Transforming understandings of transactional sex in humanitarian contexts

Impact Explorer grant awarded to Dr Karin Astrid Siegmann

Dr Karin Astrid Siegmann has been awarded an Impact Explorer grant by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) for her 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'

Two hands holding a small posy of red, yellow, white and pink flowers
Nayab Kanwal

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. 

This entails building the necessary capacity to translate the research results into outputs that are accessible for both service providers and the 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
Associate professor
Project lead
Assistant professor
Project country liaison
More information

What is Impact Explorer?

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.

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