Thea Hilhorst

Prof. Thea Hilhorst is a leading scholar in humanitarian studies at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her work focuses on crises arising from disasters, conflicts, and political instability, emphasizing the intersection of humanitarian aid, development, and social justice. She holds a Spinoza Prize (2022), the Netherlands' highest scientific honor, and established the Hague Humanitarian Studies Centre. Her research spans global contexts like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Syria, with a focus on accountability, resilience, and advocacy in humanitarian action.

Education: PhD (2000) in Rural Sociology from Wageningen University, followed by roles as lecturer and professor at Wageningen before transitioning to ISS in 2015. Key contributions include founding the International Humanitarian Studies Association (IHSA) and co-creating platforms like KUNO for knowledge exchange in humanitarian work.

Research Themes: Humanitarian governance, resilience in crisis, gender in disasters, and the ethical dimensions of fieldwork in conflict zones. Recent projects include analyzing 'When Conflict Meets Disaster' and humanitarian accountability frameworks.

Awards: Spinoza Prize (2022), French Red Cross Foundation Prize (2020), and KNAW Membership (2021). Grants include ERC Advanced Grant (2020) and NWO funding for studies on transactional sex in crises and humanitarian accountability.

Advocacy & Media: Regular contributor to Dutch and international media on crises like the Ukraine war and Gaza conflict. Advises policy bodies, including the Dutch House of Representatives and UN agencies. Committed to training early-career researchers, particularly from Global South institutions.