(Rod) RA Mena Fluhmann

(external) researcher International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) Academic staff unit

Location: Burg. Oudlaan 50, Rotterdam
Email: mena@iss.nl

Profile

(Rod) RA Mena Fluhmann

Rodrigo Mena (Ph.D) is a researcher and consultant working on disasters, conflict, humanitarian aid, and applied fieldwork research. Currently, he is involved in the project “When disasters meet conflict” at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam, working with Prof. Dr. Thea Hilhorst. His primary focus is on disaster governance and humanitarian aid in high-intensity conflict-affected scenarios.

For more than a decade he has worked in academia, public and…

For more than a decade he has worked in academia, public and private sector, government, local and international NGOs, and the United Nations. Next to doing fieldwork in hostile, complex and remote areas in Latin America, Europe, Oceania and Asia (e.g. including South Sudan, Chile, Jordan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan), he has also led humanitarian aid groups and conducted research after the occurrence of several disasters, including earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, floods, and droughts.

Rod is also Board Member of the International Humanitarian Studies Association (IHSA), convener of the Peace and Ecology in the Anthropocene (PEA) commission at the International Peace Research Association (IPRA), and Board Member of the ISS Blog on Global Development and Social Justice (BLISS). At the academic level, he has taught at universities and is the author of articles and book chapters. Previous research also focused on climate change, peak oil and transition strategies; urban agriculture and food security; and applied fieldwork research.

He holds degrees in Sociology (Magna Cum Laude), Political and Social Science (Cum Laude), a Master of Environments from the University of Melbourne (H1, Magna Cum Laude) and diplomas in methodology and socio-environmental topics, including Quantitative Multivariable Analysis, Environmental Impact Assessment, Public Policy, and Sustainable Development. Regarding applied research, Rod has experience and training in the development of fieldwork in hostile, complex and remote areas, being certified by United Nations, Red Cross, Centre for Safety and Development, GCORE, and RedR Emergency Response.

Areas of study:

Socio-environmental disasters and conflicts
Humanitarian Aid
Environmental Sociology
Resilience and social vulnerability
Urban agriculture and food security
Climate change, peak oil, transition strategies, environmental education and limits to growth
Methodology of transdisciplinary research, and
Research and fieldwork in hostile, complex and remote areas

Professional Associations:

Board Member, International Humanitarian Studies Association (IHSA)
Convener and Managing Coordinator of the Ecology, Conflict Risks, Forced Migration & Peace (ECR-FMP) commission, International Peace Research Association (IPRA)
Member, International Studies Association (ISA)
Editorial Board Member, ISS Blog on Global Development and Social Justice (BLISS)

