Felix Maradiaga is a recognized expert in public policy and political strategy across Central and South America. His extensive experience in public sector reform, social entrepreneurship, and organizational capacity development provides him with a comprehensive understanding of improving government-to-citizen engagement from the perspectives of government, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations.
Mr. Maradiaga currently serves as a Professor of Practice on Global Democracy at the University of Virginia (UVA), a Senior Fellow at Florida International University (FIU), and a Visiting Faculty at Johns Hopkins University, where he focuses on democracy building, governance, and civil society’s role in resisting authoritarianism. He is also the Chair of the “End Arbitrary Detention Global Initiative.”
As a frequent practitioner of applied political economy analysis, Mr. Maradiaga regularly provides complex analytical services to better understand the intersection of political will, economic conditions, and pragmatic development solutions.
In his public service career, he served as Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense and Director-General of the Office for Follow-Up on Compliance with the Peace Accords in Nicaragua. Through extensive community engagement, he played a pivotal role in strengthening legislative and policy frameworks, disaster management, humanitarian response, and the disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, reintegration, and resettlement of former combatants.
Upon transitioning to the non-governmental sphere, he founded the Civil Society Leadership Institute, a pioneering institution promoting non-violence and social innovation. In 2012, he co-founded a global social impact investment firm focusing on value chain improvement and the business-enabling environment in Latin America, particularly in agriculture and renewable resources. With expertise in policy reform, organizational capacity development, and economic growth, Mr. Maradiaga applies a multidisciplinary perspective to strategic planning and political-economic analysis.
A trusted representative and advisor, he has frequently engaged with government officials, major donors, private sector leaders, and multilateral organizations, driving innovation and collaboration. He has authored over 140 publications on topics related to governance, democracy, and development.
Mr. Maradiaga holds a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University and a Master of Engineering in Renewable Energies from Universidad de Barcelona (Spain).