Who We Are

Bram Frouws is the Director of the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC), currently based in the Netherlands. Between 2017 and 2021 he was based in Geneva, initially as Policy and Research Coordinator on mixed migration, after which he was appointed to establish MMC in 2018. Before moving to Geneva, Bram was living and working in the Horn of Africa for 5 years, where since early 2016 he was heading the Regional Mixed Migration Secretariat (RMMS) for East Africa & Yemen in Nairobi. Before that he was working with the RMMS as Migration Specialist and Senior Research Associate. He also worked as a Consultant on mobile populations for UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa as part of the 2014 polio response,and worked on migration research projects for IOM Kenya, the ILO, the European Commission, the Danish Refugee Council Myanmar, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other agencies. Before moving to the Horn of Africa he worked for 5 years as a policy researcher on integration, migration and labour market issues with Panteia, a Netherlands-based consultancy firm. He has authored a range of research publications (reports, papers, articles) on various migration issues, including migration trends and dynamics, irregular migration, human trafficking and migrant smuggling, migration and development and immigration detention. Bram tweets from @bramfrouws

Roberto Forin is the Deputy Director of the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC) in Geneva, and since 2022 also Head of MMC Europe. Before moving to Geneva Roberto worked as research coordinator for the Vienna-based International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) where he coordinated a research assessment on Anti-Trafficking along migration routes in Europe and acted as thematic expert on anti-trafficking in conflict and other humanitarian settings. Before that he worked in Greece as Deputy Head of Mission for the ICRC during the height of the migration crisis in 2015/2016. Roberto builds on over ten years of experience in the protection and assistance of refugees and displaced populations, having worked for the ICRC and IOM in Sudan, Colombia, Haiti, Gaza and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since 2014 Roberto has been extensively covering migration issues in the Mediterranean and North Africa as researcher. He has conducted research on involuntary immobility and migration in countries in crisis at the university of Oxford and has collaborated with the Migration Policy Centre at the European University Institute of Florence and the Humanitarian Policy Group at the Overseas Development Institute on migrant labour exploitation in Italy and lived experiences of migrants transiting through Libya, respectively. He has authored several research publications mostly focused on mixed migration, protection for people on the move and migration policies in the wider Mediterranean. Roberto tweets from @roberto_forin.

Gretel is the Finance, Grants and Administration Coordinator for the Mixed Migration Centre, based in Copenhagen. She has several years of experience in administration, finance, managing projects at Danish NGOs and in the private sector in Spain. Before joining MMC, Gretel worked at the Danish Refugee Council´s Civil Society Engagement Unit in Copenhagen as project officer and coordinator as well as administration coordinator for several years, and at Global Aktion as project manager involving the Saharawi refugees and advocacy for the Western Sahara cause for many years. She also completed an internship in the European Institute for Asian Studies in Brussels. Before that, Gretel worked several years in the private sector in Valencia, Spain in the areas of finance, HR and administration. Gretel holds a double Master´s degree in International Development Studies & Global Studies from the University of Roskilde, Denmark in 2019. Moreover, she holds two Masters´ degrees in Sociology and in Political Sciences & Administration from the University of Valencia, Spain in 2012, and a Bachelor´s degree in business from the University of Jaume I, Castellón, Spain in 2006.

Jen first joined MMC in 2018 where she led the Asia Hub as Regional Manager until 2021. She is now working as a senior research and policy consultant for the global team. Jen has worked in the migration and refugee sectors for over fifteen years in a variety of roles spanning program management, research, strategy development, monitoring and evaluation, and community development. She has worked for grass-roots organisations, national and international NGOs, and philanthropic organisations. Jen holds a European Masters of Human Rights and Democratisation completed in Venice and Vienna in 2016, and a Graduate Diploma in Evaluation from the University of Melbourne completed in 2020.

