Débora Gouveia

Brazil

Public Policy (MPP), 2018
St Hugh's College, Oxford

Funding: Weidenfeld-Hoffmann/Chevening

Débora is a Brazilian advocate and social entrepreneur. She is currently a Research officer at CivicusI. She works on the monitoring and protection of the space for civil society, independent media and protest movements. In particular, she focuses on research and advocacy related to the Americas, supporting human rights defenders in the region.

In 2014, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo. In 2012, she co-founded Engajamundo, a non-profit that seeks to engage young Brazilians in international policy-making processes that could shape our future. During her five years on the organisation’s executive board, she worked as Communications Coordinator. Throughout this time she has taken on roles in advocacy, lobbying and outreach activities, especially those related to the UN processes related to climate change (UNFCCC) and sustainable urban development (Habitat 3). Passionate about making cities more welcoming, human and fun, Débora facilitated civil society engagement at Habitat 3 through the UN Major Group for Children and Youth and was elected Latin American representative to UN Habitat’s Youth Advisory Board. Previous to her work at Engajamundo, Débora worked as an advisor at the Brazilian Mission to the UN in New York and as an intern and consultant at UK Trade & Investment in São Paulo.

Débora is currently based in London, UK.