Yvonne Riaño

Parcours / Biography

Yvonne Riaño is a social geographer specialising in Geographies of Inequality. She is currently the President of the Swiss Association of Geographers (ASG), the Vice-President of the Swiss Federal Commission on Migration (EKM), and the Chairperson of the Swiss National Committee of the International Geographical Union (IGU). She is also an Associate Researcher at the Geography Institute of the University of Bern. Yvonne Riaño obtained her PhD in Human Geography in 1996 from the University of Ottawa (Canada) and has since taught at Canadian, Austrian, Spanish and Swiss universities. Using a feminist and post-colonial perspective, as well as her participatory Minga methodology, she contributes to advancing our understanding of six key issues: (a) Social inclusion and social exclusion processes faced by highly skilled migrants in Switzerland, particularly women; (b) Critical places and critical moments impacting the unequal participation of migrant and non-migrant men and women in the Swiss labour market; c) The role of Swiss state policies in the international mobility and social integration of migrants, particularly international students and foreign spouses, d) Integration strategies of migrants returning to Colombia and Ecuador, (e) Transnational mobility strategies of displaced micro-entrepreneurs amidst geopolitical violence at the Colombia-Venezuela border, (f) Self-governance of urban resources by self-help populations in Latin American barrios. Furthermore, she actively combines academic research with socially engaged filmmaking practices. Her documentary « Weaving Threads Across Borders » (2022) gives voice to migrant women in the Colombia-Venezuela border zone and seeks a research practice based on reciprocity. Yvonne Riaño has published more than 60 peer-reviewed articles in international journals and books (see below).

Activités scientifiques / Scientific activity

11.2018 – 10.2022: “Migrant Entrepreneurship: Mapping Cross- Border Mobilities and Exploring the Role of Spatial Mobility Capital » (Swiss National Research Foundation, Grant 51NF40_182897, CHF 800’000).

01.12.2010 – 30.11.2013: “Understanding Inequalities of Access to the Labour Market: The Intersection of Gender and Ethnicity” (Swiss National Research Foundation, NFP 60, Grant 406040_129293/1, CHF 318’863.

01.11.2010 – 01.08.2011: “Socio-Economic Impact of Cantonal Aid Programmes for the Return of Ecuadorian Sans-Papiers Migrants” (Canton de Vaud, CHF 40’000)

01.10.2009 – 30.09.2012: “Bridging Places across Borders: Constitution, Maintenance and Meaning of Transnational Social Spaces” (Swiss National Research Foundation, Grant 100015_124983/1, CHF 406’347)

01.11.2006 – 31.01.2007: “Labour Market Integration of Skilled Migrants: A Comparison between Switzerland and New Zealand” (Swiss National Research Foundation, Grant PIOI1-115231, CHF 15’000)

01.11.2003 – 31.05.2008: “The Social Integration and Exclusion of Immigrant Women in the Swiss Labour Market” (Swiss National Research Foundation, NFP 51, Grant 4051-69125, CHF 336’707)

01.10.1998 – 30.09.2001: “Mapping Social Networks: A Cross-Cultural Enquiry into Urban Liveability and the Social Construction of Space” ((Swiss National Research Foundation, Grant PIOI1-115231, CHF 15’000)

Enseignements / Teaching

Géographie Urbaine/Urban Geography
Géographie régionale/Regional Geography
Conception de la recherche/Research Design
Méthodes qualitatives en géographie/Qualitative Methods in Geography
Recherche Participative/Participatory Research
Urbanisation dans les pays du Sud/Urbanization in the Global South,

Contenu multimédia / Media content

Documentary “Weaving Threads Across Borders”

It shows the struggle of three Colombian women living on the border between Colombia and Venezuela, where guerrillas and paramilitaries fight for control of the territory, displacing thousands of Colombians in the process. The three stories illustrate the lives of many internally displaced Colombians who, after migrating to Venezuela in 2000, were illegally deported by the Venezuelan government in 2015. Despite the widespread violence, the women narrators develop strategies to survive with their micro-businesses and socially connect both sides of the border. The documentary gives a voice to women who struggle daily for their survival, raises awareness among academics, professionals and the international community, and carries out an empowering scientific practice.

