Lic. John R. Gagain Jr.
Executive Director of the Presidential Commission on the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable (COPDES)
Biographical Information
Lic. John R. Gagain Jr. was named by Dr. Leonel Fernandez, President of the Dominican Republic as the Executive Director of the Presidential Commission on the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable (COPDES) on September 16, 2004.
The COPDES, is the first Presidential Commission ever to be established for monitoring and evaluating a country’s achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Before COPDES, Mr. Gagain served as Director of the Center for the Study of Globalization and Representative to International Organizations at the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (FUNGLODE), an international research-based non-governmental organization based in the Dominican Republic, which was founded by Dr. Leonel Fernández, Constitutional President of the Dominican Republic. Mr. Gagain was responsible for the Foundation’s projects, courses, and literature on Globalization as well as its relations with institutions including the United Nations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Additionally, Mr. Gagain was the Executive Vice-President of the United Nations Association of the Dominican Republic (UNA-DR) one U.N. Association of over 100 that exist in countries around the world and form the World Federation of U.N. Associations (WFUNA). Mr. Gagain was responsible for administration of the Association’s finances and development. Mr. Gagain was the Coordinator of Model United Nations at the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA), where he was editor of the Association’s Educational Publications including the annual Guide to Delegate Preparation.
Mr. Gagain attended Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), where he focused on International Economic Policy with a concentration in International Trade and Latin American Studies. He has written recommendations on U.S. foreign economic policy for Ambassador Richard Gardner, former economic advisor to Al Gore and member of the Clinton Administration’s Advisory Council on Trade Policy and Negotiations (ACTPN)
Additionally, Mr. Gagain is a consultant with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), serving as a writer for the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB). He also serves a member of the U.N. Global Compact’s International Task Force on Networks. Mr. Gagain served as Youth Delegate Advisor for the U.S. Delegation to the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance. He graduated from Pace University where he majored in Political Science, concentrated in International Affairs.
