Maria Stavropoulou
About Maria Stavropoulou
Maria Stavropoulou is a Senior Research Officer at the Overseas Development Institute, where she has worked since 2016. She has extensive experience in policy research and advisory work, collaborating with various international organizations and private donors on issues related to gender, poverty, and forced migration.
Current Role at ODI
Maria Stavropoulou has been serving as a Senior Research Officer at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) since 2016. In this role, she engages in high-quality policy research and advisory work, focusing on international development issues. Her responsibilities include collaborating with various organizations to address complex challenges related to gender, youth, poverty, and forced migration.
Previous Experience at UNHCR
Maria Stavropoulou interned at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in both the Protection Unit and the Fundraising and Marketing Unit. Her internships took place in Geneva, Switzerland, with the first occurring in 2006 for three months and the second in 2008 for two months. These experiences provided her with foundational knowledge in humanitarian efforts and fundraising strategies.
Education and Expertise
Maria Stavropoulou holds a Master of Science in Anthropology from the University of Oxford, achieved in 2007. She also earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Democritus University of Thrace in 2005. Additionally, she studied at the London School of Economics (LSE), obtaining another Master of Science in 2009. Her educational background supports her expertise in gender issues, social protection, and conflict-related challenges.
Consultancy Experience
Before her current role at ODI, Maria worked as a Research Consultant at International Alert from 2009 to 2010. She also served as a Research Consultant at ODI from 2010 to 2015. Throughout her consultancy roles, she contributed to policy research and advisory work for various organizations, including UN agencies and private donors such as the Hewlett Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Collaborations and Contributions
In her capacity as a Senior Research Officer, Maria Stavropoulou collaborates with research bodies like the ReBUILD Consortium. She has engaged with a diverse range of organizations, including the FAO, UNGEI, UNHCR, UNRWA, UN Women, and various government departments. Her work focuses on addressing issues of vulnerability and exclusion, particularly in the context of forced migration and social protection.