Overview

The Sex Worker Empowerment and Leadership Development program area is a cornerstone of NIKAT’s mission. It ensures that sex workers are recognized as leaders and active participants in shaping solutions to the challenges affecting their health, livelihoods, and rights. By strengthening local self-help groups and promoting collective action, this program area fosters resilience, advocacy skills, and sustainable leadership.

Program Area Focus

This program area emphasizes leadership capacity-building, organizational skills development, socio-economic empowerment, and self-help group strengthening. Participants are equipped with the knowledge and tools to manage group activities, mobilize resources, and confidently represent themselves in advocacy platforms and policy dialogues.

Key Interventions

NIKAT provides ongoing training and mentorship to strengthen sex worker-led groups. This includes leadership workshops, financial literacy, advocacy skills, and networking opportunities. Income-generating activities, savings groups, and peer support systems are promoted to enhance economic independence and collective problem-solving. The program area also creates channels for communication and coordination between groups and NIKAT’s central support structures, ensuring that leadership and decision-making are community-driven.

Outcomes & Impact