Evaluation of the Reporting and Information Centre on Antiziganism (MIA)

Antiziganism is widespread in Germany, yet incidents characteristic of this form of discrimination are still insufficiently documented. Established in 2022, the Reporting and Information Centre on Antiziganism (MIA) records such incidents in order to empower those affected and raise public awareness of the issue. The project conducts both a process- and outcome-oriented evaluation to examine the implementation of MIA and assess its results against previously defined outcome objectives. The final report provides a summative assessment of implementation activities and their outcomes with regard to these objectives, while also developing formative recommendations aimed at improving and sustainably achieving the intended outcomes.

• Insufficient documentation of incidents of antiziganism: Despite the identified high prevalence of antiziganist attitudes in Germany and documented experiences of racism affecting Sinti*zze and Rom*nja, there was a lack of systematic structures for recording and documenting incidents of antiziganism until the establishment of MIA in 2022.
• Lack of research on impact and outcomes: Despite accompanying studies, it has so far not been possible to analyse effects at the level of outcomes and impact—there is therefore a lack of evidence regarding the actual effects of reporting centres such as MIA on target groups and society.
• Gaps in the evaluation of specific activity areas: Key areas such as reporting tools and communication, as well as training and public outreach, are essential components of MIA’s work. However, their effectiveness has so far been only marginally researched.
• Limited knowledge of needs in efforts to combat antiziganism: There is a lack of systematic knowledge about the general needs in combating antiziganism and how structures such as reporting centres and referral counselling services should be designed to best meet these needs.
• Insufficient research on sustainability and institutionalisation: There is a research gap regarding which activities, measures, and forms of support are necessary for the sustainable and improved achievement of objectives in anti-antiziganism structures—particularly in light of changes in implementing organisations and expiring funding periods.
• Lack of evidence on the effectiveness of networking activities: The effectiveness of networking between civil society and state actors in the field of anti-antiziganism work has not yet been systematically studied.

The analysis will examine whether the activities are generally suitable for achieving MIA’s objectives and to what extent activities and structures could be improved and/or expanded in order to better and sustainably achieve the intended objectives.

For the evaluation of MIA, various qualitative data collection and analysis methods are used; quantitative surveys involving indicator development, target group reach, and evaluation cannot be meaningfully implemented within the short project duration, nor in the absence of comparative data. The focus on qualitative methods enables an in-depth analysis of structural and impact relationships and the development of well-founded recommendations for action.

The data collection includes

• a review and analysis of academic and grey literature on the current state of antiziganism and civil society structures in the field of antiziganism;
• an extensive document analysis based on the project’s conceptual and implementation materials;
• a data collection workshop with management and staff;
• semi-structured interviews with internal and external stakeholders and/or experts, which are transcribed and analysed using deductive coding; and participant observation in approximately four workshops/committee meetings or similar MIA formats, with notes also being deductively coded and analysed.

The overall approach is structured into seven coordinated work packages.

The results can be found in:

• Sträter, Till; Sowa, Christian; Imamoğlu, Hümeyra (2024): Reporting Antiziganism in Germany: Final report of the evaluation of the Reporting and Information Centre on Antiziganism (MIA), available at: www.dezim-institut.de/publikationen/antiziganismus-in-deutschland-melden/

• Sträter, Till; Sowa, Christian; Imamoğlu, Hümeyra (2024): Reporting Antiziganism in Germany: Final report of the evaluation of the Reporting and Information Centre on Antiziganism (MIA), available at: www.dezim-institut.de/publikationen/antiziganismus-in-deutschland-melden/