How can we best protect people displaced for environmental reasons? In this episode María José Maldonado and Natalie Jade Catanach interview Manuel Marques Pereira, Head of Division of Migration, Environment, and Climate Change and Risk Reduction, at the International Organisation for Migration (IOM – UN Migration). Mr. Pereira discusses the protection risks associated with climate-related migration, the difficulties in disentangling the environment from different causes of movement, the role of the IOM in responding to this type of movement, and the importance of fostering ‘resiliency literacy’ that also accounts for the needs and aspirations of local communities.

Manuel Marques Pereira has served as Head of Division for Migration, Environment, Climate Change and Risk Reduction at IOM headquarters since August 2021. Prior to his current appointment, Manuel served in IOM Bangladesh from 2018-2021 as Deputy Chief of Mission and Head of Office in Cox Bazar for the Rohingya Refugee Response. Manuel’s previous postings with IOM include, National CCCM Cluster Coordinator in Iraq during the Mosul Response, Regional Programme Manager on Displacement Capacity Building for Governments in six Southern Africa countries and Humanitarian Shelter Operations in the Philippines after Haiyan Cyclone. Prior to that he also worked with Shelter, Displacement Management and Early Recovery Programmes in Pakistan for several years and served in Timor Leste with IOM, UNDP and the Portuguese Embassy, he started his career in the private sector. Manuel is a Portuguese national and holds a master’s degree in Emergency Practice and Development from the Oxford Brookes University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Engineering from a Portuguese University. He speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish, French and Tetum.

María José Maldonado is an MSc candidate in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies at the London School of Economics & Political Science. Also, she is a Non-Resident Research Fellow in Peace & Security at the Global Governance Institute. Her research and work are focused on peacebuilding and international development, countering organised crime and terrorism, violent extremism, the risks and impact of misinformation and disinformation, and forms of governance of non-state armed groups. Previously, she was the Programme Manager of the Institute for Economics & Peace for Europe, Middle East, and North Africa. With over 5 years of experience in workshop and event coordination, she is an experienced public speaker, workshop facilitator, and moderator in topics related to international security, development, peace, and humanitarianism (ex. One Young World Munich Summit 2021). She holds a BA in Global Communication with a Minor in European Peace and Security Studies and a BA in International Affairs from Vesalius College – Brussels School of Governance in Brussels, Belgium.   

Natalie Jade Catanach is completing her MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies. Previously, Natalie studied Politics, Law and Economics at IE University in Spain. Natalie's previous experience has been in environmental and cultural mediation, refugee assimilation, public relations and politics, and advocacy. She has a particular interest in the consequences of environmental degradation for both displaced peoples and international organizations. Natalie is passionate about understanding these issues from a humanitarian lens, while looking towards an international legal framework for solutions.