We are thrilled to announce that Marianna Leite and Martha Hungwe have joined CESR. They bring with them a wealth of experience and a shared commitment to advancing human rights and gender justice globally. Their expertise will further strengthen our work to transform the world’s economy.
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Marianna Leite joins CESR as our Director of Programs, overseeing our programmatic strategy and leading efforts to advance a Rights-Based Economy. With over two decades of experience as a lawyer, researcher, and activist, Marianna has worked to bridge grassroots realities with global policy advocacy in areas such as gender justice, economic inequality, and human rights. Before joining CESR, she served as Global Advocacy and Development Policy Manager at ACT Alliance, leading global campaigns addressing inequality and injustice. Marianna has also consulted for organizations such as CONCORD Europe and the ACT Alliance Gender Justice Programme, and previously served as a Strategic Adviser for Women’s Rights, Power, and Poverty at Christian Aid. She holds a Postdoctoral Certificate from the Center for Human Rights at the University of Coimbra, a PhD in Development Studies from Birkbeck, University of London, and a postgraduate certificate in International Human Rights Law from Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne. She also earned an LL.M. from Cornell Law School and an LL.B. from Cândido Mendes.
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Martha Hungwe joins CESR as our Program Manager for Gender Justice, where she works to bridge the intersections of economic justice, gender equality, and human rights. Martha is a macroeconomic expert with a Master’s in Economics from North West University in South Africa and over a decade of experience in policy advocacy and socio-economic rights. Previously, she has championed access to essential services, affordable housing, and decent shelter through roles at Ndifuna Ukwazi, Isandla Institute, and the Open Society Foundations. Her work has centered on using feminist, rights-based approaches to challenge inequality and ensure accountability in global policy areas such as sovereign debt, tax justice, and corporate governance.
Marianna and Martha bring bold ideas, innovative thinking, and a steadfast dedication to CESR’s mission of transforming the global economy to secure dignity, equality, and justice. Please join us in welcoming them to the CESR team as we continue to work towards a world where human rights are at the heart of the world’s economy.