COLECTIVO META

Us

Colectivo Meta is an international consultancy consortium founded in 2014, based in Mexico City.

Our name comes from the ancient Greek word μετά ⎯meta⎯, that indicates the end of a process, a change or transformation. We support organizations and institutions that advocate for social change. We are also interested in building and strengthening our clients’ capacities.

We are a collective because our team and experts in different countries can perform independent work that contribute to the same objectives we look for as a group, from their own knowledge, interests, experiences and capabilities.

Our team is integrated by professionals and activists with more than twenty years of experience in the different areas of our portfolio and in national and international civil society organizations, public institutions and other consultancy firms.

Mission

We are an international consultancy based in Mexico City that designs and strengthens the strategic processes and capacities of our clients, through a sustained and tailored accompaniment.

Vision

Colectivo META (COMETA) is the leading consultancy firm in strengthening processes of organizations and institutions aiming to achieve social change.

For our colleagues, COMETA is a professional platform for professional development, collective learning and innovation that reconciles personal and professional life.

Values

  • Intellectual and professional honesty
  • Respect for human rights and diversity
  • Transparency and accountability
  • Social commitment
    Professionalism

COLECTIVO META PARTNERS

Vemos a Atzimba Baltazar. Socia fundadora de COMETA. Es especialista en el desarrollo de metodologías de análisis para evaluar el avance de política públicas en diversos temas.  En 2013, trabajó en la Secretaría General del Instituto Federal de Acceso a la Información y Protección de Datos como Directora de Coordinación y Seguimiento de Acuerdos de la Secretaría General y de 2002 a 2007 trabajó en el mismo Instituto en la resolución de negativas de solicitudes de acceso a la información. De 2010 a 2013, fue consultora del International Budget Partnership (IBP) para capacitar a gobiernos de países en Centro América y África en temas de transparencia presupuestaria y para fomentar un diálogo con organizaciones de la sociedad civil. Es maestra en Administración, Gestión y Política Pública por la Universidad de Nueva York y licenciada en Administración Pública por El Colegio de México.

Atzimba Baltazar Macías

She is a founding partner of COMETA. Her area of expertise is the design and development of methodologies for analyzing and evaluating projects and public policies. During 2013, she worked at the Secretary General of the Federal Institute of Access to Information (IFAI) in Mexico, where she previously served from 2002 to 2007 as a case researcher of appeals submitted to IFAI regarding denials of information requests.

From 2010 to 2013, she worked as the Program Officer for the Mentoring Government Capacity for Budget Transparency and Participation Program at the International Budget Partnership where she assisted governments in Central America and Africa to strengthen its capacities to improve budget transparency and fostering dialogue with civil society organizations.

Atzimba holds a Master of Public Administration in Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy from New York University and a BA in Public Administration from El Colegio de Mexico.

Manuela Garza Ascencio

Co-founder of COMETA, feminist, and specialist in transparency, accountability, budgeting, human rights, and institutional resilience for civil society organizations.

She worked for seven years at the International Budget Partnership (IBP), where she led global advocacy on budgeting and sexual and reproductive health, collaborating with over 45 organizations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. She served as President of Ipas-LAC, was a Board Member of Poder Latam, and a member of the Steering Committee of IIMMHR. In Mexico, she began her activism at Fundar, Center for Analysis and Research.

For over a decade, she has led COMETA and worked with more than 100 organizations globally. She holds a master’s degree in Social Anthropology from the New School for Social Research and a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from ITAM. She has published on institutional resilience, sexual and reproductive health, gender perspectives, and human rights.

vemos a Manuela Garza. Socia fundadora de COMETA, feminista y especialista en transparencia, rendición de cuentas, presupuestos, derechos humanos y resiliencia institucional para organizaciones de sociedad civil. Trabajó 7 años en el International Budget Partnership (IBP), donde lideró incidencia global en presupuestos y salud sexual y reproductiva, colaborando con más de 45 organizaciones en África, Asia y América Latina. Fue Presidenta de Ipas-LAC, parte de la Mesa Directiva de Poder Latam y del Steering Committee de IIMMHR. En México inició su activismo en Fundar, Centro de Análisis e Investigación. Por más de una década, ha liderado COMETA y trabajado con más de 100 organizaciones a nivel global. Es maestra en Antropología Social por la New School for Social Research y licenciada en Relaciones Internacionales por el ITAM. Ha publicado sobre resiliencia institucional, salud sexual y reproductiva, enfoque de género y derechos humanos.

