Gender policy

Hello, Vibrant Community!

I’m Marie, and since February 2022, I’ve been steering the ship here as the Community Manager of Capacity4dev.

A wanderer at heart and by profession, my academic and work journeys have whisked me across five European nations and allowed me to dip my toes into professional adventures in seven countries globally. During my BA studies at the Metropolitan University of Prague, I carved out a little piece of history as the first student to navigate through the Erasmus+ program at the International BURCH University in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Quite a ride, I must say!

Your stories, projects, and experiences are the heartbeats of Capacity4dev, and I’m here to ensure they echo throughout our online spaces, sparking connections, inspiring projects, and fostering our growing web of international cooperation.

Feel free to drop me a line at marie.zamecnikova@meldea.eu. I’m here to chat, assist, or explore collaboration opportunities that will elevate our collective efforts on this platform.

Eagerly awaiting our shared journey ahead,

Marie

I am a Gender Equality and Human Rights specialist working for 25 years as a team leader and policy advisor on gender equality and women's empowerment with governmental and non-governmental organisations such as the European Commission, UN WOMEN, the Italian Development Cooperation, Oxfam (GB and Intermón), other NGOs and consultancy firms. I obtained a Master’s in Studies of Sexual Difference from the University of Barcelona and a Master's in Human and Women’s Rights in Islam from the University of Rome La Sapienza. My Sectoral Expertise includes Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Reintegration Policies for GBV Survivors, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Gender and Environmental Management. My Regional Expertise includes MENA region, Africa, Latin America.

Fiorina Mugione is a highly accomplished professional with a wealth of experience in development cooperation. Her previous role as Chief of Entrepreneurship at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development involved policy advice, training, mentorship, and coaching to entrepreneurs, women leaders, and young diplomats. In addition to her coaching and consulting work at GDSI and other firms, Fiorina is a Board of the Organisation of of Women in International Trade (OWIT) working on women's economic empowerment. As a Board Member of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), focusing on education and entrepreneurship, she actively supports initiatives that empower individuals and communities. Furthermore, as a Board member of Accelerate Africa, she plays a strategic role in driving the organization's mission of fostering economic growth and development in Africa. She also regularly work as expert advisor and Master Coach. She currently serves as an Ambassador for the European Union Capacity4Development program, where she contributes to promoting sustainable development through capacity building.

Currently, I am working at the Coordination of the Practitioners' Network for European Development Cooperation. Before that, I worked as an EU Strategy Officer for FIIAPP (a Spanish development agency with a focus on technical cooperation) at the Brussels office and developing the Practitioners’ Network co-Presidency. Young professional with experience in international public administration, Latin America-EU development cooperation, youth and civic engagement, and peacebuilding. Cross-cultural education, team-oriented, communicative, and proactive professional. I am part of the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations as a Fellow 2019, focusing on: “The Role of Women in Peacemaking and Conflict Prevention” (MENA region intercultural exchange fellowship). Master's in Diplomacy and International Relations at the Diplomatic School in 2019.