In order to carry out the PolMig research, the project will apply a number of different research methods. The methods comprise interviews with migrants and other experts, archival research and participant observation. The expert interviews will be with both government representatives, civil society and international organisations, as well as migrant activists. Notably, the migrant activists will not be chosen in relation to a particular policy concern – economic, social etc. – or an external label - refugee or migrant - but rather they will be asked to participate on the basis of self-identification as migrant activists. 

Moreover, inspired by feminist methodology as relational and participatory, PolMig will also use ‘migrant agency diaries’ and theatre workshops as research methods. The catalogue or ‘migrant agency diary’ helps to conceptualise a self-defined understanding of political agency, as well as give room to oral traditions in methodology. PolMig will also carry out participatory theatre workshops with groups of local community and migrants, in order to understand more about African perceptions of belonging and citizenship. These methods will be developed in a series of preparatory workshops. 

In order to allow for a reflexive research project on the principles of co-production, PolMig also includes outreach workshops in each of the four locations, to present and discuss preliminary research results within the specific contexts.