- R. Mena & D. Hilhorst (2020). The (im)possibilities of disaster risk reduction in the context of high-intensity conflict: the case of Afghanistan. Environmental Hazards. doi: 10.1080/17477891.2020.1771250
- R. Mena, D.J.M. Hilhorst & K. Peters (2019). Disaster risk reduction and protracted violent conflict: the case of Afghanistan. (Extern rapport). : Overseas Development Institute (ODI), International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) [go to publisher's site]
- R. Mena (2018). Responding to Socio-environmental Disasters in High-Intensity Conflict Scenarios: Challenges and Legitimation Strategie. In HG Brauch, U Oswald Spring, A Collins & SE Serrano Oswald (Eds.), Climate Change, Disasters, Sustainability Transition and Peace in the Anthropocene (The Anthropocene: Politik, Economics, Society, Science) (pp. 27-66). Switzerland: Springer doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-97562-7
- D. Hilhorst, L. Hodgson, B. Jansen & R. Mena (2016). Security guidelines for field research in complex, remote and hazardous places. The Hague: ISS-EUR [go to publisher's site]
- R. Mena & D. Hilhorst (2020). The (im)possibilities of disaster risk reduction in the context of high-intensity conflict: the case of Afghanistan. Environmental Hazards. doi: 10.1080/17477891.2020.1771250
  R. Mena, D.J.M. Hilhorst & K. Peters (2019). Disaster risk reduction and protracted violent conflict: the case of Afghanistan. (Extern rapport). : Overseas Development Institute (ODI), International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) [go to publisher's site]
  R. Mena (2018). Responding to Socio-environmental Disasters in High-Intensity Conflict Scenarios: Challenges and Legitimation Strategie. In HG Brauch, U Oswald Spring, A Collins & SE Serrano Oswald (Eds.), Climate Change, Disasters, Sustainability Transition and Peace in the Anthropocene (The Anthropocene: Politik, Economics, Society, Science) (pp. 27-66). Switzerland: Springer doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-97562-7
  D. Hilhorst, L. Hodgson, B. Jansen & R. Mena (2016). Security guidelines for field research in complex, remote and hazardous places. The Hague: ISS-EUR [go to publisher's site]
- R. Mena & D. Hilhorst (2020). The (im)possibilities of disaster risk reduction in the context of high-intensity conflict: the case of Afghanistan. Environmental Hazards. doi: 10.1080/17477891.2020.1771250
  F. Carcamo & R. Mena (2017). Conflictos socio-ambientales en la sociedad moderna: aportes de la ecología política Latinoamericana y la teoría de la acción comunicativa. Journal of Political Ecology, 24, 1077-1093.
  A. Pelfini & R. Mena (2016). Oligarquización y extractivismo. Cerrojos a la democratización de la política ambiental en Chile. Revista Perfiles Latinoamericanos (FLACSO), 49 (1), 251-276.
  R. Mena & F. Gonzalez (2009). Lo rural como construcción sociopolítica. Revista Latinoamericana de Desarrollo Humano, 2 (57).
  R. Mena, F. Gonzalez & C. Concha (2008). Ruralidad y Medioambiente. Revista de Antropología Rural, 3 (3):2.
- R. Mena (2018). Responding to Socio-environmental Disasters in High-Intensity Conflict Scenarios: Challenges and Legitimation Strategie. In HG Brauch, U Oswald Spring, A Collins & SE Serrano Oswald (Eds.), Climate Change, Disasters, Sustainability Transition and Peace in the Anthropocene (The Anthropocene: Politik, Economics, Society, Science) (pp. 27-66). Switzerland: Springer doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-97562-7
  R. Mena (2015). Agricultura Urbana, reducción de la pobreza y seguridad alimentaria: Una relación compleja. In Tierra: Paisajes, suelos y biodiversidad: Desafíos para un buen vivir. Santiago, Chile: IPTCentral
  R. Mena (2012). From Rural to Ruralities: A transformation to a Territorial and Sustainable Development. In M.F. Meyer & J. Lüder (Eds.), Políticas Públicas y Economía Social de Mercado (pp. 52-65). Chile: Ed. Fundación Konrad Adenauer
  M.J. Lemaitre & R. Mena (2012). Aseguramiento de la calidad en América Latina: tendencias y desafíos. In Educación Superior en Iberoamérica: Informe 2012 (pp. 21-72). Chile: CINDA; Universia
  R. Márquez, D. Flores, P. Güell, P. González, S. Godoy, R. Mena & F. Gonzalez (2008). Informe sobre Desarrollo Humano Rural en Chile. In UNDP Rural Development Report. Chile: United Nations Development Programe (UNDP)
- R. Mena (2019). Prioritizing disaster response in a context of high-intensity conflict: the case of South Sudan. (Intern rapport, Research Brief #3). : International Institute of Social Studies (ISS)
  R. Mena, D.J.M. Hilhorst & K. Peters (2019). Disaster risk reduction and protracted violent conflict: the case of Afghanistan. (Extern rapport). : Overseas Development Institute (ODI), International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) [go to publisher's site]
  R. Mena (2018). Understanding and Preventing Social Conflict while Implementing Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction in Afghanistan. (Extern rapport). Kabul, Afghanistan: Afghanistan Resilience Consortium (ARC)
  R. Mena (2018). Manual on Conflict Analysis Tools: Preventing, mitigating and reducing the risk of social conflict in Civil DRR Projects. (Extern rapport). Kabul, Afghanistan: Afghanistan Resilience Consortium (ARC)
  R. Mena (2014). Heritage, Youth and sustainability. (Preprints). : ONG Ambientarte
  R. Mena (2013). Urban Agriculture and Australian Food Supply Scenarios (Working Paper). (Preprints). : Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL)
  
  R. Mena & J. Carbonell (2013). Estudio de Satiafaccion Usuaria. (Preprints). Santiago de Chile: Corporacion de Asistencia Judicial; Ministerio de Justicia
  R. Mena (2011). Estudio Perfil Postulantes y Sistema Judicial. (Preprints). Chile: Corporacion de Asistencia Judicial; Ministerio de Justicia
- R. Mena (2018). Technological solutions for socio-political problems: revisiting an open humanitarian debate. (blog). Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU). (available: 27 May 2018).
  D. Hilhorst & R. Mena (2017). A double message about safety and security for field research: "Protection is crucial” and “Don’t overdo it”. (blog). Norwegian Centre for Humanitarian Studies. (available: 2 May 2017).
  R. Mena, D. Hilhorst & S. Melis (2017). Conflicts and disasters: an integrated debate for peacebuilding and development. (nieuwsbrief). IPRA (International Peace Research Association). (available: 30 Jan 2017).
  R. Mena & K. Biekart (2017). Scholars at Risk: precarity in the Academe and Possible Solutions. (blog). Bliss, the blog of ISS (International Institute of Social Studies ). (available: 15 Dec 2017).
  R. Mena (2012). Naran-zanas y consecuencias socio-económicas. (blog). VerDeseo. (available: 15 Jul 2012).
  R. Mena (2012). CENSO 2012: Preguntas medioambientales y la pregunta que falta. (blog). VerDeseo. (available: 22 Apr 2012).
  R. Mena (2011). Análisis resultados Encuesta Ipsos, Abril 2011: Medioambiente y Energía. (blog). VerDeseo. (available: 15 Apr 2011).
  R. Mena (2010). El olvido y los problemas medioambientales. (blog). VerDeseo. (available: 11 Dec 2010).
  
