dr. (Rodrigo) R Mena Fluhmann

Biography

I am an Assistant Professor of Disasters and Humanitarian Studies and the Deputy Director of the Humanitarian Studies Centre (HSC). With nearly two decades of experience, my work has primarily revolved around humanitarian action, disaster governance, and environmental sociology, particularly in conflict-affected and vulnerable settings. I lecture on humanitarian action, disaster risk reduction, methodology, ethics, and safety and security for in-situ/fieldwork research.

Within 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 investigates the evolving dynamics of humanitarian governance, with a particular focus on civil society actors and crisis-affected populations. Additionally, as part of this project, I am involved in the coordination of the Observatorio Humanitario de América Latina y el Caribe (OH-LAC).

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

My contributions to the field extend beyond academia, serving as a Board Member of the International Humanitarian Studies Association (IHSA) and the Expertise Centre Humanitarian Communication (HumCom). Additionally, I regularly serve as a reviewer for leading journals and actively engage in (applied) research, monitoring, evaluation, and advisory consultancy work, which keeps me closely connected to developments within my areas of expertise. These collaborations have included work with 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, among others.

Before my current roles at ISS, my career encompassed positions as a researcher, project manager, and consultant with local and international NGOs, the United Nations, governmental organizations, and the private sector. My professional journey has also included academic roles, lectureships, and visiting professorships at various universities in different countries. Moreover, I have taken on leadership roles in humanitarian aid organizations, coordinated disaster responses, and conducted in-situ research in numerous conflict zones, crisis situations, and regions prone to disasters. My experiences have led me to engage with complex and disaster-affected regions such as 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, an MA in Environmental Studies from the University of Melbourne, and a BA in Sociology and a BA in Political Science from A. Hurtado University. Additionally, I hold diplomas in Quantitative Multivariable Analysis, Environmental Impact Assessment, Public Policy, and Sustainable Development. My experience and training in conducting fieldwork in challenging, complex, and remote areas are bolstered by certifications from reputable institutions such as the United Nations, Red Cross, Centre for Safety and Development, GCORE, and RedR.

International Institute of Social Studies

Assistant professor | Academic staff unit
Email
mena@iss.nl
Room
I4-05
Location
Kortenaerkade 12, 's - Gravenhage

More information

Work

  • Rodrigo Mena Fluhmann (22 August 2023) - World Humanitarian Day
  • Rodrigo Mena & Kristen Cheney (13 January 2022) - Research ethics: what it is and why it matters
  • Z (Zeynep) Kasli, M (Marieke) van Houte, R (Rodrigo) Mena Fluhmann, DJM (Thea) Hilhorst & HM (Helen) Hintjens (5 September 2021) - Don't let our university researchers and students suffocate in Afghanistan
  • R (Rodrigo) Mena Fluhmann (11 April 2021) - Trenches & Tragedy – Reducing Disaster Risk In Conflict Zones
  • Rodrigo Mena (11 April 2021) - Trenches & Tragedy – Reducing Disaster Risk In Conflict Zones

  • Gabriela Villacis Izquierdo, Rodrigo Mena Fluhmann & Juan Ricardo Aparicio (2023) - International Humanitarian Studies Association (IHSA) Conference 2023
  • Hyeonggeun Ji & Rodrigo Mena Fluhmann (2023) - Alternative humanitarian approaches to the intersection between climate change and displacement
  • Rodrigo Mena Fluhmann (2023) - NEEDS Conference
  • Rodrigo Mena Fluhmann (2022) - From addressing to ending needs: the promises and perils of linking humanitarian action and development agendas
  • Rodrigo Mena (2022) - Armed Conflict as Disaster Risk Creator: Challenges and opportunities
  • Liesa Sauerhammer & Rodrigo Mena (2022) - German Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction 2022
  • Rodrigo Mena (2022) - 18th Development Dialogue Conference
  • Rodrigo Mena (2022) - Unnaturalising disasters with care: #NoNaturalDisasters in places affected by (violent) conflict
  • Rodrigo Mena Fluhmann (2022) - Taking Stock of Ukrain: Digital Humanitarianism in a Kinetic War
  • Rodrigo Mena Fluhmann (2022) - “Building resilience to disasters in light of the SDG agenda: the role of cities and communities”.

  • Rodrigo Mena (2023) - Disaster Research Photography: NEEDS 2023
  • Rodrigo Mena Fluhmann (2022) - Best EGSH Teacher 2021
  • Rodrigo Mena (2022) - Best Overall Project, Erasmus Impact Journey
  • Rodrigo Mena (2022) - Best Pitch, Erasmus Impact Journey
  • Rodrigo Mena Fluhmann (2013) - Environmental Graduate Award, University of Melbourne
  • Rodrigo Mena Fluhmann (2011) - Becas Chile Scholarship for Master Studies
  • Rodrigo Mena Fluhmann (2006) - Academic Research Scholarship for Excellence

International Institute of Social Studies

Start date approval
June 2023
End date approval
June 2026
Place
THE NETHERLANDS
Description
Lectures on Humanitarian Action

UN University for Peace

Start date approval
June 2023
End date approval
June 2026
Place
COSTA RICA
Description
Humanitarian Action lectures

4227 Humanitarian Action

Year
2023
Course Code
ISS-4227-23-24

4152 Development Policies and Practice

Year
2023
Course Code
ISS-4152-23-24

Major GDP

Year
2023
Course Code
ISS-GDP-23-24

General Information

Year
2023
Course Code
ISSGENERAL-23-24

Major GDP

Year
2023
Course Code
ISS-GDP-22-23

3214 Understanding and Interpreting Qant

Year
2023
Course Code
ISS-3214-23-24

News regarding dr. (Rodrigo) R Mena Fluhmann

Prize for Train the Trainers course bringing safety and security to researchers

Dr Rodrigo Mena was awarded two prizes for his proposed research developing a Train the Trainers course in researcher safety and security in the field.
Research Impact Journey prize - Rod Mena - November 2022

Humanitarian implications of sanctions to end the war in Ukraine

Thea Hilhorst and Rod Mena investigate the implications of sanctions and how we can protect civilians, including people in Russia, from their impact.

Investigating the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The acclaimed Disasters journal has published two papers written by ISS staff members in a special issue on the global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disasters journal - special issue COVID-19

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