Francesco Teo Ficcarelli is the Global 4Mi and Data Coordinator based in Kampala. Formerly, he was MMC East and Southern Africa’s 4Mi Project Coordinator and MMC’s Information Management Officer in East and Southern Africa as well as North Africa. Prior to joining the MMC team he worked for a number of NGOs (IPA, REACH, ACTED, ICARDA) conducting impact evaluation studies, needs assessments and M&E in the humanitarian and development sectors. He has substantial experience in data collection methods, data management and analysis. Teo has a background in economics and international relations, holding a BA in European Studies from Royal Holloway, University of London, and a MSc in Local Economic Development from the London School of Economics.

Asma is the Global Communication Officer for the Mixed Migration Center, based in Tunis, Tunisia. Before joining MMC, Asma worked as a local press correspondent in Tunisia, covering subjects related to migration, politics and economics. She also held positions as a Research assistant, working on European and Tunisian projects, and focusing on qualitative research. Her studies took her to Paris where she graduated in Communication (MA, 2020) and in Management (BSc, 2017), spending one semester at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam in the Netherlands as an exchange student. She completed her studies with single courses in Migration & Anthropology in 2023 at the Ca’Foscari University of Venice.

Kate de Rivero is the Global Communications Coordinator at the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC). With over 20 years of experience in humanitarian work, including 15 years in public communications primarily with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Kate has expertise in developing advocacy and communications strategies on humanitarian and global health issues, as well as crisis communications. She has worked on numerous emergencies and humanitarian crises across different regions of the world, including those linked to forced displacement, migration, and refugees. Prior to this, she worked on conflict resolution and peace building for four years.
Before joining MMC, Kate worked as a consultant, conducting reviews to improve organizational strategies for humanitarian delivery and public communications. She holds a BA in International Relations and Development Studies from Sussex University, an MA in Sociology from the University of Geneva, and an MSc in Epistemology, Ethics, and Mind from the University of Edinburgh.

Sharon Mutende is a Digital Communications Expert with over eight years of experience in strategic digital engagement, multimedia storytelling, and data-driven digital strategy. Her work spans environmental justice, youth advocacy, and gender, with a strong focus on leveraging digital platforms to amplify underrepresented voices. Sharon has led impactful digital campaigns across Africa, globally and in multilateral spaces engaging in global policy processes working at the intersection of evidence-based policy and advocacy. She holds a BSc in Communication and Journalism and is currently pursuing an MA in Environmental Policy. Sharon is passionate about leveraging digital tools to drive social change and strengthen visibility for mission-driven organizations.

Abubakar Athman is the Global Information Management Specialist for the Mixed Migration Centre, based in Kampala. He oversees data quality assurance, standards compliance, and information management coordination for the global team and the Europe region. Before joining MMC, Abubakar worked as a Senior Data Officer with IMPACT Initiatives Uganda mission, supporting large-scale humanitarian data management i.e. Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessment (MSNA). He also served as a focal point for information systems. Prior to joining the humanitarian sector, Abubakar worked for several years as a software engineer and systems administrator, bringing a unique approach to his work that combines both the technical aspect of writing code with the knowledge of how systems operate at the macro level. He later worked as an ICT and robotics teacher at an international school, informing his approach to technical mentorship, staff training and capacity building. Abubakar holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from Mbarara University of Science and Technology. He has also completed certificates in Quantitative Methods, Qualitative Research Methods, and Statistics from the University of Amsterdam, as well as Programming for Data Science with R.

Nadine has worked in the humanitarian sector since 2017, specializing in crisis and displacement contexts. She brings extensive experience in research, program management, and accountability to affected populations. Prior to joining MMC, she worked with IMPACT Initiatives, where she managed research portfolios with a strong focus on multisectoral assessments and the needs of vulnerable groups. Her work has centered on designing and implementing evidence-based strategies to inform decision-making and programming, while fostering meaningful stakeholder engagement. She holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Philosophy from Saint Joseph University of Beirut.

