H.E. Ambassador Noemí Espinoza Madrid: 8th Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS)
H.E. Ambassador Noemí Espinoza Madrid of Honduras officially assumed office as the 8th Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) on January 1, 2025, marking a historic milestone as the first Honduran to hold this prestigious position. Her election, during the 15th Extraordinary Meeting of the ACS Ministerial Council on November 7, 2024, reflects her exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to advancing regional cooperation and development across the Greater Caribbean.
With over 28 years of distinguished diplomatic service, Ambassador Espinoza Madrid is a seasoned leader in fostering regional and global collaboration. She has consistently championed sustainable development, human rights, and innovative partnerships, forging alliances between governments, civil society, and international organizations to achieve shared goals.
Her diplomatic career began at the Honduran Consulate in New York City in 1996, where she focused on economic and tourism initiatives. Subsequently, she represented Honduras at the Mission to the United Nations in New York, advocating for disaster risk reduction as a cornerstone of sustainable development. In 2024, as Chair of the 57th Session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development, she successfully secured the adoption of a High-Level Ministerial Political Declaration by consensus, underscoring her expertise in building consensus on critical global issues.
Ambassador Espinoza Madrid has also served as:
- Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Honduras in the People’s Republic of China, advancing bilateral relations.
- Ambassador-at-Large for Women’s Issues, advocating for gender equality on the global stage.
- Cabinet Member of the United Nations President of the 73rd General Assembly, leading initiatives on climate change, strategic communications, and political vision for a successful mandate.
- Special Adviser to the first United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, where she spearheaded partnerships to translate intergovernmental agreements into actionable youth-focused policies and programs.
As an educator and thought leader, Ambassador Espinoza Madrid has lectured on economics and political issues at leading universities and global forums. Her ability to inspire and lead diverse teams has earned her recognition as a compassionate and results-driven leader, with a proven track record of achieving impactful outcomes.
Her deep commitment to equality, dignity, and prosperity for all underpins her vision for the ACS. She firmly believes in evidence-based policies and collaborative solutions to empower individuals and communities, ensuring their full potential is realized.
Ambassador Espinoza Madrid holds two Master of Arts degrees—one in Economics from Vanderbilt University and another in Politics from The New School, where she was awarded the Outstanding Master of Arts in Politics distinction. She is fluent in Spanish and English, with working proficiency in French and Portuguese.