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Who is Luis Bernal

I am a Senior Evaluation and Research Specialist with more than three decades of experience in international development, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and public policy analysis. I have led and contributed to evaluations of major international cooperation programs, with combined budgets exceeding USD 900 million, across twenty-five countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, and the United States.

I specialize in mixed-methods evaluation, MEL system strengthening, and policy analysis. I am known for synthesizing complex evidence into clear, actionable insights and for leading multicultural teams in challenging or politically sensitive environments.

I hold a Master of Public Policy from the University of Massachusetts–Dartmouth and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Universidad Externado de Colombia, where I also completed extensive coursework in Law.

My professional education includes training in Evaluation and Applied Research Methods, International Development Evaluation, Project Management, Multicultural Communications, and Applied Generative AI.

I am also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®). This combination of policy, evaluation, research design, and project management training has shaped the methodological and analytical foundation I bring to my work.

Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, I bring a unique combination of global experience, technical rigor, and local community engagement to every assignment.

 

Approach & Value

Every evaluation is a different world, with its own people, politics, tensions, and aspirations. I approach each assignment with the humility to listen, the rigor to analyze, and the flexibility to adapt to whatever the context demands. Over more than 30 years, clients and colleagues have described my style as reliable, structured, and deeply engaged. I invest myself in the work because I believe in the purpose of evaluation: to understand, learn, and support positive change.

My approach is rooted in respect for stakeholders, for context, and for the dignity of the people involved. I build trust through honest communication, diplomacy, and careful listening. In challenging environments, I remain steady, composed, and intentional with my words. I value clarity over complexity, and usefulness over abstraction; evidence must be rigorous, but also meaningful and applicable.

Clients appreciate my leadership in the field: organizing qualitative data collection, structuring evaluation questions in logical, relevant ways that yield insightful findings, guiding multicultural teams, and facilitating sensemaking with stakeholders. Although I am not a statistician, I excel at synthesizing qualitative and quantitative information into findings that are coherent, balanced, and actionable, a skill that many colleagues have identified as one of my defining strengths.

I care deeply about my mission-driven work. My commitment, purpose, and focus come from a deep understanding of evaluation’s significance for stakeholders. I bring integrity, honesty, and humanity to every assignment, and I see each evaluation as an opportunity to honor the people involved in the programs we assess.

My working style blends analytical rigor with human understanding. I lead calmly in uncertain or politically sensitive environments, communicate clearly and respectfully, and synthesize complex evidence into insights that matter. I work with purpose and humility, always aiming to deliver evaluations that are truthful, useful, and grounded in the lived realities of the people and the programs in which they are involved.

Contribution to Effectiveness & Impact

Evaluators do not implement programs, but we play a significant role in helping organizations understand what is working, what needs adjustment, and where future investments can have the greatest effect.  I evaluate programs designed to improve livelihoods, expand economic opportunities, strengthen governance, support youth and women, and enhance community resilience.

My contribution lies in generating evidence that helps organizations learn, adapt, and deliver stronger results. I translate complex findings into clear, thoughtful, and actionable insights, enabling donors, implementers, and governments to make informed decisions that ultimately benefit the people and communities they serve.

Over the course of my career, I have worked with organizations such as:

      • US Department of State
      • USAID
      • European Commission
      • Global Affairs Canada
      • UK – Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
      • UNDP
      • UN Women
      • ILO
      • International Trade Center
      • Interamerican Development Bank
      • Organization of American States
      • The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria

Community Engagement

Since relocating to Collier County, Florida, in 2005, I have been deeply involved in community service, contributing to education, civic participation, business development, and local governance.

Business & Economic Opportunity. I co-founded and served as president of the Council of Hispanic Business Professionals and have collaborated with the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce, the Opportunity Naples Steering Committee, the SBDC at Florida Gulf Coast University, and the Economic Development Council of Collier County

Education. I established a scholarship fund for Hispanic girls pursuing STEM studies and have served on advisory committees for both Hodges University and Collier County Public Schools. I have also mentored students at The Immokalee Foundation, supported the Golden Apple Awards program, participated in the Superintendent’s District Advisory Council, and was a candidate for the Collier County School Board.

Governance & Civic Participation. My community involvement includes service on the Greater Naples Better Government Committee, the Naples Daily News Editorial Advisory Board, and the Collier County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board. I have also volunteered for two decades as a poll worker and currently serve as a panel member for the Collier County Citizens Foster Care Review Board.

Civic Leadership. My contributions to civic life have been recognized with awards, including the Naples Daily News Civic Award. As a graduate of Leadership Collier (Class of 2015), I continue to support efforts that promote inclusion, leadership, and community engagement.

 

Professional Memberships & Affiliations

I am an active member of the international evaluation community and maintain professional certifications that ensure my work meets the highest global standards:

  • American Evaluation Association (AEA): Member.
  • Project Management Institute (PMI): Project Management Professional (PMP®), certified through 2027.
  • International Development Evaluation Association (IDEAS): Member.
  • Leadership Collier Foundation: Graduate, Class of 2015.