Anna Langheinrich

Anna is a full-time senior consultant at COMETA since February 2021.

She has experience in institutional development and project management as well as the implementation of strategies for the sustainable development of civil society organizations.

For 15 years she has been working with different organizations in Germany and Mexico, mainly in the social justice and human rights field. From 2016 to 2020 she was the Institutional Development Coordinator of the Centro de Justicia para la Paz y el Desarrollo (Cepad A.C.), a civil society organization working on gross human rights violations in Jalisco, Mexico.

From 2014 to 2016, she was part of Amnesty International’s regional office in Guadalajara, Mexico, where she worked in Fundraising. She is a graduate of the University of Hamburg (Germany) with a Master’s degree in Social Anthropology, Economics and Latin American Studies.

Mayra Calderón Jaidar

She has been the Administrative Coordinator at COMETA since May 2022.

Until 2020, she served as Assistant to the General Director of Ferrocarriles y Terminal del Valle de México.

From 2014 to 2020, she was in charge of the administrative and personnel area of ​​the companies Contraste Total and Tintorería Meiga. Between 2010 and 2014 she was responsible for the projects area at the Espinosa Rugarcía Foundation I.B.P., where she coordinated the ESRU Escucha, a project whose goal was to deliver cochlear implants and Hearing Therapies. Under her coordination, this initiative fostered the program of ESRU Art, the ESRU painting contest Give Your Opinion and the Writing Contest with the Colegio de Bachilleres (a public high school institution in Mexico).

Until 2009 she actively participated in the creation of Fundación Querer Ser, where she was director of public relations, advertising and marketing. She served as marketing coordinator at Cablevisión from 1997 to 2005.

She also has more than twenty years of experience in advertising agencies, where she became an account manager for clients such as Gamesa and Mattel. She is a graduate of the Universidad Anáhuac del Norte from the Faculty of Business Administration.

Tonatiuh Paz

Philosophy intern at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the The National Autonomous University of Mexico.

From 2008 to 2015, he worked as a research assistant, in a project directed by Dr. Judith Kalman, from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV), on ICT uses and appropriations in the classroom with teachers from public secondary schools in the State and Mexico City.

He has two years of experience in managing data from online educational platforms of the National System for Professionalization of Teachers, implemented by the National Union of Education Workers.

From 2017 to 2021 he worked as a researcher at ControlaTuGobierno, A.C., a civil society an organization dedicated to training, advising and accompanying organized communities to influence public order problems.

Tonatiuh Paz​. Es consultor senior de tiempo completo en COMETA desde marzo de 2021. De 2017 a 2021, se desempeñó como investigador en ControlaTuGobierno, A.C., organización de la sociedad civil dedicada a la capacitación, asesoría y acompañamiento a comunidades organizadas para incidir en problemáticas de orden público. De 2008 a 2015, trabajó en investigaciones dirigidas por la Dra. Judith Kalman del Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (Cinvestav), sobre usos y apropiaciones de TIC en el aula con maestros de escuelas secundarias públicas del Estado y la Ciudad de México. Cuenta con dos años de experiencia en la administración de datos de plataformas educativas en línea del Sistema Nacional de Profesionalización de Maestros, implementado por el Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación. Es licenciado en Filosofía por la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

Arianna Bizzoni

Full-time Senior Consultant at COMETA since May 2022.

From 2020 to the beginning of 2022, she was Co-responsible for the Strategy for Accompaniment of Women Human Rights Defenders in the National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders in Mexico. Previously, she was Project Assistant on Gender, Justice and Crime Prevention at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Mexico and from 2014 to 2019 she was part of the organization Peace Brigades International (PBI Mexico) as International Human Rights Observer and later as Team Coordinator.

Before arriving in Mexico, she collaborated with civil society organizations in Guinea-Bissau, Nicaragua, Spain and Italy. She is also Co-founder and member of the Board of Directors of the Italian civil association Rumorossə and member of the National Network of Human Rights Defenders in Mexico (RNDDHM).

She has more than 10 years of experience in development cooperation and human rights, has training and experience in security and comprehensive protection for defenders and journalists, political advocacy for the protection of defenders, psychosocial approach and support, gender and feminism, non-formal education with people in vulnerable situations, conflict resolution, meeting facilitation, project and team coordination. She has a Master degree in Philosophy from the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (Italy).

