This sub-project aims to support the interpretation of the results of the data collected in sub-projects 2 - 4 by providing a baseline understanding of the size, distribution, socio-economic characteristics, migration status, and demographic composition of the African population in Australia. 

Data from the 2021 Census of Population and Housing  will be analysed to produce a statistically descriptive baseline comparative picture of the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of first- and second-generation Africans in Australia. Census data will also be used to identify Federal and State electorates with the largest concentrations of African migrants. 

This sub-project aims to build an econometric and social analysis of the impact of the economic activity of Africans in Australia, including identifying pathways and timeframes for the establishment of their economic independence. 

The sub-project will develop, deploy and analyse a first-of-its-kind large-scale national survey that links basic demographic, migration and socio-economic information about African migrants in Australia with specific information, invisible in policy discourse, regarding their political and economic engagement and investment. 

It will collect information on political affiliations and action; community organisation participation; investment/consumption and remitting practices; and employment, business development, entrepreneurship and investment. 

This sub-project has two categories: 

1. Facebook pages and websites of African community organisations.

2. Political discourse analysis. 

The first is an analysis of African community organisations' Facebook pages and websites. This analysis will focus at a micro level on how individuals and organisations represent themselves and demonstrate political and economic agency. Specifically, it will examine the following:

a) how Australian-African organisations' Facebook pages and websites represent Africans in Australia

b) how they represent and engage in political and economic activity at the local, national and transnational levels; and 

c) who they target. 

The second is an analysis on political discourse. Discursive analysis will be undertaken on recent relevant Federal governent policies, discussion papers, inquiries and media statements. This analysis will also be applied to Australia-relevant publications of the Diaspora Division of the African Union. 

This project seeks to find more in-depth insights from key stakeholders through interviews with the following groups:

1. African migrant survey respondents. Survey respondents from states with the largest proportion of African migrants will be invited to participate in an in-depth interview to discuss experiences and perspectives of political and economic agency in more detail. These interviews will gather holistic narratives about the challenges, opportunities and choices navigated in securing and investing economic and political capital and enacting agency. 

2. African migrant community leaders will be interviewed to gain broader insights regarding the nature, magnitude and orientation of African political and economic activity and activism in Australia since the 1990s, when African migration began to increase and diversify. 

3. Australian political leaders will be interviewed to gain insights into the impacts of African political activity (both of migrants and of countries/regions of origin) on domestic policy in Australia. Those invited to participate will include State and Federal MPs whose electorates have large African migrant populations  in Metropolian Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, as well as portfolio-relevant ministers at the State and Federal levels.