Which program did you graduate from and when? :
M.A. Human Rights Studies, 2025
Please share a bit about yourself and the work that you do
My name is Johanna Wassong and I graduated from ISHR with my M.A. in human rights studies in 2025. I am now a researcher and consultant specialising in questions about post-conflict reconstruction and forced displacement. I have gained experience in various international organisations, NGOs and research & policy institutes. I am currently at the Nexus Academy in the Crisis Bureau at UNDP, working on the intersection of humanitarian, development and peace actions. At the Nexus Academy, I conduct research, as well as assist with the knowledge management of diverse data sets on the HDP Nexus knowledge & case studies.
What else have you done since you graduated from the program?
I am also a strategic analyst for the African Lab for International Affairs and Prospectives. At ALIAP we believe in integrating strategic foresight methods at the core of humanitarian action, peacebuilding, protracted crisis management and the analysis of international dynamics in Africa. We believe that local actors should be at the forefront of response, contributing to reshaping and transforming sustainable futures. In November we concluded a successful two-week training in Ithuri Province in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on ‘localisation, peace and resilience’. This training program is a pilot project that we intend to replicate in areas experiencing prolonged crises where we operate (including the Great Lakes Region, the Lake Chad Basin, the Horn of Africa and the Sahel.
What was your research focus during your time at Columbia? What drew you to this particular issue/set of issues?
My research focus during my time at Columbia was post conflict reconstruction. Specifically, I focused on forced displacement transitional justice, peace & conflict studies, and the HDP Nexus. My M.A. Thesis focused on the peace dimension of the HDP nexus and how this is implemented in Dadaab Refugee Camp Complex in Kenya.
Can you describe any volunteer or extracurricular activities that you have been a part of during your time at Columbia and how this experience has impacted you?
Firstly, completing the Human Rights Research Award with Professor Jacqueline Dugard had a significant impact on me. Working on a land & housing project with her inspired to pursue research further, focusing on synthesising reports and expert opinions on land & housing rights during conflict, alternatives to privatisation, and the right to affordable housing. I really enjoyed working within the ‘Prevention Project’ and with Professor Dugard.
Secondly, with the help of the Miller’s Human Rights Award, I completed an internship at Samuel Hall, a social enterprise in Nairobi, Kenya. Within the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning Team I worked on a range of M&E projects, including addressing humanitarian demining and gender dynamics in healthcare. I learnt to apply multiple monitoring & evaluation frameworks on cross-country and cross-thematic studies.
Through these experiences I have developed a strong interest in research and policy.
What is a must-read for a human rights student?
East-West Street, Phillippe Sands
