Sheida Besozzi

Sheida Besozzi is a Research Staff Member at Hegoa, Institute for Development Studies and International Cooperation, and a Lecturer in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of the Basque Country, within the Faculty of Labour Relations and Social Work. Her work bridges academic research with practical applications in international development and cooperation.

Her educational background includes:

• Bachelor's degree in Development Studies and Spanish from the University of Sussex (2010)
• Master's degree in Globalization and Development from the University of the Basque Country (2012)

Dr. Besozzi's research focuses on transnational migration, diaspora studies, resistance studies, and gender and feminist studies, with particular emphasis on the Middle East and Iran. Her work explores how diaspora communities maintain connections across borders while engaging in political activism and identity formation. She examines the intersection of gender, migration, and resistance, particularly how women navigate transnational spaces to advocate for human rights and social justice.

Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on diaspora activism, peacebuilding, and feminist methodologies. The works show a progression from theoretical explorations of diaspora studies toward more applied research on conflict sensitivity and women's rights advocacy. Several publications examine the role of diasporas in peace processes and human rights advocacy, with particular attention to methodological approaches in feminist research on migration.

She is actively involved in research projects related to:

• Strengthening women defenders of truth, justice, and reparation (2022)
• Specialized resources for women human rights defenders in conflict zones (2020)

Dr. Besozzi is a member of the Research Group on Human Security, Local Human Development and International Cooperation of the Basque university system (IT1037-16), contributing to collaborative research on development and cooperation issues.