Séverine Laville has over 20 years of experience in international cooperation and solidarity, both in the field (North Africa, Middle East) and in headquarters roles.
Since 2019, she currently leads the Engagement Development Department at France Volontaires, where she oversees with her team the recruitment, training, and support of international volunteers by active listening in case of difficulties or incidents, and conducting return debriefings. She also leads initiatives promoting international volunteerism by playing a key role in supporting sector stakeholders with guidance in sharing best practices, quality standards, and the development of practical tools.
She brings a field-informed perspective to her leadership. Her hands-on experience has shaped her inclusive and empathetic approach to engagement :
She holds advanced degrees in comparative european & international Law and Human Rights protection systems, as well as in NGOs Management. Her legal academic background includes a focus on international criminal law, comparative response to terrorism, and war crimes.
Her rights-based approach is grounded in field experience : Séverine has lived and worked in conflict-affected countries or in high-tension areas, such as post-earthquake Algeria, Lebanon, and Egypt during the Arab Spring. In the Palestinian Territories, she managed staff safety for Médecins du Monde.
She has held leadership roles in organizations such as BATIK International, Unis-Cité, and Secours Catholique- Caritas France.
Her expertise spans project management, and multi-sectoral program coordination—particularly in women health, mental health, disability, children at risks, gender equity, and displaced persons. Her work has included supporting access to education, post-trauma resilience, and civil society participation for peace building.
A former volunteer herself, Séverine has previously managed national volunteers in France from diverse backgrounds, including school dropouts, youth under judicial supervision, and individuals with disabilities.
Deeply committed to inclusive, sustainable development, she draws daily inspiration from youth’s potential.
Séverine is speaking on day two, in the breakout session on Selecting, preparing and supporting volunteers to work in challenging environments on the subject:- From Recruitment to Resilience: Preparing for Ethical, Emotional, and Security Challenges Risk Environments + Rethinking Volunteer Support in fragile settings
