Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Laura Sofía Céspedes García

Psychologist
Bogota

Summary

Master in Culture of Peace, Conflict, Human Rights and Education from the University of Granada, Spain. Fellowship winner. Psychologist graduated from Universidad de Los Andes with an option in Philosophy. 10 Years of experience working in GBV programming. Currently working in UNFPA Humanitarian team as an MHPSS/Case Management specialist for a semi regional GBV prevention and response USAID project in Brazil, Peru and Ecuador. Experience as a professor of gender, post-conflict and qualitative research in Los Andes University. Experience in transitional justice and psychosocial support for women and LGBTI survivors of sexual violence in the context of the Colombian armed conflict. Experience in coordinating of a qualitative health research with vulnerable populations, endorsed by Mount Sinai in New York and the Cardio Infantil Foundation. Spanish, English and Portuguese speaker.

Overview

15
15
years of professional experience
3
3
Languages

Work History

Researcher

HRC-UC Berkeley, Save the Children Y Edge Effect
04.2025 - 06.2025
  • Gathered and organized information for research purposes.
  • Enhanced participant recruitment strategies, ensuring diverse and representative sample sizes.
  • Applied ethical considerations throughout all stages of the research process, safeguarding participant welfare and data integrity.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist

UNFPA LACRO Humanitarian Team
11.2021 - 03.2025
  • Provided technical assistance to staff and stakeholders' focused on strengthening capacity in areas such as GBV case management and the operation of Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS).
  • Capacity building with local actors, developing training materials and conducted workshops fostering national/institutional ownership of GBV service provision.
  • Ensured the highest level of design and implementation of interventions; providing supervision and training to project staff at all levels; and ensuring the donor and other stakeholders understood the benefits of the survivor-centered approach and methodologies employed to embed this in the services provided at the local level.
  • Collaboration with local governments to secure funding for both government entities and women-led organizations to continue providing services even after the project's abrupt end due to stop-work orders.
  • As a MHPSS specialist, I brought critical MHPSS expertise to UNFPA in the LAC region.

Psychologist Lecturer

Los Andes University
01.2018 - 01.2022
  • Teached and developed evidence-based cultural adapted social psychology interventions. tailored to individual client needs in vulnerable contexts in Colombia.
  • Trained and supervised psychology students in therapeutic practices, enhancing team competency and quality service delivery.
  • Teached gender studies in the intersection with psychology interventions.

Coordinator of Women Protection and Empowerment program

International Rescue Committee (IRC)
06.2021 - 09.2021
  • Lead on WPE strategy development/refresh and the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan by ensuring that program activities align and contribute to identified priority outcomes.
  • Provide clear technical support, supervision, training and mentoring to the WPE team, including training needed to build specialized skills in GBV case management, psychosocial support and GBV risk mitigation;
  • Ensure that WPE staff and services adhere to GBV best practice, WPE technical guidelines, professional standards and principles;
  • Strengthening community engagement and outreach including GBV risk mitigation activities;
  • Supervise the execution of relevant M&E systems and ensure regular follow-up on monitoring data relevant to WPE programs.

International Consultant in Honduras

UNFPA Honduras
03.2021 - 05.2021
  • Developed and implemented strategies to enhance GBV and reproductive health services, collaborating with local stakeholders to ensure access and quality care.
  • Develop the Honduras Standard Operational Procedure for GBV prevention and response services in humanitarian settings.

Individual Consultant -GBV Advisor Humanitarian Response team

UNFPA Colombia
06.2020 - 02.2021

Program Management, Coordination, and Supervision
• Collaborating and coordinating with stakeholders at the institutional level, including UN agencies, civil society, and implementing partners.
• Supporting national and regional programs that accelerated the abandonment of GBV, through inter-agency coordination mechanisms
• Managing and analyzing GBV data, tracked program progress on gender outcomes, and integrated best practices and new gender policies into strategic planning, leading to improved program outcomes, and compliance with donor requirements.
• Ensuring proper follow-up on expenditures and disbursements, ensuring alignment with work plans and project budgets.

Psychologist for the GBV component of the CERF/COL/HUM project

Halü Foundation
10.2019 - 01.2020
  • Company Overview: in partnership with UNFPA
  • In partnership with UNFPA

Coordinator of the Access to Justice strategy for women and LGBTIQ people

Colombian Ministry of Justice and Law
01.2018 - 05.2018
  • Developed Transitional Justice interventions for women and OSIG population
  • Coordinated communication between legal departments and stakeholders to ensure timely updates and compliance with regulations.
  • Collaborated on policy development initiatives, contributing insights from operational experiences to enhance legal frameworks.