María MacGregor Aja

Junior consultant at COMETA since March 2022.

From 2018 to 2022, she worked as a high school teacher. Between 2016 and 2017 she was a researcher for the National College, a public institution dedicated to the dissemination of scientific, artistic and humanistic culture. She participated in the research for the exhibition for the 75 years of the College.

She worked at the Ministry of Public Education from 2013 to 2016. She was in charge of monitoring different federal programs in several states of the republic, she also participated in the development of the Guides for the Technical School Council.

She has collaborated on various research projects for civil society and academic institutions. She has a Master degree in History from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City.

vemos a María MacGregor Aja​ consultora junior en COMETA desde marzo de 2022. De 2018 a 2022, trabajó como docente a nivel preparatoria. Entre 2016 a 2017 fue investigadora para el Colegio Nacional, participó en la investigación para la exposición por los 75 años del Colegio. Trabajó en la Secretaría de Educación Pública de 2013 a 2016. Estaba encargada del seguimiento a diferentes programas federales en varios estados de la república, participó también en el desarrollo de las Guías para el Consejo Técnico Escolar. Ha colaborado en diversos proyectos de investigación tanto de sociedad civil como de instituciones académicas. Es maestra en Historia por la Universidad Iberoamericana de Ciudad de México.
vemos a Miguel Ángel Ceballos Consultor junior de tiempo completo en COMETA desde julio de 2024. Colaboró en la Red Ciudadana por la Igualdad y la No Discriminación de la Ciudad de México (Redcii). Trabajó en un grupo de investigación sobre migración en el que participaba la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, la Universidad de Montreal de Canadá y el Colegio de la Frontera Sur. Fue asistente de investigación la doctora Ariadna Estévez,i nvestigadora del SNI en la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Hizo voluntariados en México Unido Contra la Delincuencia, en el Centro Fray Matías y en Centro Pro. Ganó segundo lugar en un concurso sobre propuesta de política pública que organizó la Universidad Autónoma de Monterrey y El Colegio de México. Es maestro en Estudios Políticos y Sociales de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) y cuenta con una especialidad en Negociación y Gestión de Conflictos Políticos y Sociales.

Miguel Ángel Ceballos

Junior full-time consultant at COMETA since July 2024. He collaborated with the Citizen Network for Equality and Non-Discrimination of Mexico City (Redcii). He worked with a research group on migration that included the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the University of Montreal in Canada, and El Colegio de la Frontera Sur.

He was a research assistant to Dr. Ariadna Estévez, a member of the National System of Researchers (SNI) at UNAM. He volunteered with México Unido Contra la Delincuencia, Centro Fray Matías, and Centro Pro. He won second place in a public policy proposal competition organized by the Universidad Autónoma de Monterrey and El Colegio de México.

He holds a master’s degree in Political and Social Studies from UNAM and a specialization in Negotiation and Management of Political and Social Conflicts.

Amalinalli Martínez

Junior full-time consultant at COMETA since July 2024.

She has experience in group coordination, institutional management, research, and the development and implementation of psychoeducational workshops. She has collaborated with various civil society organizations in Mexico, promoting and defending the sexual and reproductive rights of young people. Additionally, she has participated in programs advocating for women’s human rights, providing psychoeducational support on sexuality, autonomy, human rights, violence awareness, and self-esteem in both Mexico City and the state of Morelos. She has also facilitated workshops on masculinities and violence awareness.

Her advocacy work has focused on vulnerable communities, and from 2021 to 2022, she was part of the Centros para el Desarrollo de las Mujeres program in Morelos. This initiative aimed to decentralize services for women, providing information, processes, and support to women’s groups in marginalized areas.

She holds a master’s degree in Women’s Studies from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco campus.

vemos a Sebastián Hernández Mora Consultor senior de tiempo completo desde 2024, ha colaborado en COMETA desde 2019, como parte del grupo de consultores externos. Es colombiano, se ha desempeñado como investigador y consultor en instituciones públicas y privadas de Colombia y México en análisis y diseño de políticas públicas multisectoriales bajo diversas metodologías mixtas, de planeación estratégica, gestión del riesgo, incluyendo elementos de combate a la corrupción y promoción de la transparencia, entre otros. Además, se ha involucrado en el análisis contextual de las dinámicas de la violencia en su país, la promoción de los DDHH y la participación e incidencia junto a diversas instituciones y organizaciones de la sociedad civil. Es sociólogo por la Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNAL), maestro en Gobierno y Asuntos Públicos por la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) y, actualmente, es candidato a doctor en Ciencias Políticas y Sociales por la misma universidad.

