MARIA JOSEP CASCANT SEMPERE
PDI-Ajudant Doctor/A
Knowledge area: SOCIOLOGY
Department: Sociology and Social Anthropology
Despatx/Office 3D08, facultat de ciències socials / faculty of social sciences
Biography
Studies
- Degree in sociology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bachelor's Degree Extraordinary Award (1999-2003)
- Erasmus grant - 1 year at the University of East London, UK (2001-2002)
- Master in gender at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Sussex University, UK (2005-2006). Fieldwork in Angola (2 months).
- PhD in international development at the IDS, Sussex University, UK (2012-2016). Fieldwork in Nigeria (6 months). Supervisors: Dr. Rosie McGee & Dr Patta Scott-Villiers. Examiners: Professor Rosalind Eyben (internacional development); Professor Donatella della Porta (social movements).
- Predoctoral scholarships: La Caixa (Master in UK); Mutua Madrileña (PhD in UK).
- Working languages. Advanced in English, French and Portuguese; native in Spanish and Valencian.
Research
- 1st six-year term certificate of research (by the Spanish government) – 2017-2022
- Reviewer in: African Identities, Arxius, Development Policy Review, Iberoamerican Journal of Development Studies, International Development Planning Review, Journal of Rural Studies, Spanish Journal of Sociology, PS: Political Sciences & Politics.
- Principal Investigator (PI) at the UV, 2025-2027 - "Citizen participation in rural areas of the Valencian Community: Open Councils and Rural Participatory Budgets" (Valencian Government, competitiva emergents, €20.000)
- Co-PI at the University of Castelló, 2022-2023 – “Citizen Participation in rural areas of Castelló” (Valencian Government, partnership, €20,000)
- PI in Milton Keynes at the Open University, postdoc, UK, 2020-2022, under the supervision of Professor Giles Mohan. Studies: “Citizen participation in fragile countries, Myanmar, Nigeria and Zimbabwe” (UKAid, competitive, £224,773) and “Feminist Agroecology in Sao Paulo Brazil" (British Council, competitive, £162,762).
- Full-time researcher in London in the research department of the NGO Christian Aid, 2016-2020. Studies: “Tax discrimination against female vendors in local markets in Nigeria” (Gates Foundation, competitive, £ 10,000); “Substitution models for coca in Peasant Reserve Zones in Colombia” (Christian Aid, own funds, £15,000) ; "Factors that contribute to the improvement of public services in remote areas of Sierra Leone” (UKAid, competitive, £15,000)
- Research member. Studies: "International municipal cooperation in the Valencian Community" with the University of Valencia (Valencian Fund); "Inequalities and youth emancipation - a global comparison" with Oxfam and the University of Lleida (Catalan Government).
- Research interests: citizen participation and deepening democracy (movements, associations, governments); international development; inequalities and poverty; participatory action research; university democratisation and university-civil society collaborations.
Outreach and international experience
- Spain - Coordination of the "Strategic Plan of International Development 2024-2026" for the University Jaume I of Castelló, Vice-Rectorate of Equality, 2023.
- Spain - Courses on citizen participation for civil servants of the Valencian administration, UV, UJI, 2023.
- Various - Research officer and freelance consultant with NGOs and unions, 2006-2012 (6 years). Training and research experience in 23 countries, including Central America, Burundi, Colombia, Philippines, Ghana, India, Morocco, DRC, and Sierra Leone.
- South Africa - Research & Evaluation Officer, Development NGO SARN, 2008 (1 year) – creation of evaluation framework on popular education, multilingual in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish (financed by the Open Society Institute, dvv, ActionAid)
- Portugal - Research officer for the Feminist NGO UMAR, 2007 (1 year) – employment discrimination against women in fishing in the Azores (financed by the Fisheries Department, Government of the Azores)
- Burundi - Research Intern in the NGO CONCERN, 2006 (3 months) – study on catch-up classes in primary education in a postconflict context.
- Belgium, France & Portugal - Research Intern in popular education and gender equality with youth and feminist associations, 2003-2005 (2 years).
- Professional scholarships: Leonardo in Belgium (6 months); EU volunteering in France (1 year); Eurodysée in Portugal (6 months).
Teaching
- 1st five-year term teaching certificate "quinquenio" (by the Spanish government) – 2020-2025. Results evaluation "Docentia": excellent (200 points of 200).
