Dr Antonio Lapenta is an economist with 20 years of experience in cooperation for development. 

Based in Quito, Ecuador, he currently serves as regional coordinator of Human Development for the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). In these capacities, he collaborates on projects that the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation promotes in South America in sectors such as health, nutrition, disabilities, social inclusion, children’s rights, gender, and education.  

He has exclusive field experience and empirical exposure to the activities of agencies and governments accessing and managing development cooperation initiatives.