Head of International Development

Africanist, researcher, international development practitioner with an in-depth academic background and significant field experience, combining theory and practice in one person. My main focus area is slum upgrading in Africa.

Career

  • 2019 -

    Hungarian Charity Service of the Order of Malta

    International referent

    Planning and coordination of successfully implemented slum upgrading projects in Kenya (water and sanitation, repatriation, community development), fundraising, preparation of tender reports, development of related research tools, research management, and writing scientific publications on the results.

    Editorial Secretary

    Developing and institutionalising the editorial process of the interdisciplinary scientific journal Maltese Studies, publishing it online.

  • 2020

    Documentary film titled ‘Stories of Congo’

    Urbanization expert

    Contributing effectively to the conceptualisation of a film on housing and other related social challenges in the Democratic Republic of Congo, conducting field interviews, writing narration.

  • 2018 - 2019

    Foundation for Africa: Solid Ground project

    Visiting Lecturer

    Awareness raising, introducing more than 100 Hungarian and foreign university students to the challenges of urbanization and slums in Africa.

  • 2018 -

    Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Social Sciences

    Lecturer

    Teaching hundreds of community development and human ecology students an own course, Settlement Development to lay the foundations for their successful field operations.

  • 2017

    „Pécel 2030” – laying the groundwork for the review of Pécel City’s urban development and urban planning documents through community planning

    Intern

    Structured summaries of Pécel’s municipal documents, participation in public meetings and thematic discussions as effective support to decision making.

  • 2015 – 2019

    Pallas Athéné Innovation and Geopolitical Foundation

    Geopolitical Analyst

    Raising awareness, disseminating scientific knowledge about Africa’s socio-economic processes, preparing analyses, scientific publications, presenting them at conferences, supporting the professional activities of the research institute.

Studies

  • 2018 - 2024

    PhD

    University of Pécs, Geopolitical Doctoral Program

    Thesis title: The best way to deal with the slum problem? Exploring the impact of community-based participatory planning in the context of slum development in Kenya. (Language of the thesis is Hungarian.)

  • 2015 - 2017

    Community and civic development specialist (MA)

    Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Social Sciences

    Thesis title: The role of communities in international developments, through the example of Kenyan slum upgrading. (Language of the thesis is Hungarian.)

  • 2013 - 2015

    Regional- and Urban Development Geographer (MSc)

    Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Science

    Thesis title: The possibilities of participatory planning in the fight against poverty (Language of the thesis is Hungarian.)

  • 2010 - 2013

    Geographer (BSc), Specialisation in Regional and urban planning

    Eötvös Loránd University, Faculty of Social Sciences

    Thesis title: The comparison of the urbanization of London

Contacts

Top Skills

In-depth research
Writing skills
Structured thinking
Fast process comprehension and management

Other Skills

English – Professional Working Proficiency (Cambridge advanced language exam (C1)

Hostile Environment Awareness Training (Military Training Centre, Hungarian Army)

Computer skills:

  • Microsoft Office
  • Design and operation of WordPress websites
  • SPSS
  • MapInfo
  • CorelDraw
  • Driving licence (B category)

Selected Scientific Publications

2024

Caring Interventions for the Most Vulnerable Populations in Economically Disadvantaged Areas during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic by Non-Governmental Organizations in Kenya. Social Sciences, 12(5): 284. DOI: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0760/12/5/284
The impact of COVID-19 on the livelihoods of Kenyan slum dwellers and the need for an integrated policy approach. Plos One, 17(8): 23 p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0271196

2021

Solymári Dániel, Janet Mangera, Czirják Ráhel: Overview of Kenyan Government Initiatives in Slum Upgrading: The Case of KENSUP and KISIP Projects. Afrikai Tanulmányok (African Studies), 15(3), 37-59.

2020

Neokolonizációs törekvések az EU-afrikai kapcsolatokban? [Neo-Colonialist Efforts in EU-Africa Relations?] Külügyi Szemle (Studies of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs), 2020/4, 105-124.

2019

Neo-Colonialist Efforts in Africa in the Light of EU-African and Chinese-African Relations. In: Viktor Eszterhai – Renxin Wang (eds.): Stuck Between Great Powers: The Geopolitics of the Peripheries. Budapest, Corvinus University of Budapest, 32-49. Community-Led Planning: The Key to Successful Slum Upgrading? Deturope, 11(1)

2018

Migrations forcées intra/intersoudanaises. [Forced migration in the two Sudans.] Outre-Terre, 53., 204-211.

2017

Szunomár–Bujtás–Czirják–Gerőcs–Sárvári: Második versenyfutás Afrikáért. [Second Scramble for Africa.] In: Biedermann Zsuzsánna – Kiss Judit (szerk.): Szubszaharai Afrika gazdasága a XXI. században. Budapest, Akadémiai Kiadó, 163-203.

2016

Biedermann Zsuzsánna – Czirják Ráhel: Botswana és a gyémánt. [Botswana and the Diamond.] Külügyi Szemle (Studies of the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs), 15(4), 52-70. Czirják Ráhel – Klemensits Péter: Child Soldiers in Genocidal Regimes: The Cases of the Khmer Rouge and the Hutu Power. Academic and Applied Research in Military and Public Management Science, 15(3), 215-222.

2015

Urbanizációs válság? Nyomornegyed-probléma London és Nairobi példáján. [Urbanization crisis? The slum problem in the examples of London and Nairobi.] Afrika Tanulmányok (African Studies), 9(3-4), 11-38.