External Relations, Policy and Donor Relations

María Merchán Rocamora joined the GICHD in September 2025, as Innovative Finance Advisor in the External Relations, Policy and Donor Relations Division.

María leads the Innovative Finance Secretariat at the GICHD, where she is responsible for advancing the development of new financing solutions for the mine action sector. Her work focuses on designing and structuring mechanisms to address systemic funding gaps, enhance the predictability and long-term sustainability of resources, and position mine action as an enabler of broader economic recovery and development. She works to connect mine action with blended finance approaches and other innovative funding models. To this end, she oversees the team’s analytical, stakeholder engagement, and partnership-building activities (guiding research on funding trends and the development of strategic relationships with governments, international organisations, and financial actors).

Prior to joining the GICHD, María worked at the intersection of international policy, legal frameworks, and economic governance. She has held positions with the United Nations at Geneva, the International Chamber of Commerce, and Interpeace. Her professional experience includes work on international public management, multilateral processes, and initiatives linking finance, peacebuilding and sustainable development — with a particular interest in the nexus between economic opportunity, political stability, and conflict prevention.

María holds a Double Degree in Law and Economics and a Master’s degree in International Public Management from Sciences Po Paris. She is fluent in Spanish, English, and French.

• Organisation Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD)
• Division External Relations, Policy and Donor Relations
• Unit Innovative Finance
• E-mail m.merchan-rocamora@gichd.org
• Working Languages Spanish, English, and French