Flavia is the Co-Director of the Master of Public Policy.
Flavia’s research and advisory work focuses on social policy, particularly in the development of gender-responsive and age-sensitive social protection systems in the Global South. Her work emphasises the critical role of these systems in addressing unprecedented challenges related to demography, technology, and climate change. She has a specific interest in social pensions, collaborating with governments and international organisations on the feasibility, design, and impact of such policies.
Flavia holds a PhD in Government and Public Administration from Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain, a MSc in Development from the University of Reading, a MSc in Corporate Governance and Business Ethics from Birkbeck, University of London, and a BA in International Relations from the University of Brasilia, Brazil
Peer-reviewed journal articles
Galvani, F. (2018) Bridging the implementation gap in poor areas: a study of how municipal socio- economic characteristics impact intergovernmental policy implementation. Social Policy and Administration 52(1):408-433.
Galvani, F. and S. Morse (2004) Institutional sustainability: at what price? UNDP and the new cost- sharing model in Brazil. Development in Practice 14(3):311-317.
Policy research and publications
The political economy of social protection reform in Angola. UNICEF Office of Research – Innocenti, Gender-Responsive and Age-Sensitive Social Protection Programme (GRASSP) (ongoing).
Towards a Social Pension for Palestine. Policy brief for the International Labour Organisation (ILO), September 2022
Ukraine Crisis: Leveraging on the Pension System. Policy brief for HelpAge International, March 2022.
“Social Protection in Older Age”. Presentation to the Swedish International Cooperation Agency (SIDA), 22 March 2022.
With Florian Juergens. “Achieving Income Security for All Zimbabweans in Older Age”. Feasibility study for the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare of Zimbabwe. ILO and HelpAge International, February 2022.
“Value Added Options to Accompany Old Age Allowance”. Presentation to the Department of Social Services (DSS), Ministry of Social Welfare of Bangladesh, 18 November 2021.
With Florian Juergens. “ Cash Plus in Older Age: Options for Improving Bangladesh’s Old Age Allowance through complementary interventions.” World Bank and HelpAge International, October 2021.
With Bustamante, M., Aliaga, F., and Osuna, F. “A claim to dignity: Ageing on the move “, UNHCR and HelpAge International, May 2021.
With Florian Juergens. “Endline evaluation of the Inclusive Social Protection and Livelihoods Programme in Myanmar”. Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT), 2021.
With Florian Juergens. “Social protection for older people during COVID-19 and beyond”. SPACE - Social Protection Approaches to COVID-19 Expert Advice (FCDO, DFAT & GIZ), 2021.
“Redes de soporte social para personas adultas mayores”. Presentation to Peruvian Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion (MIDIS), 15 October 2020.
With Florian Juergens. “Baseline Survey Report of Kenya’s Inua Jamii 70 Years and Above Cash Transfer Programme.” Ministry of Labour and Social Protection in partnership with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), HelpAge International, WFP, ILO, and UNICEF, 2020.
With Florian Juergens.” Towards a Rights-Based Social Protection System for Lebanon.” ILO and HelpAge International, 2020.
With Florian Juergens “Why social pensions? Achieving income security for all in older age.” HelpAge International, 2020.
With Florian Juergens. “Impact Evaluation of the Zanzibar Universal Pension Scheme." Ministry of Labour, Empowerment, Social Welfare, Women, Elders and Children of Zanzibar, the Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) and HelpAge International Tanzania, 2020.
With Florian Juergens. “Coverage of older people in Ethiopia's social protection system.” Irish Aid and HelpAge International Ethiopia, September 2019.
With Florian Juergens. “Achieving Income Security for Older Jordanian and Refugees”. HelpAge International, 2019.
With Florian Juergens. “Dry Zone Old Age Pension Pilot Impact Evaluation.” Livelihoods and Food Security Fund (LIFT) consortium and HelpAge International Myanmar, 2019.
With Florian Juergens and G. Spektor. “Impacts of Malawi’s Social Cash Transfer on the Lives and Livelihoods of Older People Headed Households.” HelpAge International, MANEPO and UNICEF Innocenti, 2018.
“Do cash transfers help older people to access health services?” The Lancet Global Health Blog, September 8, 2017.
With Stefanoni S. and C. Williamson. “ The impact of cash transfers on older people’s access to health in Ethiopia, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.” DFID and HelpAge International, 2017.
With Knox-Vydmanov, C. Zanzibar Universal Social Pension: Baseline Survey. DFID funded research published by HelpAge International, 2017.
With Knox-Vydmanov, C. A Study into the feasibility of a Universal Old Age Pension in Malawi. Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare of Malawi and HelpAge International, 2016.