Ruth Junkin
About Ruth Junkin
Ruth Junkin serves as the Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality at Catholic Relief Services, a position she has held since 2016. With extensive experience in rural finance and program management across Latin America and the Caribbean, she has contributed significantly to various roles within the organization since 1993.
Work at Catholic Relief Services
Ruth Junkin has held multiple roles at Catholic Relief Services (CRS) since 1993. She currently serves as the Deputy Regional Director for Program Quality, a position she has held since 2016, focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean. Prior to this role, she was the Head of Programming in Tanzania from 2012 to 2016, and she also worked as the Knowledge and Learning Manager from 2009 to 2012 in Central America. Additionally, she served as a Regional Microfinance Advisor from 2000 to 2003, and as a Project Manager and Assistant Country Representative from 1993 to 1999 in Nicaragua and El Salvador.
Education and Expertise
Ruth Junkin studied at Tufts University, where she earned a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) with a focus on Economic Development and International Environmental Policy from 1991 to 1993. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Spanish from Austin College, which she completed from 1984 to 1988. Her educational background supports her expertise in rural finance and enterprise development, particularly in enhancing management capacity and market access for rural cooperative businesses.
Background
Ruth Junkin began her career in rural finance as a Rural Finance Specialist at CATIE in Turrialba, Costa Rica, where she worked from 2003 to 2009. Her experience spans over two decades in international development, focusing on program quality and rural enterprise development. She has facilitated the coordination of the Rural Enterprise Development Diploma Program, which includes master’s-level teaching and supervision of master’s theses.
Achievements
Throughout her career, Ruth Junkin has contributed to research and consultation on the role of financial and business services in rural enterprise development. She has a particular focus on integrating small-scale producers into value chains. Her work has included providing technical assistance and coaching to rural cooperative businesses across Central America, aiming to enhance their management capacity and improve their market access.