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United States Institute of Peace

Nicolás Devia-Valbuena

Program Analyst

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Nicolás Devia-Valbuena is a regional program specialist with USIP’s Latin America program.

Devia-Valbuena joined USIP after previous experiences with the Washington Office on Latin America, ProMexico, and the Organization of American States.

Devia-Valbuena specializes in conflict resolution and stabilization in Latin America, focusing on the countries of Northern Central America (Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador), Haiti, Colombia, Bolivia and Venezuela. His work involves analyzing the relationship between fragile institutions, violence and conflict. His research interests include negotiations, citizen participation in peace processes, strategic studies, culture of lawfulness, and citizen security.

Devia-Valbuena has a master’s degree in security policy studies with concentrations in conflict resolution and transnational security from the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá, Colombia. He is fluent in Spanish, French and English.

Publications By Nicolás

Ce qu'un gouvernement de transition en Haïti aura besoin pour réussir

Ce qu'un gouvernement de transition en Haïti aura besoin pour réussir

Thursday, March 28, 2024

By: Nicolás Devia-Valbuena ;   Keith Mines

Après des semaines de consultations, et au milieu d'une quasi-rupture totale de l'ordre et de la loi en Haïti, un effort dirigé par la Communauté caribéenne (CARICOM) pour créer un nouveau conseil de gouvernance de transition pourrait être sur le point d'être achevé. La mise en place du conseil permettrait l'entrée d'une force de sécurité multinationale qui pourrait ensuite se joindre à la police nationale haïtienne pour rétablir l'ordre. Certains ont suggéré l'inclusion de "facilitateurs" pour la nouvelle force de sécurité - soutien aérien, drones, renseignement. Mais pour gagner la confiance du peuple haïtien, le nouveau conseil de gouvernance aura besoin de ses propres "facilitateurs" populaires, d'un moyen systématique d'inclure de nombreux autres secteurs de la société haïtienne qui sont actuellement ignorés ou délibérément exclus de la gouvernance.

Type: Analysis

Global Policy

What a Transitional Government in Haiti will Require to Succeed

What a Transitional Government in Haiti will Require to Succeed

Thursday, March 28, 2024

By: Nicolás Devia-Valbuena ;   Keith Mines

After weeks of consultations, and amidst a near total breakdown of law and order in Haiti, a Caribbean Community (CARICOM)-led effort to create a new transitional governing council may be nearing completion. The council’s establishment would allow for the entry of a multinational security force that would then be able to join with the Haitian National Police and restore order. Some have suggested the inclusion of “enablers” for the new security force — air support, drones, intelligence. But to gain the trust of the Haitian people, the new governing council will need its own popular “enablers,” a systematic way to include many more sectors of Haitian society that are currently ignored or deliberately excluded from governance.

Type: Analysis

Global Policy

How to Avert a Gang Takeover of Haiti

How to Avert a Gang Takeover of Haiti

Thursday, March 7, 2024

By: Nicolás Devia-Valbuena ;   Keith Mines ;   Kirk Randolph

Policymakers across the Western Hemisphere were shocked this weekend by news of a concerted effort by a coalition of gangs to attack Haiti’s key infrastructure, block the capital’s airport and prevent Prime Minister Ariel Henry from returning from a trip abroad. After all, the analysis went, Henry’s position seemed cemented as the deadline of February 7 — when he was supposed to hand over power to an elected government — passed with no real challenges to his rule. Now, absent an inclusive transitional arrangement that can effectively govern, the possibility of total collapse and anarchy in Haiti is ever more real.

Type: Analysis

Global Policy

No es demasiado pronto para hablar sobre un Plan Ecuador

No es demasiado pronto para hablar sobre un Plan Ecuador

Thursday, January 18, 2024

By: Keith Mines ;   Nicolás Devia-Valbuena ;   Paola Ricaurte

Desde que asumió la presidencia del Ecuador el pasado 23 de noviembre de 2023, Daniel Noboa ha enfrentado una escalada de violencia que culminó la semana del 8 de enero con disturbios en cárceles,  retención de policías, atentados con bombas, saqueos y el dramático secuestro de presentadores de televisión durante una transmisión en vivo. Noboa respondió imponiendo un estado de emergencia, abriendo así el camino para que las Fuerzas Armadas enfrenten a 22 pandillas clasificadas como "organizaciones terroristas".  Dado el poder de estas organizaciones criminales transnacionales y nacionales, no es demasiado pronto para considerar un aumento en el apoyo internacional a Ecuador, mediante una versión más modesta del Plan Colombia orientada hacia las comunidades.

Type: Analysis

Global Policy

It’s Not Too Early to Talk about Plan Ecuador

It’s Not Too Early to Talk about Plan Ecuador

Thursday, January 18, 2024

By: Nicolás Devia-Valbuena ;   Keith Mines ;   Paola Ricaurte

Since his assumption of Ecuador’s presidency on November 23, 2023, Daniel Noboa has faced a surge in violence that culminated the week of January 8th with prison riots, the abduction of police officers, car bombings, looting and the dramatic kidnapping of TV presenters during a live broadcast. Noboa fought back by announcing a state of emergency, opening the way for the armed forces to confront 22 gangs classified as “terrorist organizations.” It is not too early to consider a surge in international support for Ecuador, such as a more modest and community-centered version of the highly successful Plan Colombia, given the strength of transnational and national criminal organizations.

Type: Analysis

Global Policy

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