Sebastián Hernández Mora

Senior full-time consultant at COMETA since 2024, previously part of the external consulting team since 2019.

Originally from Colombia, he has worked as a researcher and consultant for public and private institutions in Colombia and Mexico. His expertise includes the analysis and design of multisectoral public policies using various mixed methodologies, strategic planning, risk management, anti-corruption strategies, and transparency promotion. Additionally, he has been involved in analyzing violence dynamics in Colombia, advocating for human rights, and fostering participation and influence alongside civil society organizations.

He holds a degree in Sociology from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia (UNAL), a master’s in Government and Public Affairs from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Political and Social Sciences at the same university.

EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS

Consultants graduated from the
Training for Facilitators of Strategic Thinking Processes
in Central America

Shaamela Cassiem

She collaborates with COMETA since 2019 in budget analysis and participation research. She is an expert in human rights, gender, equallity and children’s rights. She has over 20 years of experience working in civil society in South Africa and internationally. Further, her work draws strongly on an intersectionality lens to support social justice goals.

Christian Gruenberg

He collaborates with COMETA since 2018 in facilitation, and training processes. He is an expert in human rights, feminism, access to information and public bidding processes. Currently, he is an independent legal advisor and founding member of the Collective for Diversity (COPADI). He has been Director of Transparency International Argentina, the Anti-Corruption Program of the Poder Ciudadano Foundation and the Transparency Program of the Center for Public Policies for Equity and Growth. He also worked in the Public Ministry of Defense of the City of Buenos Aires. He is a lawyer from the University of Buenos Aires, has a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University and a diploma in Public Policy from the University of Chile.

Jorge Israel Hernández Herrera

He collaborates with COMETA in facilitation and technical assistance on communication for advocacy related projects. He is a specialist in conflict management, strategic communication, media and political analysis. Currently, he is the General Underdirector of Content and Liaison of the Judicial Channel, the public network of the Mexican Supreme Court of Justice and he is a teacher in various academic institutions such as the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE). He was communication advisor of the Representative in Mexico of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, where he has also been a specialized consultant. He holds a Master degree in Human Rights from the Universidad Iberoamericana, a BA in Journalism and Collective Communication from UNAM and has a diploma in conflict management from the National University of La Plata.

Gerardo Maldonado Hernández

He collaborates with COMETA since 2017 in the design of methodologies for the development of strategic thinking. He is an expert in the construction of indicators, comparative political behavior, culture and political attitudes, public opinion and international politics. Gerardo is currently an Assistant Professor at the International Studies Division in the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) since 2010. He is also General Director of the Latin American regional project “The Americas and the World: Public Opinion and International Politics”. He has been visiting researcher at the Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University (USA) and the Institute of International Relation in the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil). He holds a BA in Public Administration from El Colegio de Mexico (Mexico) and a PhD in Political and Social Sciences from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona, Spain).

Melissa Ortíz Massó

She collaborates with COMETA since 2015 in the design and facilitation of strategic thinking and training processes. She is an expert in gender, legislative analysis and advocacy related with public policy, private enterprises & human rights and stakeholder analysis. Currently, she is the representative for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean of the Information Center on Business and Human Rights. She also worked with Fundar, Center for Analysis and Research during 10 years with various responsibilities. She has a degree in International Relations from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

ITZI SALGADO

She has collaborated with COMETA since 2024 as part of our communication strategy. She specializes in designing communication strategies for social change, managing social media, and executing digital call-to-action campaigns targeting key audiences.

