Introducing María José Zapata Campos: Our New Research Director 

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of María José Zapata Campos as the new Research Director at ICLD. María José brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our organization, with research that is highly relevant and beneficial across ICLD’s diverse areas of operation. 

María José shared her excitement about joining ICLD:

– “I have always greatly appreciated collaborating with ICLD as a researcher. Working together on partnership, education, and research programs has truly magnified our impact. One memorable moment for me was when officials and politicians from East African municipalities, including Kisumu’s informal settlements, convened in connection with one of our ICLD-funded research projects, likely around the year 2016. It helped put Obunga informal settlements on the map and strengthened collaboration between resident associations and the municipality in Kisumu.

I am really looking forward to continuing to work within an organization like ICLD, where local efforts make both long-term and short-term differences.” 

Currently serving as an Associate Professor at the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg since 2017, María José has made significant contributions as the Coordinator of the Managing Big Cities research program and the Grassroots for Sustainability research group. Starting on August 12, 2024, María José will assume a 70% position at ICLD for a period of two years, taking a leave of absence from her current position at the University of Gothenburg. In addition to her role at ICLD, she will also serve as the project leader for an EU-funded research project, dedicating 30% of her time to this endeavour. 

– “It feels exciting to have a research director with extensive and long experience in research on environmental and climate-related areas related to the crucial role of municipalities in making a difference for the most vulnerable,” says Johan Lilja, General Secretary of ICLD.

We are confident that María José’s extensive background and dedication to research will greatly contribute to the advancement of ICLD’s mission. Please join us in welcoming María José Zapata Campos to the ICLD team! 

A quick search of María José’s name will reveal an extensive and impressive list of accomplishments, including a multitude of published articles. Here are a few highlights: