Liv Tønnessen

Research Professor at Chr. Michelsen Institute CMI, Director of Center on Law and Social Transformation and PI of Sudan-Norway Academic Cooperation (SNAC) project

Bergen, Vestland, Norway

About

I am a political scientist with a passion for Sudan. I have 20+ years of experience researching Sudan with a focus on gender and politics, Islam(ism), peacebuilding, social movements, law, sexual and reproductive rights, and sexual and gender based violence. I have a track record from the Middle East and Northern Africa with long term stays in Sudan, Syria and Lebanon. I have conducted countless fieldworks in Sudan and have a substantial network within Sudanese academia, politics and civil society. Through a strong focus on equal partnerships, I have been lucky to be engaged in long lasting academic collaborations with Sudanese researchers and higher education institutions which has resulted in multiple research projects, co-publications and co-organization of academic courses, seminars and workshops. I have extensive leadership experience with 20+ years experience as a leader of major research projects,10+ years as a board member in Norway and internationally, and as a leader within research organizations.

Experience

  • Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI) (16 yrs 6 mos)
    • Research Professor
      Feb 2025 - Present · 1 yr 5 mos

    • Board Member
      Sep 2024 - Present · 1 yr 10 mos

    • Senior Researcher
      2012 - Jul 2025 · 13 yrs 7 mos

  • Director of Center on Law and Social Transformation at LawTransform - Centre on Law & Social Transformation
    2021 - Present · 5 yrs 6 mos

  • Columnist at Panorama Nyheter
    2017 - 2021 · 4 yrs

  • Guest Researcher at The University of Texas at Austin
    May 2019 - Sep 2019 · 5 mos

  • Board Member at Vetenskapsrådet / Swedish Research Council
    2016 - 2019 · 3 yrs