At the Institute for Human Rights and Business (IHRB), Alejandra leads the research process in eight cities globally under the project “Building for Today and the Future: Advancing Just Transitions in the Built Environment”. This two-year project will strengthen the evidence base, build a collective narrative and vision, and influence key stakeholders to enable a just transition in the built environment.

Alejandra Rivera is passionate about helping address socio-economic inequalities through effective and ethical urbanism and urban governance. She has academic and professional experience in 10 countries and in various sectors including international projects, consulting, urban research and analysis, strategic planning, and international transport and trade analysis, among others.

She holds a B.A. in International Relations and Economics from Florida International University in Miami, USA, a Joint Master Degree in Urban Studies from 4CITIES Erasmus Mundus from 6 universities in Brussels, Vienna, Copenhagen, and Madrid, and post graduate studies on International Development from Complutense University of Madrid (UCM). 

Areas of Expertise: 

• Social urbanism 
• Human-rights approach to urban development
• International trade and economics
• Urban (social, economic, and environmental) sustainability 
• Quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Macro and lateral thinking

Interests:

• Sustainable and inclusive urban development
• Alternative urban economies
• International inequalities & post-development
• Descentralized cooperation & networks of cities