EXPERT

 ADVICE  ASSISTANCE  RESOURCES  FACILITATION

FOR BETTER RESULTS

Gender Associations is comprised of a network of national and international experts from a wide range of professional, social and geographic backgrounds around the globe. We select custom teams for each project to provide a comprehensive analysis of complex environments, with holistic solutions.

ABOUT US

Despite global, national and local efforts, armed conflict, violence, discrimination and exclusion continue to exist in almost all geographic regions. Understanding unequal power relations in a specific socio-cultural context is key to understanding armed conflict, its roots and drivers, as well as the opportunities for peace and sustainable development. In order to work towards more effective security provision and lasting peace, one must consider the diverse factors of the population such as age, gender, race, ethnicity, religious background, political affiliations and diverse abilities and how they relate to power, privilege and decision-making processes. 

International human rights and humanitarian law provide a relatively clear normative framework for realizing peace, security and human rights for all members of society. The implementation of these commitments has advanced significantly over the past two decades. Since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in 2000 and its subsequent resolutions, a large number of countries and international and regional organisations, as well as countless civil society organisations, implement the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. These efforts are vital for guaranteeing security for all during times of conflict and post-conflict, but also during peace, and can involve a variety of strategies, policies and interventions.

GAIC- Gender Associations International Consulting GmbH (Gender Associations) was established in March 2019 in Berlin, Germany to support governments and other relevant actors to uphold and professionalize their commitments to the gender, peace and security agenda. We provide highly professional services that fit the need, context and missions of our clients. Our diverse expertise is built on decades of experience working with international actors such as the United Nations system, civil society organisations, including women’s human rights and peace organizations, academia and national governments in different geographic regions around the world.

VISION

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A more sustainable and inclusive peace exists that guarantees human security, development and human rights for all, built on the foundations of gender equality and equal participation, and the consideration of the needs, abilities and priorities of diverse populations.
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MISSION

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Gender Associations is dedicated to supporting institutions and individuals to develop their capacities and competencies to promote and ensure gender equality and the human rights of diverse and vulnerable populations in fragile, crisis and post-conflict situations, including in peacebuilding and peacekeeping initiatives. This support is provided through praxis-oriented research, policy analysis, capacity-building and training and the building of networks and inclusive spaces for dialogue.
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HOW WE WORK

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We believe that a crosscutting and complex area of work, such as gender, peace and security requires high level technical expertise, multilateral collaboration, diverse perspectives and critical self-reflection. Therefore, we work with a variety of national and international specialists from different cultural, academic and professional backgrounds.

Our Lead Associates are based in different geographic and strategic regions around the world. Their role is to provide strategic and thematic advice and input on the direction of the company and may lead on projects and programmes based on their expertise.

For project and programme implementation, we further rely on an international network and expert roster of freelance consultants who possess diverse skills and areas of expertise. These experts are hand-picked based on the needs and thematic and geographic focus of the project.
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MEET

OUR TEAM

Gender Associations was co-founded by Nicola Popovic and Leigh Tomppert who work closely with the Lead Associates.

NICOLA POPOVIC

DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER
Expertise: International law, peacekeeping, security sector reform, 1325 National Action Plans.

Skills: Gender analysis, monitoring and evaluation, programme development, training.

Regional focus: Global.

Academic background: LLM in International Peace Support Operations.

Previous institutional affiliations:
UN entities, governments, NGOs.
> Biography

LEIGH TOMPPERT

DEPUTY DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER
Expertise: Human rights of vulnerable populations in conflict and post-conflict; women’s economic empowerment; gender and human rights frameworks.

Skills: Gender and policy analysis, research, programme development and management.

Regional focus: Global.

Academic background: MA Social Sciences; Msc Comparative and Cross-Cultural Research.

Previous institutional affiliations:
UN entities, NGOs.
> Biography

DANI DE TORRES

LEAD ASSOCIATE
Expertise: Security sector reform and governance, WPS, small arms and light weapons.

Skills: Project design, policy development, training, advocacy.

Regional focus: Global.

Academic background: MA in International Development.

Previous institutional affiliations: Governments, NGOs.
> Biography

RENATA GIANNINI

LEAD ASSOCIATE
Expertise: 1325 National Action Plans, the intersection between gender, conflict and the environment, WPS in undeclared armed conflict contexts; conflict related sexual violence; peace operations; security sector reform.

Skills: Gender analysis, monitoring and evaluation, programme development, training.

Regional focus: Latin America.

Academic background: PhD in International Studies

Previous institutional affiliations: Think tanks, UN entities, universities.
> Biography

MIRSAD "MIKI" JACEVIC

LEAD ASSOCIATE
Expertise: 1325 National Action Plans.

Skills: Policy Development, Training, Advocacy.

Regional focus: Global.

Academic background: MA Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.

Previous institutional affiliations:
UN entities, governments, NGOs.
> Biography

ERIKA KVAPILOVA

LEAD ASSOCIATE
Expertise: women's participation and leadership, women's economic empowernment, gender and social policy.

Skills: Gender analysis, programme development, capacity development, UN 1325 National Action Plans.

Regional focus: EU, South-Eastern Europe, Caucasus

Academic background: PhD in Social Philosophy.

Previous institutional affiliations: UN entities, governments, Academia.
> Biography

HENRI MYRTTINEN

LEAD ASSOCIATE
Expertise: Masculinities, peacebuilding, small arms and light weapons, security sector reform.

Skills: Academic and action-oriented research, advocacy, training and capacity-building.

Regional focus: Global.

Academic background: PhD Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies.

