AfricanMigrantWomen · African Migrant Women

African Migrant Women

The aim set forth in the first incoming phase of the AMIWOMEN project was focused on how to develop a line of research based on the central theme of African migrant women in Europe and Africa with regard to their polygamy practices. It looks at the complex situation with respect to ethnicity, consanguineous marriage, gender, age, aesthetic and body in general and the impact of the practices of polygamies in European and African societies. For the second and return phase, the project was looking at to explore the experiences of these migrants by connecting them to a vast panel of debate on the links between migration and gender, the ageing theory and masculinities. The re-integration phase has been dedicated to provide training, knowledge sharing and direction in analyzing underground polygamy practices. It also has developed consensus about the use of ethical issues in social science methods and methodologies of the discipline-based approach to know how to use the sensitive information on polygamy practiced condensed in the conclusions of this present research. Following is an outline of the main results stemming from these addressed topics. 1. Networking with targeted people and sharing knowledge In this stage, the researcher has shown that it was a necessity to target a special network audience in order to create an automatic bond between African women migrants, professionals (policy makers, students, researchers) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working on the topics of migration issues in Senegal and the Gambia. In total 60 persons belonging to local organisations have been sensitised and have had a good knowledge of the project. The obtained results from these activities was that data from previous research (incoming phase) has been shared with students, young and senior researchers at IFAN, Senegal. The fellow has compiled several published articles, working papers and other documents of interest and related to the research for the targeted panel. Other results which can be mentioned were that the fellow was able to list some of the relevant NGOs working on the thematic of migrations and to invite them to result restitution sessions in IFAN. Data then was shared during the conference animated by the fellow on 27 June 2012 at IFAN with local organisations. The organisations that attended that meeting were: ILO-Senegal, West African Panos Institute based in Dakar, OIM West Africa, CRDI-Senegal, Population Development Institute and Reproduction Health based in the University of Dakar, technicians of Senegalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Home Affairs Ministry, researchers from the French Institute Research and Development based in Dakar, etc. 2. IFAN staff meetings/one workshop and one conference The purpose of this activity stage was also to share information. Several meetings were held by the fellow with colleagues of the IFAN Staff Department where issues on African migrant women and possibility to collaborate in networking project have been largely discussed. One conference on the topic of 'Polygamy among Senegalese and Gambian immigrants in Europe: geo-sociological approach' has been presented by the fellow on 27 June 2012. Also, and as scheduled in the re-integration phase programme, one workshop on 'Sensitive data collection and ethical issues in social sciences research' was held on 2 November 2012 and where several invited researchers presented their ongoing works. The results of these described activities had a wide impact because they promote the establishment of new collaborative initiatives with the potential of creating permanent linkages between scholars trained in Europe and African (and Senegalese) colleagues. Also the cooperation and exchange of information have been boosted by sharing the results of academic research with decision-makers in the public or private sectors. Gender-relevant knowledge and the way to handle sensitive issues when it comes to ethics, during the different workshop, the conference and the concluding session have been also shared.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union