Nuno do Carmo

Background

About Nuno do Carmo

With a career spanning 14 countries across professional and academic domains, I have developed extensive expertise in international development, social entrepreneurship, and international relations. My work has focused on supporting vulnerable populations, expanding access to education, fostering post-conflict reconciliation, driving social innovation, and addressing climate change. I have built and maintained strong connections with both international organizations and grassroots NGOs operating in remote regions, and I have worked in academia, serving as a university lecturer in Malaysia, teaching refugee populations in Burma/Myanmar, and guest lecturing at universities in Thailand and Portugal. I hold a BA in Political Science, a Master's in European Public Affairs, and postgraduate diplomas in Social Work, Local Council Law and Urbanism, and Management of Organizations in the Social Economy. I also completed the curricular portion of a PhD in Political Science at UCP and have undertaken training in Design Thinking and Crisis Management. In 2021, I pursued a Master's in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Lund University. After spending most of my professional life abroad, I in 2018 returned to Portugal to coordinate Centro CAIS Porto and CAIS Recicla, a social enterprise that produces handcrafted recycled stationery. During my tenure, CAIS Recicla expanded by over 300% in size and profit, introduced new products, diversified its customer base, and opened its first retail location. The enterprise received several awards, including first place in Porto’s Municipal Social Entrepreneurship Prizes and the TEDxPorto Award for its contributions to environmental sustainability. In 2022, I relocated to Norway to serve as Head of Secretariat for EAT-Lancet 2.0, a global effort to revising global science-based targets for healthy diets and sustainable and just food systems. In 2024, I transitioned to leading the Norwegian Refugee Council’s global efforts on Economic Inclusion, an integrated pilot framework focusing on strategies that that build paths to Self-Reliance and empower displaced populations to build sustainable and dignified livelihoods. I am driven by the values of integrity, courage, and a commitment to fostering communities built on collaboration and mutual support.