Local Oral History Researchers – SARD Network 90 views1 applications

About Badael:

Badael is a rights-based organization founded in 2013 with a mission to foster transformative justice as the basis of a genuine and sustainable peace in Syria. Championing locally-owned alternatives, we endeavor to buttress the scope and impact of inclusive grassroots civic action and foment the development of holistic truth and understanding within and around the Syrian context. Our approach combines direct assistance and capacity building efforts with bottom- up narrative-shaping initiatives, including research, oral history and advocacy, so that all Syrians are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to construct a pluralistic and rights- based society of tomorrow.

Project Background:

The Oral History MENA Network (SARD) was established with the purpose of creating a shared space for actors in the field of oral history to come together, share knowledge, and learn from each other. Led by six core feminist oral history groups from the MENA region, the network seeks to merge the expertise of all participating organizations to collaboratively develop innovative oral history practices that centralize the perspectives of marginalized groups in society, (i.e., women and youth), in the documentation and preservation of the MENA region’s historical narratives. Ultimately, the Oral History Network aims to rectify prevailing patterns of exclusion in the writing and documentation of historical narratives, by combining the efforts of actors across the region to facilitate conversations and learning on various topics related to the field of oral history.

Objectives:

The primary objective of this TOR is to outline the responsibilities and expectations for local oral history researchers who will be involved in the project. The researchers will assist in conducting interviews, collecting oral narratives, and documenting the history of feminist organizations in the MENA region. We will contract one researcher per the following countries; Sudan, Yemen,

Scope of Work:

The local oral history researchers will undertake the following tasks:

• Collaborate with SARD’s team to identify relevant feminist organizations in the MENA region for interviews.
• Conduct interviews with selected feminist organizations and their leaders, using feminist oral history methodology.
• Document the historical background, emergence, and evolution of the organizations.
• Collect oral narratives that highlight challenges faced by the organizations in a rapidly changing socio-political and economic context.
• Ensure ethical practices during the research process, including informed consent, privacy, and confidentiality.
• Submit high quality audio-video interview, field notes, and other relevant documentation to SARD’s team in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with SARD’s team in data analysis and interpretation, as required.
• Participate in periodic project meetings and provide progress updates.

Deliverables The local oral history researchers will be responsible for delivering the following:

– A comprehensive overview of the selected feminist organizations and their key leaders.

– Audio and video recordings of interviews conducted with the selected feminist organizations (approximately 6 organizations, with 2 interviews per organization).

– Field notes and detailed summaries of each interview.

– Any additional documentation, reports, or materials requested by the SARD team.

Qualifications and Skills The ideal candidates for the local oral history researcher positions should possess the following qualifications and skills:

• Demonstrated experience in conducting oral history interviews, preferably with a focus on feminist organizations or related subjects.
• Profound knowledge of a historical contexts in one of these geographies: Sudan, Algeria, Libya, Yemen, and Kuwait
• Proficiency in the languages spoken in the MENA region, especially Arabic and English.
• Knowledge of feminist theory, intersectionality, and gender issues in the MENA context.
• Familiarity with ethical guidelines for conducting oral history research and ensuring the protection of interviewees’ rights and confidentiality.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Duration:

The engagement of local oral history researchers will be project-based and expected to last for November 2024 – April 2025