Mónica Rafael

Thematic expertise: Process design, security arrangements and gender in peace talks; implementation of peace processes

Geographic expertise: Colombia/Latin America

Languages: English, Spanish and Portuguese (fluent), French and Norwegian (working level)

Mónica Rafael is a senior adviser at NOREF Norwegian Centre for Conflict Resolution. She has supported the Norwegian facilitation of the peace process and coordinated Norway’s support to the military dialogue programme between the Colombian armed forces and civil society since 2014. She joined NOREF in 2012 as a political analyst and led NOREF’s programme on emerging powers, supporting the development of peace mediation partnerships with Brazil, South Africa and Turkey. Prior to joining NOREF, she was as a political adviser for the Portuguese deputy minister for foreign affairs and held research positions in the field of peace studies. She worked as an independent consultant in support to peace processes in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa and on gender, armed gangs and police violence in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). She holds a European Master in Human Rights and Democratisation (University of Padua, Italy), a Specialisation in International Information and Southern Countries (Complutense University of Madrid, Spain) and an Undergraduate Degree in International Relations (University of Coimbra, Portugal).