UNDP IPC-IG: Humanizing Development

Selection Committee

Mélanie Langen - AFD Graduated in a master in political science at La Sorbonne, works at the French Development Agency for the executive management and foreign affairs in charge of the development, the communication and the coordination of the blog: http://www.ideas4development.org

Sandra Pires - CIVICUS Holds a MBA (Master in Business Administration) from the European University, as well as a Post Graduate Degree in Development Studies and a B.A. Honors Degree in International Relations both obtained from Staffordshire University in the United Kingdom. Joined CIVICUS as the Membership Manager after having lived and worked in Portugal, United Kingdom and Canada. Sandra believes that “humanizing development is all about getting the citizens involved! Only global citizen involvement can humanize development!”

Tommy Garnett - Environmental Foundation for Africa (EFA) Founder and Director of the EFA, an NGO involved in conducting environmental awareness and positive action programs in schools and communities in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Mr. Garnett was a member of the UN Panel of Experts on Liberia, monitoring the socio-economic and humanitarian impacts of timber and diamond sanctions on Liberia, while also assessing the environmental consequences of unregulated natural resources extraction in Sierra Leone and Liberia, after civil conflicts. Since 2006, Mr Garnett has served as the West Africa Chair of the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication. EFA hosts the secretariat of the Green Actors of West Africa Network which Mr Garnett was instrumental in creating, and is its current coordinator.

Larissa Grandi - PAHO PhD in Communications and photographer has worked with social inclusion projects creating photography workshops for children and teenagers with disabilities. She has also been a professor for undergrad and graduate studies in several universities in Rio de Janeiro. Ms. Grandi is currently working at PAHO.

Melissa Andrade - IPC-IG Melissa Andrade has a MSc in Social Policy and Planning in Developing Countries from the London School of Economics, a Bachelor in Political Science from the University of Brasilia and a post graduate course on Public Management from the Getulio Vargas Foundation. She is currently coordinating the South-South learning Unit at IPC-IG and has extensive experience with volunteer work, engagement in civil society organizations in Brazil, Canada and the UK and work in the Brazilian government. Melissa “ believes 'humanizing' development actually means realizing the spark of fire that lives within all of us. 'Being' is the key to rediscovering our lost sense of 'humanity' “

Valentina Bau - Panos London Awarded with a BA(Hons) and a MA focusing on communication theory and media practice, Valentina has a seven year experience in the communication sector. Both academically and professionally, she has nurtured her interest for the media from a public relations and campaigning perspective first, to a development-focused use of communication channels in more recent years, which has also led her to undertake further post-graduate studies in Communication for Development. She has lived for several months in Sub-Saharan Africa, where she has contributed to the work of the international development department of the Italian Embassy in Mozambique. She is currently employed by Panos London, an organisation working on media development and communication for development programmes.

Maria da Penha Biochemical pharmacist and notable figure in Brazil’s women’s rights movement, she was coordinator of the Associação de Parentes e Amigos de Vítimas de Violência (APAVV), an association for relatives of violence victims, as well as colaborator of honour of the Fortaleza municipality and member of the Empresa Brasil de Comunicação moderation council.

Prof. Alakh Sharma - Institute for Human Development, New Delhi Alakh N. Sharma is presently a Professor and Director of the Institute for Human Development, New Delhi. Earlier he was a Senior Visiting Fellow, Institute of Economic Growth, Delhi; Advisor (Research), V. V. Giri National Labour Institute, Noida; Professor, Shri Ram Centre for Industrial Relations, New Delhi; and a faculty member, A. N. Sinha Institute of Social Studies, Patna for several years. He has made significant contributions to research in areas such as poverty, migration, employment and labour markets. He has authored/edited/co-edited twelve books and published over three dozen research papers in various journals on these issues. He is also editor of the Indian Journal of Labour Economics (quarterly Journal of the Indian Society of Labour Economics) and co-editor of the Indian Journal of Human Development (a bi-annual Journal of the Institute for Human Development).

Scott McQuade - UNV Graduated in journalism in New Zealand and an MBA in the United Kingdom. Mr. McQuade is a knowledge manager with skills in finance, marketing and communications and has experience in consulting, energy, financial services and media in international organizations. He is now promoting the United Nations' focal point for civic engagement and is the Head Communications Unit at United Nations Volunteers (UNV).