Sopiko Bagauri

Sopiko Bagauri is a Georgian practitioner with over fifteen years of experience at the intersection of community development, conflict transformation and environmental protection. She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Inclusive Education from Tbilisi Ilia State University.

Her career began during the humanitarian crisis of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, where she served on the World Vision International emergency response team. Collaborating with the UN, Save the Children and Care International, she assisted the internally displaced population through food security, education in emergencies and psycho-social rehabilitation programs.

Native to the South Caucasus – a region shaped by protracted conflicts, displacement and ongoing social and political tensions – Sopo’s work has since evolved to address the realities of the communities navigating long-term systemic instability and limited access to opportunities.

Over the past decade, through leadership roles with the Transcaucasian Trail and Caucasus Conservation Corps, she has pioneered initiatives that link nature conservation with sustainable rural development and conflict transformation. Her work focuses on empowering ethnically diverse remote mountain communities and preserving fragile ecosystems and heritage sites as a means of social cohesion.

Her research at UNC will center on identity formation and memory in conflict-affected regions, specifically exploring how folklore and environmental stewardship serve as unconventional yet powerful tools for peacebuilding and reclaiming a sense of shared belonging.