Apollo’s experience reflects the approach developed within the IN LOCO project, which places strong emphasis on the role of Refugee Researchers.
Refugee Researchers are people with lived experience of migration who actively contribute to transnational research activities throughout their entire process. They participate in fieldwork and qualitative data collection, support interviews, facilitate communication, and contribute to the interpretation of findings, as well as to the development of outputs and recommendations. Their involvement follows a structured pathway that includes training, implementation, and data analysis phases, with appropriate recognition of their contribution.
Refugee Researchers’ ability to combine lived experience of migration with developing research competences, as well as linguistic and cultural proximity to participants, enables a deeper understanding of integration processes, capturing nuances that might otherwise remain overlooked.
This evolution represents a significant shift from traditional models of participation towards a more inclusive approach to knowledge production. Rather than positioning migrants solely as beneficiaries, IN LOCO recognises them as active contributors whose perspectives can shape research and practice. This approach not only enhances the quality and relevance of the data collected, but also strengthens trust between researchers and participants and supports the development of more grounded and realistic policy recommendations.
A key moment in this process is the collaborative data analysis phase. During a two-day in-person workshop, Refugee Researchers and Academic Researchers worked together to review and analyse interview data collected across countries. Through a shared coding process applied to a first set of transcriptions, participants collectively agree on a common analytical framework. This collaborative effort ensures both methodological consistency and the integration of diverse perspectives shaped by different local contexts and lived experiences.
Building on this shared foundation, Refugee Researchers then continue the analysis of the full dataset, supported by Academic Researchers who ensure coherence and quality across territories. The outcomes of this work feed into the production of a transnational research report addressed to the European Commission and the wider scientific community, as well as into the development of policy recommendations focusing on key areas such as housing, health, education, employment, and rural inclusion.
Finally, the project extends its impact beyond research through the creation of the New European Welcome Advocacy and Research Think Tank (NEW), a transnational network bringing together Refugee Researchers and interviewees involved in the study. Through targeted capacity building and strategic counselling, this initiative supports the development of advocacy actions aimed at disseminating the best practices identified during the research, further reinforcing the link between knowledge production and policy impact.
Learn more about IN LOCO: https://in-loco.eu