Rodrigo Tavares has received his Ph.D. in Peace and Development Studies from the University of Gothenburg, School of Global Studies (PADRIGU), in Sweden (2006). In 2006, he was also trained in negotiation at Harvard University, JFK School of Government (Executive Education). He has been a Visiting Research Scholar at University of California, Berkeley, Dept. of International and Area Studies (2003-2004) and at Columbia University, Institute of Latin American Studies (2010).

He has been associated to the United Nations University (UNU-CRIS) since 2005 in different positions. Previously, he worked for the European Union/Commission Delegation to India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka (2004), and the Swedish international NGO CIVIS (2002). He has also worked as a consultant to national governments and UN agencies (OSAA, FAO, UNU). In 2008, 2009 and 2010 he was tasked to write UN Secretary General’s reports on development in Africa.

He has published “Regional Security: The Capacity of International Organizations” (Routledge, 2009) and co-edited (with Fredrik Söderbaum) “Regional Organizations in African Security” (Routledge, 2010). He has published approximately 15 peer-reviewed journal articles and 20 book chapters. Currently, he is working on two books: on regional security in South America and on the relations between Brazil and Portugal.