Global Partnership for Education (GPE) Chief Executive Officer Alice Albright today announced the appointment of Alex Palacios as Director, Special Projects. His role will be to help GPE strengthen and build key relationships in the United States, as well as enhance the reach and understanding of GPE within the business community, the foundation sector, and civil society/NGOs.

Palacios is currently the Special Representative for the GAVI Alliance, a public-private global health partnership whose mission is to save children’s lives and protect people’s health by increasing access to immunization in poor countries. His start date at GPE will be July 17, 2013.

“We are thrilled that Alex will be bringing his tremendous global experience, relationships and commitment to GPE to help us drive for real results in getting all children in school for a quality education,” Albright said. “His long experience at GAVI, UNICEF and the U.S. government make him ideal for this role and we look forward to working with him to elevate the dialogue, investments and operations of our work.”

Palacios’ current duties include coordination of GAVI’s partnership with the governments of the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Nations system, foundations and civil society organizations. He previously served as GAVI’s Managing Director for External Relations. Prior to joining the GAVI Alliance, he served in senior positions at UNICEF.

Palacios has also held several posts within the U.S. Government, including Deputy Assistant Administrator for Legislative and Public Affairs at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Assistant General Counsel at the Peace Corps and at the Inter‐American Foundation. In 1992-1993, he served on the Clinton-Gore Transition Team. From 1986 to 1993 he was the U. S. Representative for UNICEF in Washington, DC. In this capacity he worked closely with the U.S. Congress and various administrations in relation to UNICEF’s child survival and humanitarian response programs.

An attorney, Palacios is a member of the District of Columbia Bar. He holds a BA in English and Anthropology from Amherst College and a JD from the Washington College of Law at American University.

GPE is the only multilateral partnership solely devoted to getting all children in school for a good quality education. Its partners include developing countries, multilateral organizations, donors, the private sector, teachers, civil society/NGOs, and private foundations. GPE’s approach is different because it convenes and builds consensus on education issues--at the global and country levels--to help its 58 developing country partners develop effective education sector plans, and promote aid that is coordinated and aligned with these plans. Since its inception over a decade ago, GPE has allocated nearly $3 billion to almost 50 countries to help them implement their education sector plans.

For more information, contact Mike Kelleher at mkelleher1@globalpartnership.org