Previous institutional affiliations: NGOs, UN entities and academia.
> Biography

DUDZIRO NHENGU

LEAD ASSOCIATE
Expertise: De-colonialization, women’s political participation and resilience in fragile contexts, economic empowerment.

Skills: Academic research, community relations, programme management.

Regional focus: Sub-Saharan Africa.

Academic background: PhD Peace and Security.

Previous institutional affiliations: NGOs, UN entities and academia.
> Biography

JEN WITTWER

LEAD ASSOCIATE
Expertise: Gender mainstreaming, Women, Peace and Security, security sector reform, women’s leadership and participation, peace operations.

Skills: Policy, research, training, report writing, advising.

Regional focus: Global.

Academic background: MA International Development, GradDip Strategic Leadership, GradCert Gender, Peace and Security.

Previous institutional affiliations: UN, NATO, academia, NGOs
> Biography

ANASTAESIA MONDESIR

PROJECT ASSOCIATE
Expertise: Human rights protection of women from vulnerable groups incl. ethnic and racial minorities, Indigenous communities, and women with disabilities.

Skills: Project management, intersectional gender analysis, and human rights advocacy.

Regional focus: Global.

Academic background: MA in International Relations, conflict peace, and security.

Previous institutional affiliations:
OHCHR, Council of Europe and NGOs.

BRID JOHNEN

PROJECT ASSISTANT
Expertise: International relations, feminist foreign and defense policies, humanitarian law.

Skills: Project support, communication, research, campaigning.

Regional focus: Global.

Academic background: BA in International Relations.

Previous institutional affiliations: German Parliament.

NATASHA MULJI

FINANCE & OPERATIONS
Expertise: Operations and finance.

Skills: Accounting, project finance management, operations and logistics, relationship management, budget writing.

Regional focus: Global.

Academic background: BSc in Economics, MSc in Economics.

Previous institutional affiliations:
Mulji. N Consulting, UN entities, NGOs, Governments.

HANNAH ROSSIÉ

OFFICE SUPPORT BERLIN
Expertise: Human Resources and Officemanagement.

Skills: Organisation, communication, diplomatic, labor and social law, project management, accounting.

Regional focus: Global.

Academic background: Human Resources Officer, Diploma in Apparel Technology.

Previous institutional affiliations: Large and small companies from 5-2000 employees.

PAULINA MEDEK

INTERN
Expertise: Human and victims rights protection, prevention of gender-based violence, psychosocial support in crisis and post-conflict.

Skills: Intersectional gender analysis, mixed methods research, human rights advocacy.

Regional focus: Global.

Academic background: BSc Political Science (International Relations and Organisations), Minor in Cybersecurity and Governance.

Previous institutional affiliations: ICC, NGOs and academia.

SANNE TIELEMANS

LEAD ASSOCIATE
Expertise: UNSCR 1325 and the Women, Peace & Security Agenda, gender-responsive leadership, peacebuilding, monitoring, security sector reform.

Skills: Training, advising, gender-sensitive conflict analysis.

Regional focus: Global, Europe.

Academic background: MA in International Conflict Studies, King’s College London; BA (Hon) Liberal Arts & Sciences, University College Utrecht.

Previous institutional affiliations: EU, OSCE, NGOs.
> Biography

DIANA LÓPEZ CASTAÑEDA

LEAD ASSOCIATE
Expertise: Gender, climate security, migration.

Skills: Academic and action-oriented research, gender and policy analysis.

Regional focus: Latin America and the Caribbean.

Academic background: MA Migration and Ethnic Studies.

Previous institutional affiliations:
UN entities, governments, NGOs.
> Biography

KATYA VERA MORALES

PROJECT ASSOCIATE
Expertise: Prevention of gender-based violence, international human rights law, gender dimensions of cybersecurity, women’s digital rights.

Skills: academic research, gender analysis, policy implementation, strategic human rights litigation, social media advocacy.

Regional focus: Global.

Academic background: MA in Women’s and Gender Studies; LLM in Human Rights Law.

Previous institutional affiliations: OAS, UN entities, NGOs, governments.

DENISE HIRAO

LEAD ASSOCIATE
Expertise: International Human Rights Law, sexual and reproductive rights and health.

Skills: Programme development, organizational development, management, grant making, advocacy.

Regional focus: Latin America.

Academic background: LLM in International Human Rights Law, Law Degree.

Previous institutional affiliations: UN entities, NGOs, private foundations, Governments, law firms.
> Biography
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NICOLA POPOVIC

Co-Founder and Director of Gender Associations

Nicola has mainly focused on issues such as the implementation of UNSCR 1325, international law at the domestic and regional level, on gender-sensitive security sector reform and on the prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence in peacekeeping missions. She holds a Masters (LLM) in International Peace Support Operations, as well as a degree in Political, Social and Communication Science. Nicola has lived and worked in Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and South and West Africa. She has developed, implemented and evaluated training programmes, action-oriented research, projects, as well as policy development processes for the United Nations, different governments and NGOs.

NICOLA POPOVIC

Co-Founder and Director of Gender Associations

Nicola has mainly focused on issues such as the implementation of UNSCR 1325, international law at the domestic and regional level, on gender-sensitive security sector reform and on the prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence in peacekeeping missions. She holds a Masters (LLM) in International Peace Support Operations, as well as a degree in Political, Social and Communication Science. Nicola has lived and worked in Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and South and West Africa. She has developed, implemented and evaluated training programmes, action-oriented research, projects, as well as policy development processes for the United Nations, different governments and NGOs.