Advancing Participatory Approaches in Global Migrant Research: A Roundtable Discussion

Researchers and policy-makers alike increasingly recognise the importance of engaging diverse perspectives in global migrant research. There is a shift toward more community-led, co-produced, and decolonial approaches that centre migrants as active collaborators in research design, implementation, and dissemination. The aims are to explore [1] the use of participatory approaches in global migration research; [2] genuine participatory approaches or 'best practice' in participatory approaches to migration research and [3] barriers and facilitators for participatory research at a global level. This study used a qualitative design in the form of a structured roundtable discussion. The roundtable was held virtually in 2024 with 16 individual participants from nine countries, with expertise in migration research and practice. The session lasted two hours and was moderated by two facilitators, with open-ended questions designed to elicit reflections on participatory approaches in migrant research. The themes were: use of participatory approaches, best practices, and barriers and facilitators to participation. Participants highlighted key participatory methods commonly used, including the 'use of frameworks', the use as 'researchers as social agents' or intermediaries to amplify migrant community voices and the use of 'community-led direction'. Best practices included the prioritisation of measurable benefits for the community itself, ensuring sustained engagement, from inception to the completion of the project and beyond and avoiding the use of generalising methodologies. Limitations identified were discrimination faced by migrant communities, continued relocation, or misalignment with research funder expectations were also noted. Enablers were the building of community trust, the use of innovative and flexible research funding models, and the establishment of knowledge exchanges between communities and researchers. Future lines of action include addressing these challenges through innovative models such as trust-based philanthropy, and emphasising the need for genuine engagement and community agency - and the inclusion of frontline worker perspectives in research.