Publications

Riaño, Y. (2025): « Bin Ökonomin, arbeite aber als Putzfrau» Wie lässt sich Brain-Waste in der Schweiz vermeiden? (‘I’m an economist, but I work as a cleaner’ How can brain waste be avoided in Switzerland?) » Terra Cognita, Swiss Journal of Integration and Migration, Nr. 41, 101-103. https://www.terra-cognita.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/terracognita/documents/terra_cognita_41_bf.pdf
Aliaga-Sáez, F., García-Arango, D., Riaño, Y. Sepúlveda-Aguirre, J., Betancur-Betancur, D. (2025): “Migrant Entrepreneurs between Colombia and Germany: Return, Strategies and Expectations”. Social Sciences. 14(5), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14050305.
Riaño, Yvonne (2025): “Transnational migrant entrepreneurs”. In: Elgar Encyclopedia of Global Migration, New Mobilities and Artivism. Eds: Oso, L., Ribas-Mateos, N., Moralli, M. Elgar Encyclopedias in the Social Sciences Series. 558-561 pp. ISBN 978 1 03530 032.
Netz, Nicolai, Van Mol, Christoph., Riaño, Yvonne, & Raghuram, Parvati (2024). “The Role of Place in International Student Mobility”. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/14767724.2024.2414036
Izaguirre, Lorena, & Riaño, Yvonne (2024): “Weaving transnational spaces: Peruvian and Colombian suitcase traders moving across South American borders”.Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/04353684.2024.2322747
Riaño, Yvonne; Webster, Natasha; Sandoz, Laure; Solano, Giacomo, Yamamura, Sakura (2024): « Globalizations from Below: Understanding the Spatialities, Mobilities and Resources of Transnational Migrant Entrepreneurs across the Globe »,Globalizations, DOI: 10.1080/14747731.2024.2305994.
Riaño, Yvonne & Aliaga, Felipe (2024). « Colombians Returning from Venezuela: The Role of Social Networks and Cross-Border Mobilities in their Business Ventures ».Migraciones Internacionales. Vol. 15, Art. 01, 2024. e-ISSN 2594-0279 https://doi.org/10.33679/rmi.v1i1.2706
Riaño, Y. (2023) Kleinunternehmer im Grenzgebiet Kolumbien-Venezuela ¾ ein Beitrag zur lokalen Entwicklung?» Almanach Entwicklungspolitik 2024. Gehen müssen, bleiben können. Lucerne: Caritas Verlag, pp.179-190.
Riaño, Y. (2023) “Documentaries as Means for Empowerment and Knowledge Transfer: Experiences from “Weaving Threads Across Borders”. GeoAgenda, Nr. 2023/2, pp. 36 – 39.
Sandoz, L., Mittmasser, C., Riaño, Y., Izaguirre, L.(2022) “Transnational migrant entrepreneurs: understanding their dependencies, fragilities, and alternatives”, Globalizations, DOI: 1080/14747731.2022.2157149
Riaño, Yvonne; Mittmasser, Christina; Sandoz, Laure (2022). « Spatial Mobility Capital: A Valuable Resource for the Social Mobility of Border‐Crossing Migrant Entrepreneurs? Societies, 12, 77. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc12030077.
Riaño, Yvonne (2022). « Migrant Entrepreneurs as Agents of Development? Geopolitical Context and Transmobility Strategies of Colombian Migrants Returning from Venezuela ». Journal of International Migration and Integration. 12(3):77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-022-00959-w
Riaño, Yvonne (2022). «Ganancia» o «desperdicio de cerebros» en la migración de universitarios españoles e italianos a Suiza? La falta de oportunidades tiene un rostro femenino”. Aulamediterrànea. IEMed, Nr. 123, pp.1-6, https://www.iemed.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Article-123_Yvonne-Riano.pdf
Riaño, Yvonne (2021). « Inégalité des chances entre femmes et hommes, entre migrants et non-migrants. Une perspective intersectionnelle ». Terra Cognita, Swiss Journal of Integration and Migration 38: 28-31.
Sandoz, Laure; Mitmasser, Christina; Riaño, Yvonne, Piguet, Etienne (2021). « A Review of transnational migrant entrepreneurship: Perspectives on unequal spatialities ». Zeitschrift für Wirstchaftsgeographie: The German Journal of Economic Geography. https://doi.org/10.1515/zfw-2021-0004.
Komposch, Nora; Pohl, Nicholas; Riaño, Yvonne (2021). « Worker cooperatives’ Potential for migrant women self-empowerment. Insights from a case study in New York City« . nccr – on the move, Working Paper nr. 29. University of Neuchâtel.https://nccr-onthemove.ch/publications/worker-cooperatives-potential-for-migrant-womens-self-empowerment/
Riaño, Yvonne (2021) « Understanding brain waste: Unequal opportunities for skills development between highly skilled women and men, migrants and non-migrants ». Population, Space and Place. https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.2456.
Riaño, Yvonne (2021). « Highly skilled migrant and non-migrant women and men: How do differences in quality of employment arise? ». Administrative Sciences 11: 5. https://doi.org/ 10.3390/admsci11010005.
Riaño, Yvonne & Piguet, Etienne (2018). « International students: Switzerland’s ideal highly skilled migrants? Policy Brief nr. 10. Swiss National Centre of Competence in Migration Research ‘on the move’. https://nccr-onthemove.ch/knowledge-transfer/policy-briefs/international-students-switzerlands-ideal-highly-skilled-migrants/
Riaño, Yvonne, Christof van Mol, Parvati Raghuram (2018). « New directions in studying policies of international student mobility and migration« . Globalisation, Societies and Education, 16:3, p. 283-294. DOI: 10.1080/14767724.2018.1478721
Riaño, Yvonne, Annique Lombard, Etienne Piguet (2018). « How to explain migration policy openness in times of closure »? The case of international students in Switzerland”. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 16:3, p. 295-307. DOI: 10.1080/14767724.2017.1412823
Renggli, Christina & Yvonne Riaño (2017). « Mobilité étudiante internationale: raisons d’étudier en Suisse, stratégies, expériences et projets d’avenir ». Géo-Regards 10: 71-91. https://www.alphil.com/index.php/alphil-revues/geo-regards-1/geo-regards-n-10-2017.html
Gillabert, Matthieu & Yvonne Riaño (2017). « Les étudiant.e.s extra-européen.ne.s dans le discours politique suisse (1900-2015): garantie de compétitivité internationale ou concurrence à refréner »? Géo-Regards 10: 11-29. https://www.alphil.com/index.php/alphil-revues/geo-regards-1/geo-regards-n-10- 2017.html
Riaño, Yvonne, Annique Lombard, Etienne Piguet (2017). « The global race for talent in Switzerland. How to explain migration policy liberalisation to allow international students staying after graduation« ? Working Paper 14. NCCR On the Move. University of Neuchatel. https://nccr-onthemove.ch/publications/the-global-race-for-talent-in-switzerland-how-to-explain-migration-policy-liberalisation-to-allow-international-students-staying-after-graduation/
Riaño, Yvonne (2017). « Conceptualising space in transnational migration studies. A critical perspective ». In Eva Youkhana (ed), Border Transgression. Mobility and Mobilization in Crisis. Bonn University Press, V&R Academic. pp. 35-48. https://doi.org/10.14220/9783737007238.35.
Riaño, Yvonne & Piguet, Etienne (2016): « International student migration ». In Oxford Bibliographies in Geography. Ed. Barney Warf. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 1-24, doi: 10.1093/OBO/9780199874002-0141
Caretta, Martina & Riaño, Yvonne (2016): « Feminist participatory methodologies in Geography. Creating spaces of inclusion ». In: Qualitative Research (QR), Vol. 16(3): 1-9. Sage. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1468794116629575
Riaño, Yvonne (2016): « Minga participatory workshops with highly skilled migrant women: Enhancing spaces of inclusion ». In: Qualitative Research (QR), Vol. 16(3): 267-279. Sage. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1468794115614884.
Riaño Yvonne, Limacher Katharina, Aschwanden André, Hirsig Sophie (2015): « Shaping Gender Inequalities: Critical Moments and Critical Places ». In: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, Special Issue: Critical Transitions: The (Re-)Production of Gender (In-)Equality in the Life Course. 34(2): pp. 155-167. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/EDI-12-2013-0112/full/html.
Riaño Yvonne (2015): « Latin American Women who Migrate for Love: Imagining European Men as Ideal Partners » In: Enguix, Begonya & Roca, Jordi (eds): « Rethinking Romantic Love. Discussions, Mobilities and Practices ». Cambridge Scholars Publishing: pp. 45-60. https://www.cambridgescholars.com/resources/pdfs/978-1-4438-7645-2-sample.pdf
Riaño Yvonne (2014): « Highly Skilled Migrant Women: Dual Career Households, Family Considerations and Gender Roles ». In: Harnessing Knowledge on the Migration of Highly Skilled Women, International Organization for Migration (IOM) and OECD Development Centre: pp. 78-85.
Riaño, Yvonne (2014): « Migrer par amour: aspiration à l’egalité? Terra Cognita. Revue Suisse de l’intégration et de la migratio Numéro spécial « L’amour au temps de la migration ». Issue 24, pp. 20-23. http://www.terra-cognita.ch/index.php?id=2.
Baghdadi Nadia & Riaño Yvonne (2014): « Familie und Beruf vereinbaren? Vorstellungen und Strategien hochqualifizierter Migrant/innen ». In: Passagen (Eds.) Vielfältig alltäglich: Migration und Geschlecht in der Schweiz. Pp. 36-57, Zürich: Seismo Verlag, Reihe Geschlechterfragen.
Riaño, Yvonne (2013). « Les expériences de retour des sans-papiers rentrés en Equateur: Ressources et défis, mesures proposées pour un retour viable ». Working Paper 11 – 2013/F, Series Circulation of People. Maison d’Analyse des Processus Sociaux, University of Neuchâtel. ISSN: 1662-744X.
Riaño, Yvonne (2012): « Die Produktion von Wissen als Minga: Ungleiche Arbeitsbeziehungen zwischen Forschenden und « Beforschten » überwinden? » In: Corona Berkin, Sarah & Olaf Kaltmeier, (Eds): Methoden xwdekolonialisieren. Eine Werkzeugkiste zur Demokratisierung der Sozial- und Kulturwissenschaften. Verlag Westfälisches Dampfboot. Pp. 120-144. ISBN: 978-3-89691-912-0.
Riaño, Yvonne (2012): « The Invisibility of Family in Studies of Skilled Migration and Brain Drain: Policy Implications ». Diversities. UNESCO. Special Issue on Skilled Migration and the Brain Drain. Vol 14, N. 1. Pp 25-44. ISSN: 2079-6595.
Riaño, Yvonne (2012). « The Production of Knowledge as a ‘Minga’: Challenges and Opportunities of a New Participatory Approach based on Co-determination and Reciprocity« . Working Paper 3 – 2012/E, Series Circulation of Knowledge. Maison d’analyse des processus sociaux, University of NeuchâteI. ISSN: 1662-744X.
Bachmann, Susanne & Yvonne Riaño (2012): « Emanzipation von oben: Symbolische Qualitäten des Schweizer Integrationsrechts ». In: Juridikum – Zeitschrift für Kritik, Recht, Gesellschaft. Sonderheft 4: Die symbolische Qualität des Rechts. pp. 496-504.
Riaño Yvonne (2012): « Zwangsheirat: Generationenkonflikte und geschlechtsspezifische Handlungsspielräume ». In: Mechthild Bereswill, Peter Rieker, Anna Schnitzer (eds.) Migration und Geschlecht – theoretische Annäherungen und empirische Befund Weinheim/München: Juventa Verlag, pp. 163-191, ISBN 978-3-7799-2305-3.
Riaño, Yvonne (2012): « La producción de conocimiento como « minga » y las barreras a la equidad en el proceso investigativo ». In: Corona Berkin, Sarah & Olaf Kaltmeier (eds): En diálogo. Metodologías horizontales en Ciencias Sociales y Culturales. Barcelona: Editorial Gedisa. Colección Herramientas Universitarias. Pp. 137-160. ISBN: 9788497846783.
Riaño Yvonne (2011): « Addressing Urban Fear and Violence in Bogotá through the Culture of Citizenship: Scope and Challenges of a Unique Approach« . In: Martin Butler, Jens Martin Gurr, Olaf Kaltmeier, (eds). EthniCities: Metropolitan Cultures and Ethnic Identities in the Americas. Bilingual Review Press (Arizona State University) and Wissenschaftlicher Verlag Trier (WVT), pp. 209-226. ISBN 978-1931010818.
Riaño Yvonne (2011): « Drawing New Boundaries of Participation: Experiences and Strategies of Economic Citizenship among Skilled Migrant Women in Switzerland ». Environment and Planning A. London, Volume 43: pp. 1530-1546.
Riaño Yvonne (2011): « He’s the Swiss Citizen, I’m the Foreign Spouse »: Binational Marriages and the Impact of Family-Related Migration Policies on Social Integration and Gender Relations ». In: Albert Kraler, Eleonore Kofman, Martin Kohli, Camille Schmoll (Eds.): Gender, Generations, and the Family in International Migration. IMISCOE Research. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, pp. 265-283. ISBN 978-9089642851.
Riaño Yvonne (2011): « Barrieren aufbrechen: Erfahrungen und Strategien von qualifizierten Migrantinnen beim Zugang zum Schweizer Arbeitsmarkt ». Berichte zur deutschen Landeskunde. Deutsche Akademie für Landeskunde, pp. 25-48.
Riaño Yvonne & Janine Dahinden, (2010): Zwangsheirat: Hintergründe, Massnahmen, lokale und transnationale Dynamiken (Forced Marriages: Background, Policies, Local and Transnational Dynamics). Seismo Verlag (Zurich). ISBN-10: ‎ 3037770910.
Baghdadi, Nadia & Yvonne Riaño, (2010): « Negotiating Spaces of Participation: Experiences and Strategies of Skilled Immigrant Women to Achieve Professional Integration » In: Elzbieta H. Oleksy, Dorota Golanska and Jeff Hearn (Eds.). Gender and Citizenship: Equality, Diversity, Migration. Palgrave MacMillan.
Reist Daniela & Riaño Yvonne, (2008): « Hablando de aquí y de allá: patrones de comunicación transnacional entre migrantes y sus familiares ». In: Gioconda Herrera and Jacques Ramírez (Eds.). América Latina migrante: Estado, familia, identidades. FLACSO, Ecuador, pp. 303-323. ISBN: 978-9978-67-167-2.
Riaño Yvonne & Nadia Baghdadi (2008): « Les migrantes qualifiées et leurs possibilités d’intégration professionnelle en Suisse« . Résultats et recommendations d’une recherché realisée dans le cadre du Programme national de recherche Intégration et exclusion » (PNR 51). Université de Berne.
Riaño Yvonne, Nadia Baghdadi, Doris Wastl-Walter (2008): « Gut ausgebildete Migrantinnen und ihre beruflichen Integrationschancen in der Schweiz« . Resultate und Empfehlungen einer Studie im Rahmen des Nationalen Forschungsprogramms Integration und Ausschluss (NFP 51). Universität Bern
Riaño Yvonne and Nadia Baghdadi, (2007): « Understanding the Labour Market Participation of Skilled Immigrant Women in Switzerland: The Interplay of Class, Ethnicity and Gender ». In Journal of International Migration and Integration, Vol. 8, N. 2, pp. 163-183. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12134-007-0012-
Riaño Yvonne and Nadia Baghdadi, (2007): « Je pensais que je pourrais avoir une relation plus égalitaire avec un Européen ». Le rôle du genre et des imaginaires géographiques dans la migration des femmes ». Nouvelles Questions Féministes, Special issue on ‘Genre et frontières – frontières de genre’, Lausanne: Editions Antipodes, Vol. 1, pp. 38-53. ISSN 0248-4951. https://core.ac.uk/reader/159620070
Riaño Yvonne and Nadia Baghdadi, (2007): « Warum können qualifizierte Migrantinnen ihre Ressourcen nicht besser in den Arbeitsmarkt einbringen? ». In: Andrea Bächtold and Laura von Mandach (Eds.): Integration und Ausschluss in der Arbeitswelt (Integration and Exclusion in the Labour Market), Zurich: Seismo, pp. 102-113. ISBN: 978-3-03777-056-6
Riaño Yvonne, (2007): « Migration des femmes latino-américaines universitaires en Suisse. Géographies migratoires, motifs de migration et questions de genre ». In Bolzman, Claudio, Carbajal, Myrian, Mainardi, Giuditta (eds.), La Suisse au rythme latino. Dynamiques migratoires des Latino-Américains. IES Editions, Genève, pp. 115-136. ISBN: 978-2-88224-078-1. http://doc.rero.ch/record/305847
Riaño Yvonne and Nadia Baghdadi, (2007): « Arbeitsmarktpartizipation von gut ausgebildeten Migrantinnen aus Drittstaatländer in der Schweiz: Zwischen Dequalifizierung und instabile Arbeitsverhältnisse ». Juridikum 2, Univ. Vienna: 87-91.
Riaño, Yvonne and Nadia Baghdadi, (2007): « Unbekannte Migrantinnen in der Schweiz – Studie zu qualifizierten Frauen aus Lateinamerika, dem Nahen und Mittleren Osten und Südosteuropa ». In: Widerspruch 51, Migration, Integration und Menschenrechte. Zürich: Ropress, pp. 43 – 51.
Riaño Yvonne and Wastl-Walter Doris, (2006): « Immigration Policies, State Discourses on Foreigners and the Politics of Identity in Switzerland ». Environment and Planning A, 38, Issue 9, Pp. 1693–1713.
Riaño Yvonne and Wastl-Walter Doris, (2006): “Historical Shifts in Asylum Policies in Switzerland: Between Humanitarian Values and the Protection of National Identity”. In Refugee Watch, Vol. 27: 1-18.
Riaño, Yvonne, (2005): “Women on the Move to Europe. A Review of the Literature on Gender and Migration”. In: Maria Gloria da Marroni and Gloria Salgado (eds.), Latinamerican Diaspora: Migration within a Globalized World. Universidad de Puebla & Japan External Trade Organization. pp. 207-238.
Riaño, Yvonne, (2003): “Migration of Skilled Latin American Women to Switzerland and Their Struggle for Social Integration”. In: Yamada Mutsuo (ed.), Latin American Emigration: Interregional Comparison among North America, Europe and Japan, JCAS Symposium Series 19, Osaka: Japan Centre for Area Studies, National Museum of Ethnology.
Riaño, Yvonne, (2000): « Approaching Latin American Cities from the Bottom-Up: Self-Help Networks, Place Identity and Participatory Research”. In: Borsdorf, A. (ed.): ‘Perspectives of Geographical Research on Latin America for the 21st Century’. ISR-Forschungsberichte, N. 23. Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna.
Riaño, Yvonne, (1999): « Réseaux sociaux, initiatives locales et recherche participative: vers une gestion environnementale durable dans les barrios de Quito, Ecuador ». In: J.C. Bolay, Y. Pedrazzini, M. Tanner (eds.), Environnement urbain. Recherche et action dans les pays en développement. Basel: Birkhäuser.
Riaño, Yvonne, (1995): « Transferring Video Skills as a Means of Empowering Disadvantaged Communities. Reality and Compromise in the Participatory Approach ». Habitat créatif, culture et participation: quelles innovations pour quel développement? Communications. Lausanne: IREC, Ecole Polytechnique Féderale de Lausanne (EPFL). pp. 50-58.
Riaño, Yvonne and Rolf Wesche, (1991): “Changing Informal Settlements in Latin American Cities”. In: A. Ritter, D. Pollock, M. Cameron (eds.): Latin America to the Year 2000. Reactivating Growth, Improving Equity, Sustaining Democracy. New York: Praeger Publishers.