Sofía Jarrín Hidalgo
About Sofía Jarrín Hidalgo
Sofía Jarrín Hidalgo serves as the Western Amazon Advocacy Advisor at Amazon Watch, focusing on human rights and environmental advocacy. She has extensive experience in public policy, strategic communication, and supporting Indigenous communities in Latin America.
Work at Amazon Watch
Sofía Jarrín Hidalgo serves as the Western Amazon Advocacy Advisor at Amazon Watch, a position she has held since 2020. In this role, she engages in advocacy and reporting strategies aimed at exposing systematic violations of human rights and the rights of nature. Her work focuses on demanding mechanisms for comprehensive reparation and access to justice, particularly for Indigenous organizations and peasant communities affected by development projects and extractive industries.
Education and Expertise
Sofía Jarrín Hidalgo has a strong academic background in political science and governance. She studied at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, where she earned a Master's degree in Democratic Leadership and Political Communication from 2015 to 2016. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Political Science and International Relations at the same institution, having studied from 2018 to 2021. Additionally, she holds a degree in Applied Anthropology from Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, completed over 11 years from 2003 to 2014. Her expertise includes designing public policies and strategic communication models.
Professional Background
Sofía Jarrín Hidalgo has held various consulting roles in Ecuador's public sector. She worked at the Agencia Nacional de Tránsito as a specialist consultant in 2012 and at the Ministry of Non-Renewable Natural Resources in multiple capacities from 2011 to 2013. Additionally, she served as a Territorial Director at Petroamazonas EP for five months in 2013. Her experience also includes a consultancy position at Grupo FARO in 2017 and the Viceministry of Mines in 2013.
Research and Advocacy Initiatives
Sofía has conducted research on significant geopolitical issues, including the impacts of China's Belt and Road Initiative in Latin America. She has directed advocacy campaigns at national, regional, and international levels, focusing on strengthening the capacities of various stakeholders in dialogue and negotiation processes. Her collaborative efforts extend to various organizations and research networks that address the impacts of external financing and corporate power abuses in the region.
Community Support and Capacity Building
Sofía Jarrín Hidalgo is dedicated to supporting Indigenous organizations and peasant communities that face challenges from development projects and extractive industries. She has worked to enhance the transparency and accountability mechanisms within these sectors, ensuring that affected communities have a voice in the decision-making processes that impact their lives and environments.