Wassim Ben Romdhane is the Mixed Migration Project Specialist for the Middle East at the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC). Since 2017, he has worked on research in migration and internal displacement contexts across North and Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and the Middle East with humanitarian and development INGOs. Prior to joining MMC, he spent five years with IMPACT Initiatives, first as a Project Officer in Tunisia, and later managing country research portfolios in Libya, Burkina Faso, and Moldova. His work focused primarily on mixed migration, protection, disaster risk reduction, and multisectoral needs assessments. Wassim brings strong expertise in project management and applied research, specialising in evidence generation and engagement to inform humanitarian response and policy dialogue. He holds a Master’s degree in International Economics, with a concentration in International Development.

Yara Mehiar is the Data & Research Project Officer for the Middle East, based in Jordan. She is a public health and humanitarian professional with experience in research, MEAL, and program coordination. She has worked on displacement, protection, and health-related initiatives, with a focus on data collection, analysis, and evidence generation to inform humanitarian programming and policy. Prior to joining MMC, she served with CRDF Global as a Public Health Program Associate, where she managed regional workshops and coordinated multi-stakeholder initiatives. She also worked with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) as a MEAL and Research Technical Officer, leading data collection and analysis, developing monitoring tools, and building staff capacity in Jordan. Earlier in her career, she worked with UNOPS as a WASH Monitor, overseeing water quality and sanitation projects, and contributed to community outreach and research with local and international organisations.

Dr. Ayla Bonfiglio is the Head of the Mixed Migration Center Eastern and Southern Africa | Egypt and Yemen. From 2019-2022, she was the Head of MMC’s North Africa hub. For 15 years, she has worked on issues of forced migration and mobility. Her doctoral research (UNU-MERIT/Maastricht University) examined how refugees and migrants make strategic decisions about their movements in relation to higher education. In this role, she conducted several hundred in-depth interviews with refugees and migrants in Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda. In 2016, Ayla co-founded the Conflict and Education Learning Laboratory (CELL) in the Netherlands, a non-profit research foundation. Formerly, she was a Research Officer at the International Migration Institute, Oxford. She obtained an MSc in Forced Migration from the University of Oxford and a BA (Hons) in Political Science from Columbia University where she won the Charles Beard Prize for her dissertation on refugee self-reliance. She has worked and carried out research in a number of countries across North and Sub-Saharan Africa, and for a variety of organizations, including GIZ, ICMPD, IOM, UNESCO, UNODC, and UNHCR.

Lavina Ranjan is the Data and Research Project Manager for the Eastern & Southern Africa region, based in Nairobi, where she manages data collection projects from Egypt to South Africa focusing on children and youth on the move, climate related mobility, movement intentions and returns. Previously, Lavina worked at Chatham House as Progamme Manager for the Environment and Society Programme where she oversaw programme management for research projects covering the climate and energy transition, circular economy, and sustainable food/land/natural resources solutions. Before Chatham House, Lavina worked in the humanitarian and development sector in South Sudan, South Africa and the Caribbean with Canadian Red Cross, IOM, IFRC, Johns Hopkins and REACH where she gained experience in data collection in humanitarian settings, running large scale analyses and dissemination to various stakeholders. Lavina is an epidemiologist with a specialty in climate change and health and WASH in humanitarian settings.

Jim van Moorsel is the Research Coordinator with MMC East and Southern Africa, specialised in qualitative migration research and migration policy and programming engagement. Prior to joining this region, he was with MMC focusing on mixed migration research in North Africa for 2 years. Previously, he worked as a Migration Assessment Officer on Libya and Tunisia with REACH Initiative. His experiences also include providing support to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Tbilisi, Georgia, on projects related to public administration reform, good governance and inclusive societies, and to the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) on the EUROMED Migration IV Programme, in Valletta, Malta. During his studies, he volunteered at the Dutch Refugee Council, contributing to a local community-based project targeting Eritrean asylum seekers in the Netherlands. Jim holds a BA in Romance Languages and Cultures and an MSc in Globalisation, Migration and Development (Human Geography) from Radboud University (Nijmegen, The Netherlands). For his master thesis, he carried out research in Spain and Morocco on the multi-faceted perception of borders by refugees and migrants.

