GFDD/Funglode President Strengthens Bonds with American Thought Leaders

Dr. Leonel Fernández, former president of the Dominican Republic and head of the Global Foundation for Democracy & Development (GFDD/Funglode), carried out a packed three-day agenda in Washington which included visits to many well-respected institutions and executives with which the organizations maintain or hope to sign partnership agreements.

Under the framework of these agreements, Fernández held a meeting with
executives from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) to renew the agreement of collaboration between the entity and Funglode. The two institutions agreed to expand their agreement and schedule joint academic activities in the future.

During this visit, the former head of state attended the launch of CSIS’ newest report, The Relevance of U.S.-Caribbean Relations: Three Views, at which Dominican-American Congressman Adriano Espaillat
gave a keynote address.

Likewise, Dr. Fernández held a meeting with Becky Marshall, Chief of Staff at the World Resources Institute (WRI), to talk about the development of joint programs for the promotion of sustainable development and fighting against the adverse effects of climate change. During the encounter, the WRI committed to collaborate with Funglode as a partner on its “República Dominicana 2044” project. Its role
will be to make sure that the proposals of the initiative are eco-friendly and sustainable.

Fernández then paid a visit to the Brookings Institution, which is recognized as the world’s top thought leader. There, the head of GFDD/Funglode agreed to promote the exchange of information and publication of Brookings studies in the Dominican Republic.

Also as part of his institutional commitments in Washington,
Fernández met with executives from the Center for American Progress, with whom he spoke about the functioning and academic offerings of U.S.-based universities and the possibility of carrying out joint work in the area of political training.

Fernández also held a meeting with Bill Sweeney, President of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), to agree to work together on the preparation of a new generation of sociologists,
professors, and political scientists to study topics related to electoral systems, electoral observation, democracy and rule of law. The former president assured that Funglode, through its Center for Electoral Studies and Center for Democracy and Law, will continue to promote research in the field of electoral administration.

Last but not least, the Dominican Embassy in Washington organized a cocktail reception in honor of the presence of the intellectual and
political leader in the U.S. capital. The reception was held in the residence of Ambassador José Tomás Pérez, chief of the diplomatic delegation, and was attended by Gedeón Santos, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Organization of American States (OAS).