Researchers at the International Institute of Social Studies have been awarded an Impact Explorer grant by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) for their project 'Transforming understandings of transactional sex in humanitarian contexts, and reforming institutional responses towards affected populations: the case of Venezuelan migrants and internally displaced populations in Bogotá and Cúcuta, Colombia'.
Transactional sex – the exchange of sex for money, goods, services or privileges – is a critical yet underrecognized livelihood strategy in humanitarian contexts.
This project seeks to strengthen the societal impact of research insights by partnering with four local community-based organizations to become a bridge between the target population and the humanitarian sector, beyond the duration of the project.
Partnering with four community-based organizations, the project will focus on building capacity for translating research results into outputs such as storytelling, script writing and podcast production that are accessible for both service providers and people practicing transactional sex.
Impact partners
These partners have experience working with humanitarian-crises affected populations and/or people
- Fundación de Mujeres Mercedes Abrego - organization working directly with and for people practicing transactional sex in Cúcuta, Colombia
- Trans Women Association from North Santander - a transwomen community-based organization from Cúcuta, Colombia
- Fundación Mahuampi Venezuela - organization working with migrant populations in Bogotá and surrounding areas, specifically with Venezuelan migrants
- Balu Organization - organization in Bogotá, working with various public and private organizations to reduce stigma towards sex work and transgender populations
The project is led by Dr Silke Heumann, PhD researcher Maria Inés Cubides Kovacsics and Dr Karin Astrid Siegmann.
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What is Impact Explorer?
provides grants to explore opportunities for societal impact arising from curiosity-driven research. It provides small top-up grants for ongoing research-projects in the Dutch Research Council's Open Competition or Talent Programme, to explore an unforeseen opportunity for impact.