Joseph Mwangi is MMC Eastern and Southern Africa’s Information Management Specialist, where he’s responsible for data management, analysis and generating reports on mixed migration trends. Joseph enjoys using data analytics to drive sustainable development and action and has been working in the development and humanitarian sectors as a data analyst consultant & data management officer for various projects across Sub-Saharan Africa for more than 5 years. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Applied Computer Science.

Caroline Moraa is a Research Specialist at the Mixed Migration Centre. She is a seasoned migration and development professional with experience in migration research, program implementation, and stakeholder engagement across East Africa. Caroline brings a blend of qualitative and quantitative research expertise, grounded in a deep understanding of migration trends along the Eastern Route. Her work is informed by an academic background in International Relations and Development Studies, alongside specialized training in migration data and project management. Her thesis explored Green Mobility in Developing Cities, reflecting her interest in the intersections between mobility, urban development, and sustainability. In addition to her research credentials, Caroline brings several years of experience in marketing, communications, and brand strategy, having previously served as Head of Marketing and Customer Relations at the Kenya Rugby Union. Her marketing background complements her development work by enhancing stakeholder engagement, advocacy, and public-facing communication strategies. Caroline has led extensive field research across Kenya, working closely with refugee-led organizations and marginalized communities to uncover nuanced migration dynamics. Her insights have shaped high-impact policy recommendations and contributed to evidence-based programming at both national and regional levels. Previously, she played a key role at the Kenya National Coordination Mechanism on Migration, facilitating inter-agency collaboration, drafting migration policy frameworks, and coordinating capacity-building initiatives that advanced safe, orderly, and regular migration.

Tracy Haggai is a Research Specialist with MMC Eastern and Southern Africa, Egypt and Yemen based in Nairobi, Kenya. She has 5 years of experience in conducting qualitative research and implementing projects on issues of child mortality, depression in deaf adults, the social dimensions of renewable energy, memory studies, queer studies and migration studies. Tracy has a proven track record in developing diverse research designs, steering data collection, analysing qualitative data and presenting findings to a variety of audiences. She has published in the Journal of Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability on the Social and Economic Impact of Solar Mini-Grids in Rural Africa. Prior to joining MMC as the Research Specialist, she was a Consultant Researcher for KU Leuven on their EU-funded TMSS project that focuses on tracing the trajectories of migrants from the Great Lakes region in Africa. Tracy has a BA in Anthropology from the University of Nairobi. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Arts (MA) in Anthropology of Conservation at the University of Nairobi.

Joan is a Project Officer with MMC Eastern and Southern Africa, Egypt and Yemen based in Nairobi, Kenya, responsible for the coordination and support of enumerators, data collection and other 4Mi project activites. Having worked in both humanitarian and development settings, Joan has over 6 years of experience in protection mainstreaming, case management, sexual and reproductive health, child protection, GBV, Mental Health and Psychosocial support, research, capacity building and partnership support and management. Previously, Joan worked with the Danish Refugee Council in Kenya as a Protection Officer for an Urban Program funded by Danida, SIDA and DMDP. In this role, she took the lead on mainstreaming, designing and implementing protection activities for a Fair Recycling project, Gender Based Violence, Child Protection, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Protection Monitoring, coordination and partnership management. She has also worked with DREAMS, a USAID-funded project, VSO Jitolee, Swiss Tropic and Public Health institute as a research consultant and Unbound Kenya. Joan is a sociologist and holds an Masters in Medical Sociology and Bachelors in Social Work.

