Müge Kökten Finkel, PhD
- Co-Director, GIRL
- Program Director, Master of International Development Program
- Assistant Professor of International Development
Dr. Müge Kökten Finkel is Assistant Professor of International Development and Program Director of the Master of International Development Program at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) at the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to her academic appointment in GSPIA, she worked as a Social Development Specialist at the World Bank for the Middle East and North Africa region, and consulted for the International Food Policy Research Institute. She worked on youth and gender-focused projects in Yemen, Egypt, and Morocco. Dr. Finkel is the faculty co-lead of the Ford Institute for Human Security working group on Gender Equality in Public Administration (GEPA), a collaborative research effort with UNDP. Her current research focuses on politics of public sector employment and opportunities for women.
Education & Training
- PhD in Political Science (University of Virginia, 2002)
- MA in International Relations (International University of Japan, 1996)
- BA in Political Science and International Relations (Boğaziçi University, 1994)
Representative Publications
Öztop, Hülya, and Müge Finkel. 2015. "A Gendered Perspective on Social Policies in Turkey: What Do Women Think?" Journal of Education & Social Policy 2(4).
Reich, Simon, and Müge Finkel. 2008. “What Makes a Camp Safe: Protection of Children from Abduction in Internally Displaced Persons and Refugee Camps.” Ford institute for Human Security, University of Pittsburgh.
Oppong, Yaa, and Müge Finkel. 2006. “Voices of the Youth: Background Papers and Country Case Studies from Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Yemen." In WDR 2007: Development and the Next Generation. World Bank.
MNA Social Development Group. 2005. “Securing a Future for All: MNA Regional Social Development Strategy.” World Bank.
MNA Social Development Group. 2005. “Training Manual for Regional Youth Strategy.” World Bank.
Kudat, Ayse, and Müge Finkel. 2004. “Evaluating the Potential for Scaling Up CDD in the Kyrgyz Republic.” In Scaling up-community Driven Development: A Synthesis of Experience. IFPRI.
Research Interests
- Comparative social policy in developed and developing countries
- Poverty and economic development
- Gender and development
- Japanese politics
Research Grants
2019-21. United Nations Development Programme. "Gender Equality in Public Administration: 2020 Global Report.” Co-PI: Melanie Hughes. $73,100.
2019-21. Pitt Seed Project Award. “Raising GIRL: Gender Inequality Research Lab at Pitt.” Co-PI: Melanie Hughes. Office of the Chancellor, University of Pittsburgh. $49,603.
2018-19. Integrative Social Science Research Initiative Award. “The Global Glass Ceilings Database: Measuring Women's Access to Decision-making in Public Administration Worldwide.” Co-PI: Melanie Hughes. Office of the Provost, University of Pittsburgh. $44,688.
2017-19. Central Research Development Fund Small Grants Program. “Armed Conflict and Gender Equality in Public Administration.” Co-PI: Melanie Hughes. Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Pittsburgh. $16,000.
2016-19. United Nations Development Programme. “Gender Equality in Public Administration.” Co-PI: Melanie Hughes. $30,350.
2017. Jean Monnet Center of Excellence Faculty Research on the European Union Grant. “Gender Equality in Public Administration: Learning from Global Leaders.” Co-PI: Melanie Hughes. $4,483.