Project Description
Building on AWiM’s previous work promoting gender-responsive reporting on migration and free movement in Africa, this initiative shifts the focus towards the women whose work is transforming migration policy, research, advocacy, journalism, entrepreneurship, and community development.
Migration is frequently discussed through statistics, policy debates, and crisis narratives. Less visible are the women developing solutions, influencing policy, supporting migrant communities, conducting research, building businesses, and shaping the future of mobility across the continent.
By documenting their stories and connecting them with journalists, policymakers, researchers, and the public, this project contributes to more representative storytelling while increasing the visibility of African women leading change.
Key Components of the Project
Selection and Editorial Framework
Changemakers are identified through an editorial framework that includes thematic selection, nomination and verification criteria, participant consent, safeguarding measures, and editorial standards. This process ensures that every profile reflects ethical storytelling while highlighting diverse experiences and expertise across Africa.
Multimedia Changemaker Profiles
Eight African women changemakers will be featured through multimedia profiles highlighting their work, impact, and contributions to migration and mobility.
Each profile will include:
A written feature story
Professional portraits
Direct quotations from the featured changemaker
Social media assets designed for wider dissemination
Her Media Diary Podcast Conversations
Four special episodes of Her Media Diary will bring featured changemakers into conversation with one another, exploring shared experiences, leadership journeys, challenges, and opportunities shaping migration across Africa.
Each episode will be edited, captioned, and transcribed to improve accessibility and reach while making it available on a public platform.
SourceHer Directory Pilot
The pilot aims to increase journalists’ access to credible women experts while improving women’s representation in migration reporting. Each expert profile will be searchable by country and area of expertise.
Story Relay Campaign
The Story Relay campaign extends the reach of each changemaker profile through coordinated publishing across AWiM platforms and partner networks. Supported by a co-publication toolkit and tailored social media assets, the campaign encourages wider media uptake, cross-platform visibility, and continued public engagement with the featured stories.
Insights and Policy Brief
The project will synthesise recurring themes emerging from interviews and stories into a concise insight and policy brief.
The publication will highlight:
Common barriers affecting women in migration and mobility
Emerging solutions and lessons for policymakers
Recommendations for labour migration programming and future initiatives
Learning Dialogue
The project will host a virtual learning dialogue bringing together featured changemakers, journalists, researchers, policymakers, programme implementers, and media practitioners.
The session will provide a platform to reflect on project insights, strengthen collaboration, and explore opportunities for continued engagement beyond the project lifecycle.
Expected Outcomes
The project aims to:
Increase the visibility of African women leading change in migration and mobility.
Expand access to credible women experts through the SourceHer directory.
Produce high-quality multimedia stories that enrich public understanding of migration.
Foster dialogue between media, research, policy, and practice.
Strengthen gender-responsive storytelling on labour migration across Africa.
Create a lasting body of knowledge showcasing African women’s leadership within migration and mobility.
By making these stories, expert profiles, and conversations publicly accessible, the project contributes to reshaping how women working on migration and mobility are represented in media, included in public conversations, quoted as experts, and engaged in policymaking processes. In doing so, it supports a more inclusive and evidence-informed discourse on migration and free movement across Africa.
