Our recent International Development alumna, Carmen Morant Albelda, has published her first academic paper (developed from her Master's thesis) with Latin American and Caribbean Studies (한국외국어대학교 중남미연구소; Institute of Latin America Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies). Albeda currently serves as an intern at Green Climate Fund.

Abstract: The historical marginalization of Indigenous populations in Latin America is exacerbated by environmental degradation, and also by often unjust development initiatives. Against this backdrop, this study conducted a critical analysis of Spanish aid-supported projects, with a focus on identifying the presence (or absence) of essential climate justice indicators. The research methodology entails a comprehensive desk review employing a content analysis of 13 energy projects in Latin America. Our proposed climate justice framework includes four categories: (i) acknowledgment of historical injustices, (ii) inclusion and participation of vulnerable [Indigenous] communities, (iii) capacity-building, and (iv) job creation for Indigenous communities. The findings highlight the lack of transformative nature of the analyzed projects: over half of the projects demonstrated positive outcomes in one category only, with only a single project scoring positively in all four categories. The inclusion and participation of Indigenous groups were observed in less than half of the projects, while most projects provided capacity-building opportunities. This research adds to a critical perspective in examining aid projects by suggesting a decolonial and just transition perspective.

Link to the article (published Feb 2024)

https://www.kci.go.kr/kciportal/ci/sereArticleSearch/ciSereArtiView.kci?sereArticleSearchBean.artiId=ART003055895