Daniela Cocco Beltrame

Daniela Cocco Beltrame is a PhD researcher in Development Policy and Management at the University of Manchester's Global Development Institute, affiliated with MIT. She works with youth in urban social movements through the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) and Slum Dwellers International (SDI), focusing on informal settlements across seven African cities. Her research emphasizes marginalized communities, international cooperation, and intergenerational activism.

Beltrame holds a Master in City Planning from MIT, an MSc in International Cooperation and Public Policy, and a BA in Political Science. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly addressing urban poverty and equitable development.

Her research explores informal settlements' dynamics, disaster resilience, gender equality, and pandemic responses. Recent studies include coping mechanisms in Zimbabwean slums during the pandemic and community-based strategies in Freetown's informal settlements.

Beltrame has advised women-led organizations in Latin America and Africa, emphasizing participatory approaches to urban governance and disaster preparedness. She contributes to global initiatives like UNDRR's disaster risk reduction frameworks.