Experts on countries of origin by surname

Dimitris Dalakoglou is a Full Professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He is one of the top cited authors on Balkan studies and Eastern European studies. His research focuses on Albania and Greece and he has authored over a hundred publications including expert reports, book monographs, peer-reviewed articles, and documentary films. His research has been featured in several international media including the Guardian, Channel 4, Washington Times. He is a COI expert for Albania and Greece since 2014 in the Right to Exile Programme and has provided expertise reports since 2008.

Tunggul Ganggas Danisworo is a high-level Indonesian government policy advisor and scholar known for his strategic insights and cross-sectoral coordination in national security and political affairs. With a strong theoretical foundation in discourse analysis and a decade of hands-on planning experience, he has helped shape critical national planning documents and reforms. His recent publication on religious moderation reflects his academic rigor and commitment to inclusive governance. Tunggul’s rare ability to translate theory into policy and drive institutional transformation marks him as a valuable contributor to public sector modernization, democratic dialogue, and national policy innovation.

Dr. Daryn is a social anthropologist (Ph.D. Cambridge 2002), with expertise on the culture, society, history, and politics of South Asia. His acquaintance with South Asia spans over 36 years, including 18 years of living in Nepal and India. Dr. Daryn’s experience includes prolonged spells of fieldwork and research in Nepal, as well as work in various international organisations there. As a British Academy postdoctoral fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies (The University of London, 2003-6) Dr. Daryn  also taught the MA course: “The Anthropology of South Asia”. He became closely acquainted with asylum seekers, including Bangladeshis, Burmese, Tibetans, Sri Lankan and Pakistanis, while working in UNHCR’s Kathmandu office (Nepal) during 2008-9 as an Associate Durable Solutions Officer. In this capacity Dr. Daryn went through UNHCR’s Country of Origin information on south asian countries, read in detail many private refugee files, and became familiar with the RSD process. Furthermore, Dr. Daryn also conducted focus group discussions and interviews with many refugees, and held detailed discussions with them. Since then, he has been focusing on the study of human rights in South Asian countries. From 2005 onwards, Dr. Daryn has served as an Expert Witness in… Read more

Dr. Gil Daryn brings over two decades of hands-on and academic experience in anthropology, human rights, and refugee policy, with work spanning globally significant regions including South Asia, the Middle East, and the UK. His fluency in English, Hebrew, and Nepali enhances his cultural dexterity, making him uniquely capable of navigating complex humanitarian contexts. With a Ph.D. from Cambridge and a record of collaboration with global organizations like UNHCR and The Carter Center, Dr. Daryn’s insights are both academically grounded and practically impactful. He demonstrates strong leadership in multicultural environments and a track record of delivering high-quality ethnographic and policy research. This rich blend of analytical depth and real-world experience makes him an exceptional candidate ready to contribute meaningfully to your team’s objectives.

Luis Fernando De León is a committed legal advisor and international diplomat whose career spans courtrooms, classrooms, and conflict zones. With deep roots in humanitarian law and hands-on experience in some of the most sensitive political environments in Latin America, Luis brings clarity, diplomacy, and legal precision to every mission he undertakes. Whether he’s drafting protection policy, training peacekeepers, or advising on constitutional reform, he leads with empathy and intellect. His multilingualism, international education, and proven leadership make him a top-tier candidate for roles requiring cross-cultural expertise and legal foresight. He is not only qualified—he is impactful.

The Expert is an academic researcher with expertise in studying Nigeria and also Chad, Cameroon and Niger – they primarily focus in their research on politics and religion in Nigeria. The Expert has more than a decade’s worth of experience in conducting research in West-Central Africa.

I am a social and medical anthropologist who has worked in the field of global health for over 25 years.  I lived in Eastern and Southern Africa for 22 years, where I worked with government and other institutions including NGOs, the National Institute for Health Research (Tanzania), the Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Research Programme (Malawi).  I have extensive experience of social and health related research and fieldwork in rural and urban communities.  I have conducted fieldwork in medical anthropology on social and health risks including on treatment seeking, disease interpretation, traditional religio-cultural beliefs, social networks, social status (reputation), social position, stigma and discrimination.   

