2025
Henao Marín E. (2025). The collective agency for the sustainable recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 ANMUCIC, Marquetalia-Caldas
Master’s Dissertation in Social Justice and Peace building
Universidad de Caldas, Colombia
The dissertation was specifically developed in Marquetalia, Caldas. Its main objective was to co-construct collective agency processes with the Municipal Association of peasant, Black and Indigenous women of Colombia (ANMUCIC-MAR). It aimed to understand their pre-existing vulnerabilities and the impacts of COVID-19 in order to subsequently strengthen their organisational capacity and promote intersectoral dialogues on the challenges of sustainable recovery. The study adopted a qualitative and situated perspective, favouring the intersubjective viewpoint and the collaborative and consensual process of knowledge production with the participants, who acted as co-researchers.
Pismel, G. de O. (2025). THE WORLD STOPPED, WE DIDN'T: Quilombolas, Covid-19 and work in the Brazilian Amazon.
Master’s Dissertation in Sociology
Universidad Federal Fluminense, UFF, Brasil.
The Covid-19 pandemic caused the most severe global economic recession in eight decades, particularly affecting vulnerable populations. In Brazil, quilombola communities faced not only health-related problems but also worsening food insecurity and territorial conflicts. This summary presents the main findings of a study that analysed these issues based on the experiences of the quilombolas of Abacatal, whose territory is located in Ananindeua (PA). The accounts of the Abacatal residents confirm these problems by showing how the "economic" sphere was the most affected by the pandemic. With movement restrictions, many quilombolas lost income due to their inability to sell territory products such as charcoal, pulps, cassava and biojewels in city markets. Faced with this scenario, the Abacatal residents demonstrate all their quilombola economic creativity.
Santos J.R. (2025). Multi-risk assessment of socio-environmental disasters for municipalities in the Brazilian Amazon.
PhD Thesis
Postgraduate programme at the Institute of Space Research INPE/MCTI, Brasil
Faced with the increasing of disasters, the worsening of social inequalities that amplify vulnerabilities, and environmental degradation there was a need for an assessment across different types of socio-environmental disasters. I evaluated the multi-risk of socio-environmental disasters based on individual risks related to hydrological, geological, and climatological disasters due to wildfires across 777 municipalities in the Brazilian Amazon. The reference year is 2010, and this research: 1. Mapped landscape susceptibility by integrating environmental, anthropogenic, land tenure, and disaster events (DE) data to estimate the zone of exposed elements (ZELE); 2. Assessed municipal public policy (PP) coverage through risk reduction plans, risk management programs or actions, and types of responses to DE and ZELE, using multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). Using the MCA axes, DEs, and ZELE in both hierarchical and non-hierarchical cluster analyses, resulting in 10 clusters prioritized for disaster risk reduction (DRR) actions. 3. Estimated components of individual risk and multi-risk using synthetic composite indices derived from social, environmental, and economic indicators. In the investigation of the spatial dependence and structure of the multi-risk index, I used an experimental variogram, Moran I, and LISA indices. Finally, spatial clustering via the SKATER method was applied to define critical multi-risk regions for DRR interventions. In assessing municipal PPs, 162 municipalities were classified as high priority, 252 as medium-high priority, 219 as medium priority, and 144 as low priority. In sequence, using equal intervals, the municipalities will be grouped: 3% fell into groups 9 and 10 (very high index values), 24% into groups 7 and 8 (high values), 40% into groups 5 and 6 (intermediate values), and 33% into groups 1 to 4 (low values). Finally, I prioritized six multi-risk regions for DRR actions. The most critical region was Multi-Risk Region 1, with 75% of its municipalities classified in groups 6 to 10. Following is Region 6, with 75% of municipalities in groups 5 to 8. Regions 2 and 3 followed, with 75% of their municipalities in groups 4 to 7 and 4 to 8, respectively. Region 5 ranked next, with 75% of municipalities in groups 3 to 6. Finally, Region 4 had 75% of its municipalities in groups 1 to 4. This research advanced knowledge about disaster risks in the Brazilian Amazon and on socio-environmental multi-risk, applying a methodology previously unprecedented in the study area and the country. The findings provide insights into the socio-spatial configurations of multi-risk across the territory and offer valuable information to support planning, decision-making, and targeted DRR actions for Amazonian municipalities in Brazil.
2024
Sandstede Estrada, B. (2024). J’Accuse: Narratives of Peace in Florencia, Caquetá
Master’s dissertation in Social Justice and Peace building
Universidad de Caldas, Colombia
Research-creation thesis presented at the University of Caldas, which explores peacebuilding experiences in Florencia, Caquetá, a territory marked by armed conflict. Through a Video-graphic-Narrative Methodology, the project combines storytelling, photography and video to document the stories of three local organisations—Fusión Tropical de la Amazonia, FUMUCASTIVIC and ASONDEMUR—led by victims of the conflict who promote social justice, environmental sustainability and gender equity. Linked to the international programme “Voices of Recovery”, J’Accuse reaffirms its commitment to the return of knowledge and to the connection between art, academia and community as a way to highlight resilience and strengthen the building of memory and peace from the territories.
Llano Bedoya Y. (2024). Weaving Narratives: Reconstructing the Voices of Rural Women Leaders in Marquetalia, Caldas.
Final report of Social Work internship
Universidad de Caldas, Colombia
Led by Yolima Llano Bedoya, the practice focused on supporting the Marquetalia Women's Network, a group of rural leaders united to confront gender-based violence exacerbated by the pandemic. The main objective was to recognise the role of these women as agents of change and peacebuilders, highlighting their trajectories and survival strategies. A hermeneutic narrative methodology was used to co-construct knowledge based on their experiences. The intervention sought to enhance women's capacities, autonomy and collective agency, contributing to the breaking of cycles of violence and strengthening their organisation. The reconstruction of narratives has been fundamental in influencing their self-perception and promoting social advocacy at the municipal level. This process emphasises the need to address gender-based violence in silenced rural contexts.
Ortiz Bernal L.V. (2024). Recognising ourselves in the bodily and organisational senses of the Women's Foundation FUMUCASTIVIC. Commitments to the construction of peace.
Final report of internship
Universidad de Caldas, Colombia
The practicum focused on the Foundation of Landless Peasant Women Victims of Armed Conflict (FUMUCASTIVIC), a key actor in a territory historically affected by violence. The professional approach was connected to the planning of a commemorative fair for the National Day of Memory and Solidarity with the Victims, aiming to bring visibility to the demands of these women survivors and land claimants for a dignified life and the redefinition of the La Gloria neighbourhood as a territory of peace. The intervention's focus centred on strengthening FUMUCASTIVIC's organisation through recognition of the "bodily and organisational senses" of its members. This methodology sought to break silences and externalise experiences, feelings, and positions as a mechanism for peace building at both individual and collective levels.
Silva Camacho S. (2024). Community participation in the face of intersectional risks (Covid 19 – Armed conflict): The case of the rural women of ASODEMUC in La Estrella Caquetá.
Master’s dissertation
Universidad de Caldas, Colombia