Promoting the protection and reparation of conflict-affected populations by strengthening public policy implementation in transitional contexts in Colombia.

Michelle Cartier works with the International Organization for Migration, where she implements projects addressing the causes and consequences of internal displacement from armed conflict. As team lead, she runs field operations, working with local governments and communities across seven cities in Colombia to achieve lasting solutions for internally displaced people. Through participatory processes and facilitating engagement with local government, they take policy innovation to the local level to shift how government bodies address internal displacement and ensure that policies respond to the needs of IDPs. Through the Scholars program, Michelle aims to deepen her understanding of participatory methods for program design, implementation, evaluation, and learning in post-conflict contexts to further support IDP groups and advocate for scaling up these inclusive policies.

Michelle holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from Universidad de los Andes, in Colombia, as well as a Master’s Degree in Political Science -with a focus on Political Economy of International Development- from the University of Toronto. She also completed a certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies at Makerere University in Uganda, as a Rotary Peace Fellow (2022-2023).