Speaking, Workshops & Training

Workshops & training

If your organization needs to build Evaluation & Learning (MEAL) and participatory approaches expertise within your team, I provide training on applying participatory, decolonial, and intersectional frameworks to advocacy research, evaluations, and organizational practice.

Possible training topics

How to conduct participatory research and consultations
How to conduct participatory Evaluation & Learning (MEAL)
Meaningful participation in knowledge creation processes
Intersectional & Decolonial Analyses (i.e., root-cause analyses attentive to power and structural inequities)
How to translate these approaches into organizational practice

For this, I draw on my experience developing and facilitating the workshops of 'Decolonization and Intersectionality in International Cooperation', the first practical Spanish-language training on how to apply the frameworks of decolonial theory and intersectionality in real life in international cooperation.

3 cohorts

33 professionals trained

10 countries

Practical information

Trainings can be tailored to your organization’s needs, team’s preferences, and specific learning objectives
Available as online or in-person workshops, from standalone sessions to multi-session learning programs
Please contact me to discuss a training arrangement that aligns best with your organization’s goals and priorities

What participants have said about my trainings

"I found the training very useful because it was practical and grounded in reality. It allowed me to rethink my professional role and the role of the organization I belong to through innovative conceptual frameworks and concrete, practical tools. I also found the supporting materials extremely helpful, as they provided a quick, accessible, and engaging introduction to very complex concepts."

"I liked that the topics were covered in short segments that combined readings and practical videos, which were then complemented by the live session. A great combination! I loved how accessible Mara was throughout the course, and how she facilitated open conversations."

"I liked how Mara explained the topics in detail in the videos, since you could pause and watch at your own pace. I also enjoyed hearing the experiences and examples shared by other participants from their own professional or national contexts. I especially appreciated the emphasis on practical ways anyone, from their position, can contribute to systemic change, rather than focusing too heavily on theory."

"The group activities encouraged participants to share a wide range of experiences, while the critical discussions avoided falling into prescriptive approaches. Rather than imposing theoretical frameworks, the course prioritized flexible tools that allowed each participant to develop their own analysis, adapted to their specific contexts. This combination of applied theory and autonomy in the learning process that Mara uses was particularly enriching for me."

"I especially appreciate the pedagogical and methodological tools and approaches Mara uses to simplify complex content and adapt it to the audience. As a facilitator, I valued learning strategies for presenting content in an accessible way, such as the use of memes and other visual materials, that make it easier to communicate theoretical and technical ideas without sacrificing rigor."

"I took your October 11 class, and it blew my mind. I wanted to sincerely thank you for today's webinar. I loved the way you approached the topics, and I came away deeply inspired by your work and perspective."

Discuss training for your team

Speaking

I speak about child protection, gender justice, forced migration, localization,
decolonization, intersectionality, and participatory research and evaluation, with a particular focus on Latin America and the Caribbean.

Drawing on 15+ years of work with NGOs, INGOs, universities, UN agencies,
community-based organizations, children, families, GBV survivors, refugees and
migrants, I bring research, practice, and local perspectives into conversations
about how international cooperation can respond more effectively and equitably to protection challenges.

Invite me to speak

Ways to invite me

Conference talks, panels & webinars

Invite me to speak at conferences, webinars, academic events, roundtables, panels, and practitioner convenings. I can contribute research findings, practice-based analysis, regional perspectives from Latin America and the Caribbean, and critical perspectives on protection, localization, and gender justice in international cooperation with a focus on Latin America and the Caribbean.

Selected talks & appearances

Invite me to speak at your event

More talks and appearances in Spanish and English

Podcast & media interviews

I join podcast conversations and media interviews on child protection, meaningful participation, localization, decolonization, and the politics and practice of international cooperation as it pertains to Latin America and the Caribbean.