dr. (Rodrigo) R Mena Fluhmann

Biography

I am an Assistant Professor of Disasters and Humanitarian Studies, also serving as the Deputy Director of the Humanitarian Studies Centre (HSC) and Coordinator of the Safety and Security Research Initiative (SSRi). With almost twenty years of experience, my focus has been on humanitarian action, disaster governance, and environmental sociology, particularly in conflict-affected and vulnerable areas. I teach courses covering humanitarian action, disaster risk reduction, research methodology, quantitative and mixed methods, research ethics, and fieldwork safety and security.

At the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), I co-coordinate the Humanitarian Governance project (HUM-GOV), funded by a European Research Council (ERC) advanced grant. This project delves into the evolving dynamics of humanitarian governance, with special attention to civil society actors and crisis-affected populations. Additionally, I contribute to the coordination of the Observatorio Humanitario de América Latina y el Caribe (OH-LAC).

Within ISS, I'm also involved as the Convenor for the Governance and Development Policy Major (GDP) within the Master of Arts in Development Studies program. I serve as a member of the ISS Research Ethics Committee and lead the Safety and Security for Fieldwork/In-situ Research course (S&S) at CERES, the Dutch Research School for International Development. Moreover, I hold a visiting professorship at the UN University for Peace in Costa Rica.

My engagement also spans across other academic, societal impact, and practice-oriented activities. I am a Board Member of the International Humanitarian Studies Association (IHSA) and the Expertise Centre Humanitarian Communication (HumCom). Additionally, I contribute as a reviewer for leading journals and actively participate in research, monitoring, evaluation, and advisory consultancy work. I collaborate with various organizations such as UNDRR, UNICEF, the ICRC, multiple Red Cross Societies, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Islamic Relief International, the Dutch Relief Alliance, Welthungerhilfe, Save the Children, and Afghanaid.

Alongside academic outputs such as journal articles and book chapters, I value writing policy and research briefs, blog posts, and finding ways to make science accessible to everyone. In this regard, I recently won the Erasmus Impact Journey Prize, the NEEDS 2023 Disaster Research Photography Prize, and regularly engage in consultancy and advisory roles with multiple organisations.

Before my current roles, my career spanned positions as a researcher, project manager, and consultant with local and international NGOs, the United Nations, governmental organizations, and the private sector. I have also held academic roles and visiting professorships at universities globally. Furthermore, I've assumed leadership roles in humanitarian aid organizations, coordinated disaster responses, and conducted fieldwork in numerous conflict zones, crisis situations, and disaster-prone regions, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, Jordan, Peru, South Sudan, Uganda, and Yemen.

My educational background includes a PhD in Humanitarian Action and Disaster Governance from the ISS of Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands, an MA in Environmental Studies from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a BA in Sociology and Political Science from A. Hurtado University, Chile. Additionally, I hold diplomas in Quantitative Multivariable Analysis, Environmental Impact Assessment, Public Policy, and Sustainable Development. I've received certifications from reputable institutions such as the United Nations, Red Cross, Centre for Safety and Development, GCORE, and RedR, enhancing my experience and training in conducting fieldwork in challenging, complex, and remote areas.