Dr Maria Franco Gavonel

Profile

Academic Biography 

I am a lecturer in Global Social Policy and International Development and I joined the School for Business and Society in 2022. My expertise was developed through research and practice in the areas of public policy and international development. In the past, I have worked at the University of Exeter, the University of Oxford, the World Bank, Save the Children, and the Universidad del Pacifico.

I hold a PhD in International Development from the University of Oxford, an MSc in Development Economics and Policy from the University of Manchester, and a BA (Licenciado) in Economics from the Universidad del Pacifico.

Research

Research

My research lies at the intersection of human development and climate change. By examining the drivers and effects of migration, I aim to address the question of whether migration is an effective adaptation strategy to reduce the risk from environmental change and, more generally, whether it contributes to sustainable development. 

I am currently working on Habitable, an EU-funded project that links climate change, habitability, and social tipping points. In particular, I study how small changes in climate variability can lead to substantial changes in out-migration rates, as well as the mechanisms behind this relationship, such as adaptive capacity and mental health, among others. Previously, I worked on Misty, a Belmont Forum project that links migration, transformation, and sustainability. Specifically, I investigated how migration affects different sustainability outcomes, such as material wellbeing, wage inequality, and environmental burden. In addition, my doctoral thesis looked at the nexus between climate-related migration and cognitive and socioemotional skills among young people.

My geographical focus is diverse. Although most of my work relates to the Global South (mainly Africa, Asia, and Latin America), I have also undertaken research involving the Global North. My research is mostly quantitative; however, I am also familiar with qualitative techniques and mixed-methods.

Publications

Full Publications List

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Teaching

Teaching

• Theories of Development Governance
• Social and Political Issues in Development (led by Sophie Mackinder)