MY FOREIGN AFFAIRS CHAIR

Maria Montero Arce

·        As a specialist in International Relations, at present I work as international consultant in Democratisation and Human Rights monitoring and reporting, election observation, formulating recommendations, advocacy, drafting, negotiating with authorities at ministerial levels. Active since 1997, I have become familiar with the UN humanitarian and peace-keeping operations, field coordination mechanisms, inter-agency processes, as well as international humanitarian policy-setting, standards, and accountability frameworks and initiatives and specialised in humanitarian studies/evaluations and short-term missions. Particularly interested in promoting humanitarian accountability and ensuring that evaluation findings are immediately useful for their users at both policy-making and implementation levels.

I hold a degree in history from Autónoma University of Madrid that was further developed with a Master in International Relations and a PhD in Eastern European Studies from the University Research Institute, Ortega and Gasset, attached to the Complutense University of Madrid and a diploma in International cooperation from Diplomacy School of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. I also hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (CAP) from Complutense University and have been trained in Electoral and Peace-keeping observation.

The scope of my work has encompassed technical assistance in conflict-related emergencies and peace-keeping operations. At field level I was sent by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work for UN, OSCE, EU and OAS to Albania, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Indonesia, Macedonia and Serbia and have participated as long and short term expert for different Election Observation Missions. I also worked with UNHCR in the refugee and humanitarian crisis in Albania and Kosovo and have gained research and education experienced and collaborated with other private organisations and non for profit institutions in Madrid, London and Brussels.