Rethinking Participation: Migrant Realities in Policy and Practice

Rethinking Participation is a research-to-practice project that aims to strengthen the perspectives and lived experiences of newly arrived refugees and forced migrants in shaping how (labor market) integration policies and programs are designed and implemented in Germany. The project focuses on the local level, where frontline administrators translate national policies into practice and where newcomers directly encounter state institutions that influence their ability to meaningfully participate in society.

We will translate qualitative research into illustrative case stories of refugee women arriving in Germany that highlight their intersectional needs and barriers when settling, particularly in accessing the labor market. These stories will serve as the foundation for a series of interactive workshops with frontline administrators (e.g., in job centers or "one-stop welcome centers”) in several different regions of Germany. The workshops will foster dialogue, empathy, and reflection, encouraging administrators to engage more deeply with the lived realities of forced migrants while also sharing their own experiences as agents of integration. Insights from these exchanges will also inform a short series of audiovisual stories produced for wider engagement.

Through a policy brief and roundtable discussions, we will share insights from the stories, workshops, and exchanges with policymakers, informing broader policy debates.

Key Activities

• Local-level engagement: Interactive workshops with frontline administrators in up to six German municipalities.
• Audiovisual knowledge translation: A short series of stories based on qualitative research.
• Policy dialogue: A policy brief and roundtable discussions with relevant ministries and agencies.