Miguel Luis Arias

About Miguel Luis Arias

Miguel is a public policy and development professional with more than 12 years of experience in programme and project management, policy research, capacity development, and stakeholder engagement across multilateral organizations, governments, and NGOs. His expertise spans local action (Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities), nature-based solutions, migration, and employment.At UNDP’s Equator Initiative, Miguel has led high-impact projects and global advocacy efforts, co-managing and supporting the Equator Prize selection process, increasing visibility and direct financial support for Indigenous and community-led nature-based solutions. He has coordinated Indigenous and local community participation in major global forums, including COP27, COP16, COP28, and UNPFII, strengthening strategic partnerships with key stakeholders.Miguel has also been instrumental in knowledge development and policy engagement, having authored knowledge products that amplify Indigenous and community-led solutions. He has organized and moderated global knowledge-sharing platforms, including the widely attended “Unlocking Direct Funding Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities” webinar, which engaged nearly 200 participants worldwide.Beyond UNDP, Miguel has provided technical expertise to UN Women, IOM, and GIZ, leading research, policy analysis, and capacity-building initiatives focused on gender-responsive migrant reintegration, labor governance, and climate-driven human mobility.He holds an MSc in Migration Studies (Merit or magna cum laude) from the University of Oxford and an MA in Public Policy (Distinction or summa cum laude) from Central European University.Having lived in seven countries over the past five years, Miguel brings a truly global perspective on development challenges and innovative solutions. Fluent in English and Tagalog, and currently learning Spanish, his work is deeply grounded in extensive field engagement with young people, migrants, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities; experiences that enrich his understanding of diverse cultural narratives. Passionate about bridging Indigenous and local knowledge systems with global policy and finance, he remains steadfastly committed to advancing sustainable, Indigenous and community-led solutions at scale.

Experience

1. Programme Management Associate Nature-based Solutions, Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities

   Undp

   Mar 2023 — Present · New York, NY, US

   I work for the Global Programme on Nature for Development’s Equator Initiative. The Equator Initiative seeks to recognize the success of local and Indigenous initiatives; create opportunities and platforms to share knowledge and good practices; inform policy to foster an enabling environment for local and Indigenous community action; and develop the capacity of local and Indigenous initiatives in order to scale up their impact.

Education

• Central European University

  Master of Arts in Public Policy, Governance

  2019 — 2020

• University of Oxford

  Master of Science in Migration Studies

  2021 — 2022

• De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde

  Bachelor of Arts major in Consular and Diplomatic Affairs, Diplomacy and International Affairs

  2010 — 2013