Johnson Cerda

Johnson Cerda is a Kichwa leader from the Ecuadorian Amazon with over 25 years of experience advancing the rights and priorities of Indigenous Peoples in climate change policy and practice. He holds a master’s degree in political science with a specialization in public policy and has worked extensively with national institutions in Ecuador on Indigenous issues.

Over the past decade, he managed the Dedicated Grant Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, strengthening community-led climate action and inclusive governance. He currently serves as Vice President for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP&LC) Engagement and Partnerships at Conservation International.

Johnson has contributed to global environmental governance through roles on the Global Environment Facility’s Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group and the World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility’s Ad Hoc Technical Advisory Panel. He currently is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and serves on the LEAF Coalition’s IP&LC Advisory Panel.