and seen closely by no one less than the Foreign Secretary. Before I left, I handed it over to Adriana Alcântara, who I am really proud of the work she’s doing and spearheading this implementation gracefully and professionally. The project has still a lot to say in terms of how the Amazon forest can actually help to tackle the severe climate change issues we are facing. And the risks involved, which I do not undermine and should keep a close look. But for now, I am really happy to say this project is part of the legacy I carry under my wings. It is making a difference. #AmazonFACE #development #climatechange https://lnkd.in/dF5SJzqi

I’m happy to share that I’m starting the MPA in Economic Policy Management at Columbia | SIPA!