  R. Mena (2015). Reflexiones sobre el temporal: Aprendiendo de desastres socionaturales. (nieuwsbrief). FACSO: Universidad Central de Chile. (available: 15 Aug 2015).
- D. Hilhorst, L. Hodgson, B. Jansen & R. Mena (2016). Security guidelines for field research in complex, remote and hazardous places. The Hague: ISS-EUR [go to publisher's site]
- R. Mena (2018, april 3). Disaster response and emergency aid in high-intensity conflict scenarios. The cases of South Sudan and Afghanistan. San Francisco, United States, ISA 59th Annual Convention.
  R. Mena (2016, november 29). Disaster response in high-intensity conflict scenarios: Aid-Society relations, challenges and legitimacy. Freetown, Sierra Leone, IPRA 2016 General Conference on Agenda for Peace and Development.
  R. Mena (2017, augustus 22). The Triage of Aid: Prioritizing who to help in High-Intensity Conflict Scenarios. The case of South Sudan. Bergen, Norway, EADI Nordic Conference.
  R. Mena (2016, maart 7). Micro Social Conflict and Silent Disasters: two cases of community conflict during times of drought. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, World Conference on Humanitarian Studies.
  R. Mena (2015, december 30). Crisis como oportunidad para la resiliencia social. Costa Rica, Latin American Congress of Sociology.
  R. Mena (2015, oktober 27). Perspectivas socioecológicas del Agua. Chile, Seminar Cambio Climático, Recursos Hídricos Y Desarrollo.
  R. Mena (2015, december 3). Cambio climático como problema social: Un problema ambiental socialmente construido. Costa Rica, Latin American Congress of Sociology.
  R. Mena (2015, november 20). Urban Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation and Food Security: A complex relationship. Chile, Conferencia Internacional de la Tierra.
  R. Mena (2014, oktober 15). Socio-Natural Disasters and Resilience: The case study of Valparaiso's fires in Chile, a Political Ecology review. Chile, Latin American Congress of Political Ecology.
- R. Mena (2018). Security and Safety for field research in complex, remote and hazardous places. International Peace Research Association (IPRA): Ahmedabad, India (2018, november 26).
  R. Mena (2018). Disaster response and emergency aid in high-intensity conflict scenarios. The cases of South Sudan and Afghanistan. ISA 59th Annual Convention: San Francisco, United States (2018, april 7).
  R. Mena (2018). Disaster Risk Reduction under high levels of conflict: The case of Afghanistan. International Peace Research Association (IPRA) Conference: Ahmedabad, India (2018, november 27).
Safety and Security for Fieldwork Resear
Title
Safety and Security for Fieldwork Resear
Year
2020
(external) researcher
University
Erasmus University Rotterdam
School
International Institute of Social Studies (ISS)
Department
Academic staff unit
Country
The Netherlands
IPRA Ecology and Peace Commission
Additional Information
The Ecology and Peace Commission (EPC) of the International Peace Research Association (IPRA) addresses the relationship between the Earth and Human systems, and their impacts on peace.
Role
Chair and Managing Coordinator
Start date approval
Jan/2017
End date approval
Feb/0021
International Humanitarian Studies Association (IHSA)
Additional Information
The International Humanitarian Studies Association engaged with the study of humanitarian crises caused by disasters, conflict or political instability.
Role
Board Member
Obtained Wage
no
Start date approval
Nov/2018
End date approval
Nov/2020
Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU)
Additional Information
AREU is an independent research institute based in Kabul. It's mission is to inform and influence policy and practice by conducting high-quality, policy-relevant, and evidence-based research.
Role
Visiting Scholar
Obtained Wage
no
Start date approval
Dec/2017
End date approval
Dec/2018

Address

Visiting address

Burg. Oudlaan 50 3062 PA Rotterdam

Postal address

Postbus 1738 3000 DR Rotterdam

(Rod) RA Mena Fluhmann

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