Current Research at Ipsos I&O Public
AMONG OTHERS:
Expectations and experiences of local residents near AZC accommodations (refugees)
Municipality of The Hague
Dutch public experiences of discrimination by financial institutions
Ministry of Finance
​Solidarity experienced by Dutch public in national housing dilemmas
Sociaal en Cultureel Planbureau (SCP)
Experiences and needs of informal caregivers ("mantelzorgers")
Municipality of Amersfoort
Needs and reputation assessment
National Ombudsman, Netherlands' Ombudsman for Children, and the Ombudsman for Veterans
Needs assessment Dutch senior academics regarding the role of NWO
NWO (Dutch Research Council)
Programme evaluation Mens Centraal
Ministry of General Affairs
Policy evaluation Staat van de Uitvoering
Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom relations
Policy evaluation Wijkgericht Werken
Municipality of Weert

Previous Research
Inclusive Water and Sanitation Innovation - Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa
Athena Institute, VU Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Learning Evaluation of 6 Pilots in Child Protection Services - The Netherlands
Athena Institute, VU Amsterdam, the Netherlands

This research consisted of a learning evaluation of 6 pilots in the Dutch system of Child Protection. These 6 pilots focussed on exploring, designing and testing innovations in the wider child protection system with all relevant stakeholders. We performed a so-called learning evaluation in which we simultaneously gathered data on successful and non-successful innovation elements and helped in transforming practice. See publications.
Mothers in Action - Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa
PhD-research in Development Studies
University of the Western Cape, South Africa and VU Amsterdam, the Netherlands

My PhD research was a Participatory Action Research project focusing on mothers of disabled children in the township of Khayelitsha, Cape Town. In the economically and spatially segregated township Khayelitsha female carers experience considerable structural constraints in their lives, due to existent class, race and gender inequality. The prevalent stigma of disability was expected to intensify their struggles. Therefore, this three-year study aimed to both gain in-depth knowledge on the experiences of female caregivers of disabled children and to ignite a process of social change by empowering the caregivers. I used (creative) qualitative and quantitative methods to provide valuable data on the carers’ care giving practices, challenges and possibilities for change. Then, the group of mothers identified meaningful projects and executed them with my facilitation. They ended up setting up their own NGO called Lithemba executing several projects such as the publication of a children's book, income generating sewing activities, and peer support groups. This research responded to the international call for supporting caregivers and women’s empowerment, which has been on the forefront of development strategies for years.

See my previous blog to read an in-depth relay of this research.
Disability and Care: Fighting the Odds - Mutare, Zimbabwe
Master-research in International Development Studies
University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

This mixed-methods research concerned the well-being of female caregivers of disabled children in Zimbabwean townships. The Well-Being framework (University of Bath) and literature on disability and care have been combined to serve as a theoretical framework. In terms of methodology, both qualitative and quantitative methods have been used. A structured survey was carried out with 61 respondents, 4 participatory workshops were held with 28 participants and 21 in-depth interviews were conducted with both caregivers and local experts. In addition, secondary data was used for triangulation. 
Results showed that female caregivers in Zimbabwe try to ensure their child’s well-being, mainly by reducing the effects of poverty, physically assisting the child, focusing on receiving/giving education and by accepting the situation through religious faith. This shows that resources such as financial, social, medical, educational and professional, are far less important than ‘physical’ resources. Women rely mostly on their own labour and effort, e.g. basic household activities, giving physical assistance, and much less on external resources and strategies. Moreover, the female caregivers’ quality of life is certainly affected by their caregiving task. Due to stigma and discrimination, and to a certain extent due to limited freedom of movement, caregivers’ psychological and social quality of low is perceived low. Yet the conditions of the weak state prove to be the most influential in their considered poor quality of life and overall satisfaction with life. The effect of the weak state on available resources and possible strategies is a constant troubling factor in the caregivers’ lives.
Kunst is Rijkdom ("Art equals Wealth")
Bachelor-research for Cultural Anthropology
University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

This literature-based research critically assessed the claimed positive contribution of art projects in developing countries to the economic development of a community or even country. In recent decades art and culture have gained prominence in development practices. Especially their social and societal benefits are acclaimed. However, under the influence of the changing wind in Dutch politics, development organisations feel pressured (and are obliged) to measure their work in a quantitative manner more and more. This has led to unclaimed statements about the economical and even democratizing benefits of art projects. This literature review shows that at most art projects have an indirect effect on the economic development of a community. It is established that art projects enhance the existence of social capital, and in turn strong social capital in a community benefices economic development. However, the fact that it is an indirect and hard to prove relationship, development organisations investing in art projects should strongly emphasize the social and societal benefits of art projects instead of trying to fit in a framed box in which they don't belong. 
Downward Accountability
Research for ICCO, Development Cooperation, the Netherlands

This research was focused on reviewing existing literature on the concept of downward accountability and the surrounding mechanisms in developing countries.
Kunst als kracht ("Art is a force") - Mutare, Zimbabwe
Bachelor-research for Visual Marketing 
College of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

A qualitative research conducted in both Zimbabwe and the Netherlands on the possibilities for a sustainable cultural exchange between the two sister-cities Haarlem and Mutare. Interviews and focus groups were held with artists and representatives from the visual arts, performing arts, photography and literature discipline from both cities.