Consultant on gender and psychosocial approach

Ministry of Justice and Law
08.2016 - 12.2017
  • Company Overview: Transitional Justice Department
  • Transitional Justice Department

Researcher-Individual Consultant

Fundación Cardioinfantil
07.2013 - 10.2014
  • Company Overview: Cardiecol Project (Funded by Colciencias)
  • Cardiecol Project (Funded by Colciencias)

Psychologist

Directorate of Human Rights and Support to Justice
01.2014 - 08.2014


  • Facilitated individual and group therapy sessions, enhancing clients' coping strategies and emotional well-being.
  • Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to create comprehensive support strategies for clients involved in the justice system.

Psychologist

Direction for LGBT Affairs
08.2012 - 01.2014
  • Company Overview: District Secretariat of Social Integration
  • District Secretariat of Social Integration

Researcher

Mount Sinai of New York, Sesame Workshop & Fundación Cardioinfantil
07.2010 - 07.2012
  • Conducted extensive literature reviews and synthesized findings to support research projects focused on human rights and child welfare issues.
  • Facilitated workshops and community engagement sessions to gather input from affected populations, enhancing the relevance of research findings in addressing real-world challenges.

Researcher

Antonio Puerto Foundation, Sesame Workshop & Cardio Infantil Foundation
12.2011 - 06.2012
  • Gathered and organized information for research purposes.
  • Presented research findings at national and international conferences, raising the profile of the institution.

Researcher

Ministry of Social Protection & Cardioinfantil Foundation
08.2010 - 12.2010

Education

Psychologist -

University of Los Andes
01.2004 - 09.2010

Bachelor - undefined

Stoneman Douglas High School
06.2003 - 06.2004

High School - undefined

Campoalegre High School
01.2000 - 06.2003

Master of Science - Culture of Peace, Conflict, Human Rights and Education

University of Granada
Spain
05.2014 - 09.2015

Program Certificate Postgraduate Degree - Systemic And Collaborative Therapy

Houston Galveston Institute
United States Of America
05.2001 -

Skills

    Team Leadership

    Project Management

    excellent teamwork skills

    Ability to handle stressful situations

    Quality assurance standards

    Responsability and commitment

Timeline

Researcher

HRC-UC Berkeley, Save the Children Y Edge Effect
04.2025 - 06.2025

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Specialist

UNFPA LACRO Humanitarian Team
11.2021 - 03.2025

Coordinator of Women Protection and Empowerment program

International Rescue Committee (IRC)
06.2021 - 09.2021

International Consultant in Honduras

UNFPA Honduras
03.2021 - 05.2021

Individual Consultant -GBV Advisor Humanitarian Response team

UNFPA Colombia
06.2020 - 02.2021

Psychologist for the GBV component of the CERF/COL/HUM project

Halü Foundation
10.2019 - 01.2020

Psychologist Lecturer

Los Andes University
01.2018 - 01.2022

Coordinator of the Access to Justice strategy for women and LGBTIQ people

Colombian Ministry of Justice and Law
01.2018 - 05.2018

Consultant on gender and psychosocial approach

Ministry of Justice and Law
08.2016 - 12.2017

Master of Science - Culture of Peace, Conflict, Human Rights and Education

University of Granada
05.2014 - 09.2015

Psychologist

Directorate of Human Rights and Support to Justice
01.2014 - 08.2014

Researcher-Individual Consultant

Fundación Cardioinfantil
07.2013 - 10.2014

Psychologist

Direction for LGBT Affairs
08.2012 - 01.2014

Researcher

Antonio Puerto Foundation, Sesame Workshop & Cardio Infantil Foundation
12.2011 - 06.2012

Researcher

Ministry of Social Protection & Cardioinfantil Foundation
08.2010 - 12.2010

Researcher

Mount Sinai of New York, Sesame Workshop & Fundación Cardioinfantil
07.2010 - 07.2012

Psychologist -

University of Los Andes
01.2004 - 09.2010

Bachelor - undefined

Stoneman Douglas High School
06.2003 - 06.2004

Program Certificate Postgraduate Degree - Systemic And Collaborative Therapy

Houston Galveston Institute
05.2001 -

High School - undefined

Campoalegre High School
01.2000 - 06.2003
Laura Sofía Céspedes GarcíaPsychologist