Barbara Ngianah is a Project Specialist with the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC), supporting the technical coordination and delivery of quantitative and mixed-methods research under the 4Mi programme. In her role, Barbara supports end-to-end research implementation; from feasibility-informed project design and tool development to enumerator training, fieldwork supervision, data quality assurance, and analysis. She provides technical oversight to country-level data collection teams and partners, ensuring adherence to standard operating procedures, ethical research standards, and donor requirements. Her work contributes to high-quality analytical outputs, including research reports, data visualisations, infographics, and donor-facing products. She brings strong expertise in Data Management Systems, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research across migration, displacement, livelihoods, social inclusion, and humanitarian programming having worked with international NGOs and research programmes in fragile and displacement-affected settings, including refugee-hosting contexts. She holds a BA in Medical Sociology and a MA in Project Planning and Management, with a strong interest in evidence-informed policy, protection-sensitive research, and improving the use of data for migration governance and humanitarian decision-making.

Simon Tomasi is a geographer with an M.A. in international cooperation and sustainable development and a M.A in geography of health. Before joining MMC, Simon has worked in public and private institutions in different countries as field monitor, fieldwork coordinator and researcher. He has experience in research and intervention projects, mainly about undernutrition, vector born diseases, epidemiological surveillance and community participation in health. Simon has worked in Colombia for over 5 years, in various territorial contexts and with vulnerable populations.

Maria Camila Leon is a political scientist with specialized studies in human rights, international humanitarian law, and project management and extensive experience in investigation, data collection, and protection. She also has extensive experience in academic research and community communication within government agencies. Prior to joining MMC, she worked with DRC for nearly two years, where she implemented protection monitoring and provided humanitarian assistance to refugees, migrants, and victims of the armed conflict in Colombia.

Laura De la Cruz Campo is a 4Mi Specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC). She is an economist with over eight years of experience in data analysis, information management, and reporting within humanitarian and development contexts. Her work focuses on strengthening evidence-based responses to mixed migration through data collection, analysis, and coordination with key stakeholders.

Before joining MMC, Laura worked with UNHCR and IOM in Colombia, where she led the production and validation of analytical reports, supported inter-agency coordination processes, and contributed to strategic planning through data-driven insights. She has extensive experience in monitoring and evaluating humanitarian responses and ensuring data quality and consistency across information systems.

Laura has also led capacity-building processes for field data collection teams and contributed to the development of tools and methodologies to improve data reliability. Her experience includes close collaboration with government institutions, international organizations, and NGOs in the context of mixed migration and displacement in Colombia.

Aurélia Donnard is the Head of the Mixed Migration Centre for West and North Africa, roles she has held since 2020 and 2022 respectively, and is based in Dakar, Senegal. For over 15 years, Aurélia has worked in the NGO sector on issues related to human rights, protection, and mobility. She began her career at Amnesty International before joining the Senegal-based organisation Tostan, where she worked on programmes focused on social norms change. In her current role, Aurélia oversees the development and implementation of research initiatives, partnerships, and projects aimed at improving protection and outcomes for people on the move across West and North Africa. Aurélia holds a BA in Law and an LL.M. in International Law from Aix-Marseille III University, France.

Sarah Doyel is the Data and Research Project Manager for the Mixed Migration Centre’s West and North Africa region, based in Dakar. She manages data collection and research projects across the Central Sahel and from Mauritania to Libya. Prior to joining the MMC, Sarah worked with the Migration and Sustainable Development Unit in the International Organization for Migration (IOM) headquarters, delivering policy analysis, trainings, and tools to support the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration. Sarah has also managed a direct services programme in the US facilitating access to social protection for marginalised groups. She holds an MSc in International Migration and Public Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Imen Aouani is the Tunisia 4Mi Project Coordinator at the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC) in North Africa, where she manages a network of field enumerators situated along frequently used mixed migration routes in Tunisia and was acting focal point for establishing a data collection architecture in Sudan. Imen joined MMC in 2017 after working with the African Development Bank as a Research Assistant. She is specialised in quantitative and qualitative data collection and data collection software, training in data collection techniques, aggregation and modelling. Imen has a Master’s in Business and Economic Management from the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania in Greece (MAICH) and a BSc in Rural Economics from the Higher School of Agriculture in Mograne, Tunisia.

