Applied research, evaluation, and learning services for NGOs, INGOs, universities, and UN agencies across the Americas and Europe
Through technical advisory, evaluation & learning (MEAL), and applied research, I help organizations address protection issues across silos (child protection, gender justice/intersectionality, forced migration) and translate children’s, families’, and community organizations’ views into advocacy, policy, and fundraising.
Trusted by these organizations
Ways we can work together
Practical information about working together:
- I work mainly remotely to complete all tasks except for in-country fieldwork. I've worked fully remotely with a total of 39 organizations’ staff across several time zones
- My engagements have ranged from one week to one year, with varying fee arrangements (daily, monthly, or yearly) in both a deliverable-based and project-based formats, working independently and as part of a team/teams, so...
- Please contact me to discuss an engagement that aligns best with your organization’s goals and priorities.
Customized research. Gain an in-depth understanding of critical issues through tailored research that can inform more grounded and inclusive programs, projects, and policies. This includes the whole research process:
- Designing and coordinating participatory research from concept to completion
- Conducting remote and in-country fieldwork (interviews, focus groups, surveys)
- Facilitating participatory methods with those impacted by violence and the organizations that support them
- Developing and analyzing qualitative surveys to complement in-depth insights
- Analyzing and interpreting findings to produce reports that are useful for action
Organizational Evaluation & Learning (the “E” and “L” in MEAL) to:
- Understand internal and external factors impacting projects, programs, and policies
- Evaluate the effectiveness and impact of your programs using a decolonial and feminist approach
- Gather valuable lessons learned, and deliver clear, actionable recommendations
Contextual Analyses (i.e., "needs assessments") for strategic planning:
- Identify gaps and opportunities to address the needs of vulnerable populations and the community-based organizations that represent them, based on participatory methodologies
- Get a holistic analysis of the national or local ecosystem of services, policies, and programs
- Gain actionable recommendations for policies, programs, resource allocation and organizational decision-making
Capacity-strengthening. If your organization needs to build Evaluation & Learning (MEAL) and participatory approaches expertise within your team, I provide advisory support and practical training on participatory research and consultations, Evaluation & Learning (MEAL), intersectional frameworks, and more.
Thematic areas and expertise
1. Focus on Latin America and the Caribbean
Contextual knowledge, lived experience, proficiency in multiple languages (Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese), and a strong network within Latin America, all of which inform a comprehensive approach to research, evaluation, and learning.
2. Violence Prevention
Focused on protecting populations at heightened risk of violence, exploitation, and discrimination, including children, women, refugees, LGBTQ+ individuals, survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), and the community-based organisations that represent them.
3. Meaningful Collaboration & Participation
The vision is for UN agencies, international donors, and INGOs to address protection issues by collaborating beyond thematic silos, and share power and resources more equitably with national and community-based organizations to create inclusive and context-relevant responses.
4. Practical solutions to complex human rights issues
Committed to providing root-cause analyses attentive to power and structural inequities and practical solutions, acknowledging the interconnected systems of oppression that affect marginalized populations in the Americas and Europe.
Hello! I'm Mara Tissera Luna.
I’m a consultant specialising in practice-oriented research, evaluation, and learning to support protection in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Over the past 15 years, I’ve worked with 20 NGOs, INGOs, universities, and UN agencies throughout LAC, the EU, the US, and in international networks as a researcher, advocacy coordinator, program manager, and advisor.
I bring a strong international academic background with professional and lived experience in Latin America and as a migrant in the USA and the EU.
What colleagues are saying about working with Mara
“Mara is one of the most generous and collaborative spirits on the map!”
Gillian Huebner – Director, Collaborative on Global Children's Issues at Georgetown University
"Mara has an incredible capacity to move things forward – no matter the obstacles or the slim chance of success. During the two years in which we worked together, she showed me the importance of going for unusual and difficultly achievable objectives beyond one’s comfort zone as well as that of always dedicating time to retrospectively analyze what went well and what went wrong in a project, regardless of how busy your calendar may be. Her dedication to human rights is only surpassed by her firm commitment to finding creative solutions instead of going with the flow."
Gábor Gyulai - Hungarian Helsinki Committee (Organisational Development Director, Training Expert)
“Mara helped us secure funding from the European Commission for a project to prevent violence and protect children in Aruba and Curaçao. Without Mara's expertise, clear guidance, and EU project writing skills, it just would not have been possible to secure this funding.”
UNICEF National Committee staff
“We are immensely grateful to international researcher Mara Tissera Luna for her stellar work writing and researching this groundbreaking report for us.”
Kathleen Russell – Executive Director, Center for Judicial Excellence
"Mara is a talented researcher. Her work was considered highly supportive, well-executed, and of high quality. She maintained a high level of professionalism during the documentation process, including organizing key respondent interviews and focus groups. She has strong written and presentation skills. She showed that she is adept at innovating and using technology to enhance the communication of complex information. She quickly integrated with the UNICEF team in Kazakhstan."
Fiachra McAsey – Former Deputy Representative UNICEF Kazakhstan
"I know her since she started working for Relaf, the Latin American Foster Care Network as a student. Ever since she showed creativity in developing ways to develop the network further and engaging with children and youth to incorporate their voices, she operated at a worldwide platform and represented the network in global meetings advocating for Latin America to be heard."
Bep Van Sloten – International Alternative Care Consultant and Trainer
"Mara graduated in June 2017 from the two-year Master of Public Administration program at CEU in Budapest. Within this program, Mara came across as one of the most well-rounded talents of the cohort, since she combined sound professional skills with academic knowledge and curiosity. In addition to her academic achievements, I would like to highlight that Mara comes across as very dedicated to both learning and real-world impact."
Doctor Sara Svensson – Visiting Professor, School of Public Policy, Central European University
"For one and a half years, I directed Mara in the elaboration of her dissertation research, which resulted in a high-quality piece of research. She proved to be highly independent and diligent, and she tackled the research process with a high level of maturity, discipline, and critical thinking."
Prof. Carla Villalta – Buenos Aires University, Argentina
What readers are saying about Mara's publications
Learn more about my approach to research, evaluation, and learning for advocacy and policy change
Download my free Mini-guide: "Research for Advocacy & Systemic Change. A Ridiculously Simplified Guide to Intersectional & Decolonial Research + examples".
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