Action research project

Between 2019 and 2023, Sciences Po's Gender Studies Programme collaborated with Women Forward International, a global nonprofit which partners with private sector, academic, and non-profit organisations to identify research critical to human progress and implement solutions. Sciences Po master's students completed field research, wrote reports and gave recommendations on specific issues related to women's rights.

2022-2023 Project: Crafting Resilience in Times of War

Russia's aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022 has forced more than one-third of Ukrainians from their homes. More than 8 million people fled the country, 90% of whom are women and children. The war has had a profound impact on the country's population, including women artisans. Many have been forced to flee their homes, leaving behind their everyday lives, communities and crafting material. Despite the challenges of war and displacement, Ukrainian women artisans continue to practice their craft, expressing their creativity, resilience, sometimes resistance, connecting with their cultural heritage to preserve it.

During the academic year 2022-2023, five Sciences Po master's Students, Isabel Davis, Anaïs Fiault, Nadine Henschel, Sasha Milbeck and Clara Ruthardt, led an action-research project, in partnership with the nonprofit Nest, and thanks to the support of the Open Society University Network (OSUN), bringing into focus the specific situation of displaced Ukrainian women artisans.

• Read the report: Crafting Resilience in Times of War. Ukrainian Refugee Craftswomen in Europe (PDF, 1,8Mo)
• Read the report's Executive Summary (PDF, 200Ko), also available in Ukrainian (PDF, 230Ko)
• Watch a video presentation of the student project:

2021-2022 Project: Enhancing the Social and Economic Inclusion of Migrant and Refugee Artisan Women in Europe

During the 2021-2022 academic year, Isabella Brandes, Eva Korn, Qin Miao, Sreya Nath and Martina Sole, Sciences Po master's Students, worked on migrant and refugee women’s economic and social inclusion through craftwork. This program will lead to the creation of a report mapping the craft landscape within migrant and refugee programs in Europe for Nest, a nonprofit building a new handworker economy to increase global workforce inclusivity.

• Read the report: Craftswomanship. Enhancing the Social and Economic Inclusion of Migrant and Refugee Women in Europe (PDF, 2Mo)
• Read an interview with the students about their project

2020-2021 Project: Young Migrant Women's Political Participation

During the 2020-2021 academic year, Gabrielle Majko, Carolina Medina, Jillian Montilla, and Faty-Sharone Sylla, Sciences Po Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) students conducted an action research project, for and with the European Network of Migrant Women, on the participation of women migrants and refugees in regional and international decision-making processes. Find out more.

• Read the report: Young Migrant Women's Political Participation (PDF, 472Ko) — also available in French (PDF, 600Ko) and Spanish (PDF, 400Ko)
• Read the toolkit (PDF, 4,2Mo) — also available in French (PDF, 1Mo) and Spanish (PDF, 1Mo)

2019-2020 Project: How Women’s Collectives are Transforming the Culture of West Africa

During the 2019-2020 academic year, five master's students conducted an action research project for and with the NGO Equipop. Carolin Beck, Chloé Bertrand, Hannah Milbers, Inaïssa Sylla and Sofietou Sakho drew up an in-depth report on the collective actions of young feminists in French-speaking West Africa. In January 2020, they interviewed feminist activists in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and Dakar, Senegal.

• Read the Executive Summary (PDF, 1,3Mo)
• Find out more