Jose Acero

Father of Alejandro and Amelia, Jose Acero was born in Cucuta, Colombia, but grew up in Bogota where he finished his high school and university. Jose holds a BS in Industrial Engineer and an MS in Economics from Universidad de los Andes in Bogota, as well as an MPA from Columbia University, where he graduated in 2013.

From 2018-2022, he served as Colombia’s Vice Minister of Water and Sanitation, managing nearly 800 water and sanitation infrastructure projects around the country. His leadership in crisis management was crucial during the Covid19 to ensure access to water and sanitation for all and during the economic recovery phase. He also presided over the Water Regulation Commission (CRA) and held board memberships with the National Territorial Development Promoter (“EnTerritorio”), the Colombian Geological Service, and the National Disaster Risk Management Unit (UNGRD).

Prior his role as Vice Minister, he served as Urban Development Consultant at the World Bank in Washington, DC for five years, leading and supporting policy dialogue, lending operations, technical assistance and research activities in the areas of urban and regional development and housing and infrastructure finance. His earlier roles include Research Assistant at Columbia University and Operations Coordinator for the United Nations' Regional Development Center for Latin America. An author and contributor to 13 publications, he carries extensive international experience, having worked in countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Panama, and Paraguay.

Education

• MPA, Master of Public Administration in Development Practice, Columbia University
• MS, Master in Economics, Universidad de Los Andes
• BS, Industrial Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes