Lizandra Serafim is a Social scientist, PhD candidate in Social Sciences at the University of Campinas (Unicamp), researcher on citizen participation, accountability, and  public policies at the local and national levels in Brazil.  Serafim has been working on research-related activities, consultancy, and capacity building for public managers and social movements at the Polis Institute and CEBRAP (Centro Brasileiro de Análise e Planejamento) in São Paulo. Her PhD research project involves studying citizen participation at the national level during the Lula administration (2003-2010).