Ana Almada is an Educational Psychologist with a Master’s degree in Community Psychology and more than 20 years of experience in the fields of Children’s Rights, Gender Equality and Human Rights at the local level. She currently coordinates the Unit for the Promotion of Rights in the Territory at Cascais Municipality, where she leads initiatives aimed at strengthening children’s participation, equality and human rights across local policies and services. Her work has focused on developing collaborative approaches that bring children, young people, communities and public institutions together, promoting meaningful participation in decision-making processes. She has been involved in the development of several local strategies and initiatives, including the Local Council for Children and Young People, the Strategic Plan for Child and Youth Participation, the Local Strategy for Children’s Rights within the UNICEF Child Friendly Cities framework, the Municipal Plan for Equality and Non-Discrimination, and the Local Human Rights Strategy of Cascais. She is particularly interested in participatory governance, children’s rights, community development and building partnerships that support more inclusive and democratic communities.