Mara Tissera Luna
Independent researcher, advisor and evaluator on protection and forced migration for Latin America and the Caribbean
Mara Tissera Luna is an international consultant focusing on understanding the root causes of forced displacement in Latin America and the Caribbean and improving protection responses for displaced populations with multiple vulnerabilities.
She has provided technical advice and applied research for UNICEF, Georgetown University, the University of Edinburgh, Refugees International, and IRAP in 14 countries, contributing to 25+ reports, handbooks, and short articles.
She's a social anthropologist (Buenos Aires University) and public administration graduate (Central European University), with graduate certifications in Latin American & Caribbean Studies (CLACSO, Harvard), Migration and Refugee Protection, evaluation, and gender equality.
Suggested Interview Topics
1
Five key elements to conducting research for advocacy
2
Employing participatory research in international cooperation
3
Examining protection issues through intersectionality and decoloniality
4
Providing intersectional solutions to protection issues in Latin America
5
Enhancing collaborations for contextually relevant responses
Suggested Questions
What are the challenges associated with traditional approaches to knowledge creation in international development?
Can you explain the alternatives to this traditional approach? How does this approach differ from traditional research methodologies?
Can you provide examples of organizations that have successfully implemented alternative approaches?
What steps are involved in a participatory research approach for advocacy and systemic change?
Could you share an example where participatory methods significantly influenced a project's outcome?
What are the most significant lessons you've learned from field research?
What does applying an intersectional approach to knowledge entail?
How do you integrate these values and approaches into your work in international development?
What is practice-oriented research, and why does it need disruption?
Talks and Media Appearances
TEDx talk “Find Clarity of Purpose in the World's Injustices”
Interview about child violence with the US-based broadcaster Univision
"Living Decoloniality" Podcast interview by Carla Vitantonio in collaboration with the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership
Georgetown University's "On the Front Line of Child Protection: Collaborative Research Fellows in Focus"
"Protecting displaced children's rights in Latin America" Podcast interview by the Migration & Diaspora Podcast by Homeland Advisory
Research for advocacy and systemic change with CDA Collaborative Learning Projects
🎙️🔥 Is The World On Fire? Podcast Interview by the Kroc School at the University of San Diego
Charla "Interseccionalidad y plataformas en línea migratorias"
Participación y representación de personas en situación de movilidad humana en ámbitos políticos - COLEF
Helpful Links
Latest publications
- Mini-guide "Research for Advocacy & Systemic Change: A Ridiculously Simplified Guide to Intersectional & Decolonial Research + examples";
- 2024, UNICEF The Netherlands and others. Collaborative Design Model Handbook.
- 2024, Blog Post Innovations to Support Early Childhood Development and Protection for Young Displaced Children in Guatemala
- 2024, The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action. Background Paper: Protecting Children in Escalating Conflict and Crises: Armed Violence, Climate Shocks, and Displacement;
- 2024, Q&A with Mara Tissera Luna, Program Manager at the Collaborative on Global Children’s Issues at Georgetown University. Georgetown Global;
- 2023, Report "Improving the Socio-economic Integration of LGBTIQ+ Refugees in Costa Rica" with Refugees International and IRCA CASABIERTA;
- 2023, Apoyo a Migrantes Venezolanos, IMUMI, WRC, CDA. The consequences of US and Mexican immigration policies on the protection of Venezuelan women and LGBTIQ+ individuals in Southwest Mexico.
- 2022, “Decolonizing aid: Centering Haitian leadership in human rights solutions”. Open Global Rights;
- 2022, People’s participation in high-level decision-making spaces on regional migration. Open Global Rights;
- 2022, International Refugee Assistance Project. Spotlight on Local and Refugee-Led Efforts to Address Key Protection Needs (I produced the section on Latin America).