Our team members

PIL Associate with a decade of experience in EU development cooperation, teaching and research, coupled with five years of expertise in monitoring and evaluation. Having completed her MA in Latin American studies, Ieva embarked on a diverse professional journey. She collaborated with EU institutions dedicated to Latin America’s development while pursuing her academic career, gaining a PhD in Political science from Vilnius University. Currently, Ieva wears two hats: she actively collaborates with PIL as an evaluator with a keen interest in utilizing participatory research methods and presenting data creatively. Alongside her evaluation work, she teaches and researches EU foreign policy and Latin America’s social and political development. Currently, she is wrestling with a book project that compares US and EU Southern Neighbourhood policies. Thematically, Ieva's areas of interest encompass human rights, democratization, social development, migration, and the environment. Geographically she has worked mostly in Eastern Partnership and Latin American countries.

While working as an evaluator, it can be challenging to measure your impact. The process involves preparing reports, presenting findings, and hoping that the observations prove useful and make a difference in the work of your clients. Yet, Ieva’s returning clients have emphasized how her research has been instrumental in their decision-making process. Her insights have guided them in determining whether to continue or discontinue their partnerships and have influenced their choices regarding future thematic areas to work on and modes of engagement. Ieva's impact as a lecturer is also noteworthy. Over the span of ten years, she has not only sparked her students' interest in the subjects she teaches she also helped them excel in their academic papers but has also played a role in shaping their life paths. It is gratifying to see that some of her students have even embarked on careers in development cooperation following her courses.