GV (Gabriela) Villacis Izquierdo

Biography

Educator, Academic Researcher & International Relations Scholar

I am a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Social Studies (ISS), Erasmus University Rotterdam, where I contribute to The Hague Humanitarian Studies Centre. My current research sits at the intersection of humanitarian governance and feminist approaches, with a particular emphasis on community-based and grassroots forms of crisis response and advocacy.

My scholarly work is grounded in International Relations, informed by a multidisciplinary lens that draws on Political Analysis, Conflict Studies, and Human Rights, with a regional focus on Latin America. I am especially interested in how local and feminist frameworks can challenge and reshape dominant narratives in humanitarian and migration studies.

This academic work is complemented by over thirteen years of combined professional experience in the public and non-profit sectors across Ecuador, Colombia, and the Netherlands. Working at the intersection of theory and practice has shaped how I approach research: with attention to context, community, and real-world impact.