Currently, she is the Head of Communications at Fondo Noroeste y Occidente A.C. Previously, she served as Communication Coordinator at Fundar, Center for Analysis and Research. She also led the strategic communication for regional projects on water access, labor rights, and migration at Fundación Avina. She holds a degree in Organizational Communication from the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Maylí Consuelo Sepúlveda Toledo

She collaborates with COMETA since 2017 in the design of methodologies for research and social accountability trainings. She is an expert in social accountability, community participation, access to information, transparency and accountability. Currently, she is founder and the Executive Director of Controla tu Gobierno. She has been a consultant for international organizations including the Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency (GIFT), American University, William & Flora Hewlett Foundation, the International Budget Partnership (IBP), the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program, on accountability and promotion of access to information projects. She was the Director of Liaison with Civil Society in the Federal Institute of Access to Public Information and the Federal Electoral Institute in Mexico. For more than a decade she has given workshops and offered public advice in the Electoral Court of the Federal Judicial Branch and the Federal Electoral Institute.

Eduardo Villareal Cantú

He collaborates in COMETA since 2017 in the design of evaluation and facilitation methodologies for strategic thinking. He is an expert in public policy, design of evaluation methodologies and public participation. Currently, he is professor at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE) and in the Latin American Faculty for Social Sciences (FLACSO). He has collaborated academically with the Organization of American States, the Slim Foundation, Article 19, among others. He holds a BA on Political Science from the Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL), a Master in Administration and Public Policies from CIDE and a Master in Public Management by the UANL. He has a PhD on Public Policies from the Institut de Govern i Polítiques Públiques (IGOP, Barcelona) and the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po, Paris).

Juan Francisco Bezares

Associate consultant in COMETA since 2015. He collaborates in evaluation and strategic reflection processes. He is an expert in strategic communication for institutions in the public and private sectors. He has a track record in public service in the areas of transparency, accountability and protection of personal data. In his most recent assignment as a public servant, he was Presentation Coordinator of one of the five members of the Plenary of the Institute of Transparency, Access to Public Information, Accountability and Protection of Personal Data of Mexico City (INFO, Mexico City ). He studied politics and public administration at the Colegio de México and has diplomas in Personal Data Protection and cybersecurity from institutions such as CIDE and UDLAP and in Electoral and Political Strategies from ITAM.

AMARU RUIZ

He is a human rights defender, environmentalist, and researcher. He holds a master’s degree in corporate social responsibility with a focus on human rights and a bachelor’s degree in biology with a specialization in natural resource management.

He has completed postgraduate studies in the management and administration of protected wild areas, political leadership and management, and youth leadership and political advocacy. He leads the Nicaraguan organization Fundación del Río, has been a university professor, and is the co-author of several publications. He has also worked as an advisor and consultant for various organizations and international cooperation agencies.

Currently, he lives and carries out his work from Costa Rica.

 ANNA MATTEUCCI

She is a psychologist graduated from the University of Costa Rica (UCR). She is a researcher with extensive experience in gender-focused studies, women’s rights, and community development. She holds a Master’s degree in Communication and Development, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Painting, both also from the University of Costa Rica (UCR). She holds a Diploma in Social Sciences with an emphasis on Gender, Society, and Public Policies from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO-PRIGEPP).

With a solid background in intersectionality and migration studies, she has worked as a Specialist Professional in the Research Unit of the National Institute for Women of Costa Rica (INAMU), as a member of the research team on CEDAW, and on political and economic rights. She has also worked as a researcher at the Institute for Social Research (IIS-UCR) and as a consultant for international organizations. Her academic experience includes teaching positions at the University of Cordoba (UCR) and the Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED), where she has taught courses on gender, communication and elections, and organizational behavior, among others. She is also an internationally renowned visual artist, cultural manager, and independent art teacher. She has participated in numerous studies published in academic journals.

ERIC CASTILLO

He studied Political Science and began his career in the student movement. He has coordinated support for social and youth organizations, as well as the formation of urban communities.

He currently serves on the board of directors of Visibles, an LGBTIQ+ organization in Guatemala. Previously, he coordinated the Cibaque initiative for the 25A Institute, a national forum for thought and coordination that brings together social organizations and activists in the search for a common political horizon.

ARELLY BARBEYTO

She has extensive experience as an independent consultant, university professor, and social researcher in both non-profit organizations and academia in Central America. She has also worked in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary work environments in spaces of sociocultural diversity, in remote and hard-to-reach areas. She possesses skills and knowledge in the use of diverse methodologies with people from rural and urban areas, and has also worked with gender and intercultural approaches in various work experiences and with diverse social actors. Her work focuses on access to justice for Indigenous women, multiple forms of violence, and social memories.