I am a doctoral candidate in the Political, Societal and Regional Change programme experienced in qualitative research and implementation of development cooperation projects in Finland and Latin America. My doctoral research focuses on how the focus of women’s empowerment shifts when Finland’s development aid has been increasingly transferred from traditional development cooperation to the private sector through cross-sectoral partnerships with Kenya. My professional work has been focused on using research to inform project design and implementation in development cooperation initiatives for gender-based violence, gender equality, peacebuilding, psychosocial support, and migration. Previously I have conducted research on Women, Peace and Security, and feminism in Colombia, and refugees, agency, and gender-based violence in Norway.

Currently writing doctoral thesis on the rationale of Finnish actors for development cooperation in Southern Africa from the 1980s to the 1990s. The aim is above all to answer the question of why people wanted to engage in development cooperation in Africa and what were the reasons they used to justify it for themselves and others. Has before done research on relation between sports and society in contemporary subjects, and master's thesis handled Finnish ambassadorial views on Idi Amin Uganda in 1971-1979.

After my retirement I'm on professorial contract continuing to conduct research and supervise PhD students in Global Development Studies at the University of Helsinki. My own research areas include histories of global development, Finnish development cooperation and Tanzanian long-term development history. I supervise students whose topics are in some way related to any of these.

My backround is in geology. I have 16 years of experience in processing of spatial data, digitising processes, data quality improvement processes and geodata management using geographic information systems. I have been working in development cooperation projects for ten years, mainly in Central Asia.

MFA: Digitalization and human rights (2019); Ministry of Education: Data protection, privacy and child rights (2018-19); Various publications to the World Bank on climate change mitigation and adaptation (2010-12); LuKe (former RKTL): Consumers' willingness to buy eco-labeled fish (2004) Various articles in HS, Talouselämä and UNICEF blog on corporate responsibility (2015-19)

Teacher Preparation Programme through ODL Mode for Enhancing Quality in Education jamk.fi/Nepal Community power learning process: A substantive theory about adult group learning experiences (PhD - thesis) https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/56980

Projects

Teacher Preparation Programme through ODL Mode for Enhancing Quality in Education

Jutta Martens is writing her PhD research with to Tampere University, Tampere Peace Research Institute Tapri with a working title "Conflicting Norms in Peace Processes – Faith-based Leaders’ Perspectives and Roles in Achieving Lasting Peace". The PhD will be article-based. Ms. Martens has received funding for her study from Suomen Kulttuurirahasto, Tampere City Tiedeapuraha and from Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission FELM. Currently Ms. Martens is working as Programme Coordinator for Sub-Saharan Africa at Finn Church Aid. The idea is to conduct the PhD research also in collaboration with FCA.

I am doing PhD research on corporate responsibility in African states with a case study focused on a large investment by multinational oil and gas companies in Tanzania. I am a political scientist (MSocSc World Politics, MSc African Politics) and now working within the field of management and politics. Previously, I have worked as an advisor within development cooperation, and have rich experience of development policy, especially in relation to global economics and finance.

Frank is the Project Coordinator for the Africa Networks at the University of Jyväskylä. He coordinates three networks (FAPI, SAFINET, EDUCASE) that are part of strategic funding by the MEC. Frank is a doctoral researcher at the University of Lapland where his research focuses on integration of migrants with focus of his research on migrants from Sub Sahara Africa. He has written articles and contributed book chapters on human rights, Covid-19, social justice and education.

Long experience in research and development cooperation activities from sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, particularly in areas of natural resource management, protected areas, climate change, democratization and decentralization.

Projects

Sustainable management of natural resources in Mozambique