Sandra Ruckstuhl
Research Group Leader – Fragility, Conflict, Livelihoods and Water
Areas of expertise
Risks Inclusion Peace Conflict Climate Fragility Humanitarian aid Security GovernanceSandra Ruckstuhl is a Senior Researcher and Research Group Leader for the Fragility, Conflict, Livelihoods and Water research group.
Ruckstuhl worked in a series of roles as a Senior Social Inclusion and Governance Specialist for water sector programs at the World Bank, as a Technical Advisor on natural resources and conflict for inter-agency emergency response and development programs for the U.S. government, and as a Program Manager for urban and sub-national SDG initiatives at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. She has over two decades of experience in organizational and program management, investment operations and policy impact analysis, and applied social research for development and humanitarian interventions. Ruckstuhl has worked in more than 25 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Balkans.
Current projects
Latest news for Sandra Ruckstuhl
How to create lasting impact for refugees and community members
Circular bio-economy solutions offer a sustainable path to empowering displaced communities ...
What responsible AI must get right in fragile water contexts
Frontline practitioners share lessons on translating climate intelligence into action without widening risk or exclusion in fragile and conflict-affected settings ...
How communities in fragile settings shape climate resilience
Their work rarely makes headlines, but in some of the world’s most fragile places, locally led, gender-responsive approaches are quietly transforming access to water ...
Science helps make humanitarian efforts in Sudan more targeted and sustainable
In Sudan, IWMI and partners are bringing science, data and tools to humanitarian settings so that local actors can manage emergencies and lay the foundation for resilient water, food and ...
IWMI taps into local knowledge to build climate resilience in Jordan’s Jerash Camp
On this World Humanitarian Day, we shed light on how IWMI’s climate-risk mapping is helping Jordan’s most crowded refugee camp with better adaptation strategies. ...
Technology and partnerships to strengthen flood resilience in Ethiopia’s fragile environment
IWMI and partners are co-developing a digital twin platform to enhance flood forecasting, early warning and response for vulnerable communities in the Somali Region ...
The Frontlines Learning Exchange webinar series sheds light on science in difficult places
FLEX shares critical knowledge on climate resilience from conflict-affected settings and offers a space for learning, collaboration and collective action for the benefit of fragile communities ...
Research partnerships help build resilience of vulnerable communities and fragile ecosystems in Ethiopia’s Somali Region
IWMI, WFP and other stakeholders are co-designing evidence-based approaches to address climate risks and ecosystem degradation to ensure sustainable water and land management for resilient communities ...
Taking science to difficult places: field notes from Ethiopia’s Dolo Ado
What it takes to collect data, build trust and deliver innovation in one of the most flood-prone refugee zones in the Horn of Africa ...
Anticipating the flood: science, technology and survival in Ethiopia’s Somali Region
IWMI is working with the World Food Programme and other stakeholders to apply water science to reshape flood preparedness, response and resilience building for Dolo Ado and Bokolmayo’s vulnerable communities ...
Research, partnerships, and community action build resilience in Ethiopia
IWMI and partners strengthen investment in anticipatory action and disaster preparedness following 2023 floods ...
The unique challenge of implementing anticipatory action in refugee and IDP hosting communities
Creating measures that balance the needs of refugees and local populations during disaster preparedness presents a complex issue ...
Latest publications by Sandra Ruckstuhl
Brief
Digital twins for river basin water management
International Water Management Institute | February 2nd, 2026
Report
Circular bioeconomy solutions in refugee-hosting landscapes: drivers, enablers, and lessons learned
International Water Management Institute | January 14th, 2026
Report
The nexus between refugee settlements and environmental degradation in the Somali Region, Ethiopia
International Water Management Institute | November 26th, 2025
