Carolina Villegas

Carolina Villegas serves as a Negotiator for USAID/Guatemala, playing a pivotal role in advancing the agency’s mission of democratic governance, institutional capacity building, and social equity through strategic procurement. She leads the negotiation and award process for technical assistance contracts that support policy reform, public sector accountability, and civil society strengthening. Her acquisitions primarily involve professional and scientific services aimed at enhancing local governance systems, combating corruption, and promoting gender-based violence prevention. Villegas operates within a framework that prioritizes transparent, results-driven contracting aligned with U.S. foreign assistance objectives. While specific contractor names are not available, Villegas engages with a diverse range of service providers, including international consulting firms, local Guatemalan NGOs, and U.S.-based technical assistance vendors. Her contracting patterns reflect a preference for competed procurements that ensure value and innovation, often partnering with firms possessing deep regional expertise in governance, rule of law, and institutional development. She fosters collaborative relationships with vendors capable of delivering adaptive, context-sensitive solutions tailored to Guatemala’s complex socio-political landscape. Villegas demonstrates a strong commitment to socioeconomic inclusion, with 28.6% of her awards directed to 8(a) certified small businesses, indicating a deliberate focus on empowering disadvantaged entrepreneurs. The remaining 71.4% of contracts are awarded under open, non-set-aside competitions, reflecting a balanced approach that prioritizes both competition and equity. Her contracting behavior aligns with USAID’s broader goals of fostering local ownership while leveraging the capacity of small, mission-aligned firms. Her primary procurement focus lies in NAICS 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services) and 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services), encompassing policy analysis, governance diagnostics, and institutional strengthening services. She also procures specialized court system support under NAICS 922110, reflecting expertise in justice sector reform. Villegas specializes in securing high-impact technical services that build sustainable local capacity rather than short-term outputs.