Dr Emma Rhule is a Senior Researcher at UNU-IIGH.
Her research interests centre around interrogating notions of what is considered evidence and who is considered an expert as part of broader efforts to shift power in global health and address structural inequity. Increasingly, that means adopting a decolonial feminist lens and exploring opportunities to integrate a futures and foresight approach into policy design.
With international collaboration experience including with partners in Kenya, South Africa, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines, Emma is passionate about working with local experts to create safe spaces to work with diverse and under-represented voices to inform decision-making processes. Prior work includes projects to increase access to and acceptability of education for refugee and migrant youth, leading community engagement workshops for early career health researchers, and using human-centred design to help policymakers better engage with young people.
Prior to joining UNU-IIGH, Emma co-led a regional social innovation consultancy, based in Malaysia, working on projects with partners spanning civil society, government, large corporations, and UN entities including UNESCAP, UNDP, and UNICEF. Before moving to Malaysia, Emma worked at the Wellcome Trust giving her insight into global health and research from a funders’ perspective.
Research Interests
- Translation of Evidence to Policy
- Gender Equality
- Health Equity
- Decolonial feminism
- Futures and Foresight
- Human Centred Design
- Education & Capacity Building