- 2023-2024. Lecturer, University of València – teacher training, journalism/audiovisual comms, social work, sociology and politics, master in international development, postgraduate course in citizen participation
- 2022-2023. Lecturer, University Jaume I of Castelló – teacher training, audiovisual communication
- 2020-2022. Associate lecturer, University of Valencia – teacher training, social work, secondary school teacher training master
- 2012. Assistant lecturer, IDS, Sussex University, UK – master in participation, masters in international development
- 2008-2011 & 2020-2023. Assistant lecturer, Technical University of València – master in international development
- Teaching/thesis interests: political sociology; activism and social change; international development and decoloniality; poverty and inequalities; sociolinguistics; sociology of education; sociology of communication.
Subjects taught and teaching methods
Tutorials
| 01/09/2025 - 27/01/2026 |
| MARTES de 13:30 a 15:00 3D08-DESPATX 3D08-DESPATX FACULTAT DE CIÈNCIES SOCIALS |
| 01/09/2025 - 27/01/2026 |
| VIERNES de 13:30 a 15:00 3D08-DESPATX 3D08-DESPATX FACULTAT DE CIÈNCIES SOCIALS |
| 28/01/2026 - 31/07/2026 |
| JUEVES de 10:30 a 11:30 3D08-DESPATX 3D08-DESPATX FACULTAT DE CIÈNCIES SOCIALS |
| 28/01/2026 - 31/07/2026 |
| LUNES de 12:30 a 14:30 3D08-DESPATX 3D08-DESPATX FACULTAT DE CIÈNCIES SOCIALS |
| Observations |
| Participate in the e-tutoring programme of the Universitat de València |
Projects
Citizen action in countries with fragile and complex governance in Myanmar, Nigeria and Zimbabwe -- https://evidenceforinclusion.org/research/. 2020 - 2022. UK Aid (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). . PI: Maria-Josep Cascant Sempere (IP); Prof Giles Mohan (senior research adviser).
Foment de les activitats de les universitats públiques en matèria de participació ciutadana (investigació: 'participació ciutadana en zones rurals de Castelló') https://acomodarural.eu/participacio/. 2023 - 2023. Conselleria de Cooperación y Participación. Generalitat Valenciana. . PI: Emma Gómez Nicolau (CO-IP); Mª Josep Cascant Sempere (CO-IP).
Directora de projecte estratègic tipus I per al Vicerrectorat d'Igualtat de la UJI . Realització del Diagnòstic i Pla de Cooperació per al Desenvolupament 2024-2026. 2023 - 2023. Universitat Jaume I. . PI: Mª Josep Cascant Sempere (coordinadora de projecte).
Building Alternatives - Strengthening rural women's agroecosystems and networks https://www.christianaid.org.uk/our-work/research/building-alternatives. 2020 - 2022. British Council. . PI: Maria-Josep Cascant Sempere (IP).
Tax discrimination against female vendors in local markets in Nigeria https://www.ictd.ac/publication/do-tax-policies-discriminate-against-female-traders-a-gender-framework-to-study-informal-marketplaces-in-nigeria/. 2017 - 2018. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). . PI: Imaobong Akpan (CO-IP); Maria-Josep Cascant Sempere (CO-IP).
Substitution models for coca in Peasant Reserve Zones in Colombia. 2018 - 2018. Christian Aid NGO, I+D Department. . PI: Maria-Josep Cascant Sempere (CO-IP); Celia Dávila (CO-IP); Susana Vesga (Inv)..
Factors that contribute to the improvement of public services in remote areas of Sierra Leone https://www.christianaid.org.uk/our-work/programmes/sabi-sierra-leone. 2019 - 2019. UK Aid (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). . PI: Saiku Bah (Coord); Amanda Bangura (Coord); Maria-Josep Cascant Sempere (Inv).
Desigualtats i emancipació juvenil - comparativa global. https://www.dignajuventud.org/precarietat-juvenil/. 2022 - 2022. Generalitat de Catalunya. . PI: Isarn Pardes-Fuses (IP); Maria-Josep Cascant Sempere (Inv).
PARTICIPA-RURAL: Participación Ciudadana Rural y Despoblación: Consejos Abiertos y Presupuestos Participativos Rurales. 2025 - 2027. Generalitat Valenciana. . PI: Mº Josep Cascant Sempere; Aida Vizcaíno Estevan; Patricia García Espín.