Abdoul Karim joined the MMC team in August 2021 as MMC Specialist in Niger. After his university studies in sociology at the Abdou Moumouni University of Niger, Abdoul Karim worked as a research assistant at the Laboratoire d’Etudes et Recherches sur les Dynamiques Sociales et le Développement Local (LASDEL), where he acquired significant experience in the collection and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data. He has participated in several research programmes, including AFROBAROMETRE, an international network of researchers. He was also the field officer of a national research firm, which enabled him to acquire multi-skills with increased knowledge in strategic planning, team management and database management among others.

Seydou joined the MMC team in September 2021 as MMC Coordinator in Burkina Faso. After obtaining a master’s degree in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at the University of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, Belem participated in several surveys with various organisations, including the National Institute of Statistics and Demography (INSD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), first as an interviewer and then as a supervisor. He worked as a database management and mapping assistant at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and as a protection information management assistant at the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). He has gained a solid experience in data collection coordination, quality control and data analysis. He also has a good knowledge of migration issues in Burkina Faso.

Hiba Belhadj is the MMC Research Specialist for West and North Africa (WANA). She holds a master’s degree in Migration and Refugee Studies and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the American University in Cairo (AUC). Before joining MMC, Hiba worked as a research assistant on several projects with the Center for Migration and Refugee Studies (CMRS), where she focused on the EuroMed and Middle East regions. Hiba also served as a teacher assistant for courses covering “Migration and Refugee Movements in the MENA” and “Migration and International Development.” In addition to academia, Hiba interned with the Migrant Protection and Assistance (MPA) unit at the Egypt country office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as well as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) representative office in Egypt.

As MMC WANA Regional Research Coordinator, Thibaut’s role is to promote high-impact research that informs migration policy and programming in West and North Africa. With a diverse background combining project and research management, he has experience working with both international NGOs and UN agencies. In each context in which he has worked (Tunisia, Rwanda, Lebanon and others), he has been committed to building an evidence-based, nuanced and shared understanding of sensitive issues such as mixed migration, social cohesion, violent extremism, and conflict.

Ndongo Diouf is a specialist in Geographic Information Production and Management, and database management, with in-depth expertise in spatial analysis, mapping and monitoring of disaster-related loss and damage. Holder of a Specialized Graduate Diploma in Geographic Information Production and Management, a master’s degree in Spatial Planning and a certification in Climate Change, he has collaborated with several organizations, including the Directorate of Civil Protection, the UNDP, the AGRHYMET Regional Center, Gaston Berger University, and the National Agency for Statistics and Demography. His career has led him to manage resilience projects, coordinate surveys and develop digital decision-making tools. Passionate about data and its impact on planning, he puts his know-how into the service of sustainable development and risk management. Engaged in scientific and humanitarian work, Ndongo Diouf has participated in mapping projects with CartONG and Missing Maps and is a member of the National Post-Disaster Assessment Team (PDNA) in Senegal. His skills and commitment make him a key player in sustainable development and climate resilience in Africa.

Rokhaya Coulibaly is the Regional Finance Specialist for MMC WANA. Her work focuses on issues related to financial management, monitoring, and contract and budget management. Rokhaya graduated in economics with a specialization in financial management. She has skills in financial accounting, cost accounting, financial management, and taxation, as well as grants and partnerships management.

Mathilde is the Mixed Migration Centre Program Assistant Trainee for West and North Africa (WANA). Prior to joining the MMC, Mathilde worked in various contexts with different organizations within migration and refugee protection fields, both in France and internationally (Greece and Thailand in particular). She has experience in grants and project management, social work and communication. Throughout her studies Mathilde has conducted multiple research projects, mostly based on qualitative data. She holds an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree Program in International Humanitarian Action (NOHA) and a bachelor’s degree in political sciences from the Political Studies Institute of Bordeaux as well as a University Degree in Psychiatry and Mental Health from the University of Paris and a University Degree in Migration, Social and Health studies from the University of Lyon 1.