Chiden Balmes is the Program Lead and OIC head of GGGI Qatar Program. He is responsible for delivering development cooperation projects across multiple work streams and providing policy advisory services to government partners.

Prior to his stint in Qatar, he has supported various programs in Kazakhstan, Korea, Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Peru, Colombia, Mongolia, and the United Arab Emirates by providing technical support to governments in developing national green growth strategies, climate change action plans, adaptation and climate resilience programs, and green growth assessment methodologies. As an international development practitioner, he performs a wide range of functions including project management, policy analysis, capacity building, analytical research, communication, resource mobilization, and multi-stakeholder engagement.

He also worked at the Asia-Europe Meeting SMEs Eco-Innovation Center (ASEIC), where he contributed to the implementation of ASEIC’s communication and outreach activities. He also spent two years in Devex – a social enterprise for the global development community – doing analytical work on business opportunities within the international development industry. Before moving to Doha, Chiden has lived in Manila, Beijing, Seoul, and Abu Dhabi. He earned degrees in international relations, public policy, and Chinese studies.