EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Recognising the high potential of women in the diaspora as leaders and agents of change, the “Programme Migration & Diaspora” (PMD), funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), commissioned this exploratory mapping of women with a migration history in Germany and their engagement for sustainable development in their countries of origin.

The study aims to generate an evidence-based understanding of where, when, why, and how women in the diaspora engage for sustainable development, as well as the opportunities and challenges they face. It also explores how to foster opportunities for self-empowerment among women in the diaspora and promote their meaningful participation in development policy and actions.

The study should be read within the frame of the Federal Government of Germany’s feminist foreign and development policy, the overall goal of which is the realization of human rights and equal participation for all, regardless of their gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity or other characteristics. As the results of this research make clear, strengthening the rights, resources and representation of engaged women in the diaspora not only has the potential to transform gendered dynamics within diaspora cooperation but can also contribute to the protection of women migrants more generally and to addressing gender inequalities and supporting marginalised groups in countries of origin.

A qualitative data collection strategy was employed, including a desk study of secondary data and primary data collection in the form of semi-structured key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FDGs). The desk review allowed for a mapping of diaspora women organisations and women leaders in the diaspora and took stock of existing literature on their engagement for sustainable development in their countries of origin. In total, 128 diaspora women actors in Germany (organisations and individuals) were identified and included within a database. KIIs and FDGs with 46 women in the diaspora from ten PMD partner countries enabled a more indepth exploration of their experiences, perspectives, and aspirations for engaging in sustainable development.

Document available here.