Name: Prof. Fortunata Songora Makene

Title: Head of Strategic Research and Publications

Fortunata Songora Makene joined ESRF in 2016 as a Senior Researcher and Head of Strategic Research and Publications at ESRF. She previously taught Sociology, Global Studies, and Women Studies at Clark University (2006) and Worcester State University (2007-2015)-USA. She also worked in the secretariat that crafted Tanzania Development Vision 2025. Prof. Makene is a sociologist and gender expert with a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Minnesota, USA, Masters of Science in Social Responsibility (concentration: Sociology, Human Relations, and Women Studies) from St. Cloud State University-USA, and BA in Sociology from the University of Dar Es Salaam.

Her research interests are social protection and human rights (specifically children [girl child] and women rights), development, and urbanization. In particular, her work is rooted primarily in sociology but incorporates elements of law and anthropology. To date, her research has focused on how policies are experienced on the ground in varied contexts by vulnerable populations and empowerment of these vulnerable groups through education and economic empowerment.

Throughout her career, Prof. Makene has worked on policy research promoting socio-economic reforms and advance gender equity and women and girls (economic) empowerment, children and adolescent rights to education, health, and well-being, Gender-Based Violence, Violence against Women, and Children including child marriage, urbanization and right to the city. Prof. Makene is a PI on several collaborative research projects with local and international partners including UNICEF, University of Dar Es Salaam, University of Edinburgh, Open University of UK, University of Johannesburg, Norwegian School of Economics, and London School of Economics.