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Jacobo Quintanilla
Urban development specialist - - Community Engagement & Accountability Advisor
Jacobo Quintanilla Gómez is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience as a senior adviser and coordinator in community engagement and accountability within INGOs, the UN, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Throughout his career, Jacobo has been involved in fragile, complex, and challenging settings across more than 20 countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Caribbean, leading assessments, and supporting humanitarian operations.
Before his tenure at the ICRC, Jacobo served as the Director of Humanitarian Programmes at Internews Network's London and Washington DC headquarters, with field assignments including a significant posting in Sri Lanka during the war.
An expert in community engagement and accountability in conflict and post-conflict environments, Jacobo has authored various manuals, guides, reports, and articles on the subject, in addition to conducting multiple training sessions.
Passionate about participatory urban planning, Jacobo focuses on urban governance, city diplomacy, and the convergence of development and humanitarian sectors in crisis-affected cities.
His expertise also extends to serving on judging panels evaluating innovation and mobile solutions within the humanitarian sector.
Jacobo Quintanilla Gómez holds a Master's degree in Urban Development Planning from The Bartlett Development Planning Unit (DPU) at UCL, where he achieved a distinction. Additionally, he earned a Master's degree in International Relations and a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Universidad Complutense, Madrid.
Fluent in English, French, and Spanish, Jacobo's core skills include strong analytical capabilities, effective communication, advocacy, assessments, project design, management, coordination, technical advice, capacity development, networking, and partnership development.
Furthermore, he has experience in donor relations, fundraising, donor reporting (USAID, DFID, ECHO, EU), finance, administration, and HR management.
Currently, Jacobo Quintanilla Gómez works as an Independent Consultant, having previously held roles such as Community Engagement Advisor at ICRC, Director of Humanitarian Communication Programmes at Internews Network, and Coordinator at CDAC Haiti (Communicating with Disaster Affected Communities), among other notable positions.
His extensive background in various high-profile organizations, combined with his diverse skill set and educational achievements, underscores Jacobo's expertise in community engagement, humanitarian operations, and urban planning.