I am a National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Global Research Professor based within the Department of Global Health and Development at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).  I have a portfolio of research across geographies and diseases with a primary focus on sub-Saharan Africa and am strongly committed to supporting capacity strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa.  I hold a number of external positions including on funding panels and the World Health Organisation (WHO) HIV… Read more

Precious Diagboya, Philosopher by training, from University of Ibadan and is also a Senior Research Fellow of IFRA, Nigeria. Her research focuses on migration policies, gender based violence, and human trafficking from Nigeria to Europe. She has been involved in several international research projects, including with IFRA, but also with UNODC, African Union Commission, Global initiative for transnational organized crime, and the European Commission, on human trafficking practices. She conducted extensive ethnographic fieldwork, both in Nigeria and in Europe. Her current work focuses on the aftermath of human trafficking from Nigeria to Europe and the understanding of migration and mobility patterns in Nigeria.

An accomplished nonprofit leader, educator, and human rights advocate with over 15 years of experience driving community development, public health initiatives, and social justice programs across Belize and the United States. Specializes in behavior change communication, human rights documentation, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), anti-trafficking coordination, and youth empowerment. A certified primary educator with experience in both Belize and the U.S. educational systems, with a strong background in curriculum development, multigrade instruction, and leadership within multicultural settings. Skilled in organizational governance, strategic planning, research methodologies, and advocacy for marginalized groups. Recognized for bridging grassroots mobilization with policy-level impact, and for fostering collaboration among government, civil society organizations, and international agencies.

Ana María Diez de Fex is a deeply experienced policy expert, legal researcher, and education program manager whose work reflects a strong commitment to social justice, human rights, and civic education. Trained as a lawyer and public policy specialist, she has held strategic roles in Colombia’s Congress, constitutional court, and reparations institutions designing responses for conflict victims and contributing to democratic reform. Her transition into educational leadership in Spain underscores her adaptability and vision in building bridges between civil society and schools. Ana María brings both analytical rigor and grassroots understanding to her work, supported by cross-cultural fieldwork and international training. Her career demonstrates an exceptional capacity to translate complex legal and political issues into actionable, community-rooted solutions.

Dr. Kristen Drybread is an anthropologist specializing in Latin American studies; political and legal anthropology; studies of race, gender and sexuality; and international prison studies. She is currently a graduate writing specialist and lecturer in Anthropology at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dr. Drybread earned her Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology from Columbia University and has held postdoctoral research appointments at the Center for the Study of Violence at the University of São Paulo and in the Drugs, Security, and Democracy Program of the Social Science Research Council. She has conducted extensive ethnographic fieldwork in Brazilian prisons, courts, drug treatment centers, and children’s shelters. Her research addresses topics including gender-based violence, political corruption and white collar crime, drug trafficking and treatment, children’s rights, and prison administration. 

Darlène Dubuisson is a Haitian-American anthropologist specializing in political and legal anthropology, transnational and migration studies, and Haitian Studies.

Dr. Dubuisson is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh in the Department of Anthropology. She holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. in Anthropology from Columbia University and a MA in International Educational Development from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has ten years' research experience on Haitian migrants, immigrants, and refugees and is currently working on a co-authored manuscript on Haitian temporary protected status (TPS) holders. 

Kendra Dupuy is a social science researcher and Assistant Professor of African politics. She has expertise with quantitative & qualitative research on energy, climate change, environment, natural resource management, democracy, human rights, civil society, education, and forced migration. She is a certified project manager, technical writer, and program & project evaluator. She has has deep expertise in the African region and specifically on countries in West Africa, East Africa, southern Africa, and the DR Congo.

Elizabeth Durham is a medical and political anthropologist who has been working in the Republic of Cameroon since 2012, and providing refugee and asylum support through country-of-origin expertise since 2013. She specializes in expert reports on HIV/AIDS and mental illness in Cameroon, and on the conflict commonly known as the Anglophone Crisis. She holds a PhD in anthropology from Princeton University and is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and a Fellow in the Society of Fellows at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.