Oral History Research Consultant

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 and beyond. Championing locally owned alternatives, we endeavor to buttress the scope and impact of inclusive grassroots civic action and foment the development of 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.

About SARD:
SARD, an Arabic word, meaning to listen, tell, and document, is an oral history network comprised of four co-founding feminist and oral history organization; Badael (Syria), Women and Memory (Egypt), Alrowat (Palestine), and Knowledge Workshop (Lebanon). SARD’s vision is to have feminist oral histories intervene in writing the cultural history of the MENA context, to own the region’s narratives and reclaim the marginalized voices and forgotten experiences. Furthermore, SARD aims to uncover intersectional inequities to transform power relations and enhance justice across the region. SARD additionally seeks to create spaces for actors in the field of oral history to come together, share knowledge, and learn from each other.
Job Summary: The Oral History Research Consultant will be integral to implementing a project focused on documenting and preserving the experiences of feminist organizations within the MENA region. The researcher will manage local researchers, ensure the quality of interviews, and collaborate closely with the senior archivist to develop a digital archive.

Terms of reference:
• Oversee the implementation of the oral history project documenting feminist organizations in the MENA region, ensuring alignment with project objectives and timelines.
• Supervise a team of country-based field researchers, providing ongoing guidance and support.
• Coordinate workshop sessions for local researchers at the start of the interviewing phase, ensuring clarity on oral history methodologies, ethical considerations, and context-sensitive approaches.
• Review interview transcripts and audio/video recordings to ensure they adhere to the project’s goals and quality standards. Furthermore, provide constructive feedback to local researchers to enhance their interviewing techniques, oral history methodologies, and overall performance.
• Collaborate with local researchers to address any gaps or issues identified during the review process.
• Ensure all interviews files including recordings, publications and any other data collected data are properly documented and stored in accordance with project guidelines and data protection protocols.
• Work closely with the senior archivist to organize, catalog, and preserve collected oral history materials.
• Contribute to the development of the digital archive and assist in planning and executing the digital archive launch.
• Prepare and submit regular progress reports to the Badael ED, highlighting achievements, challenges, and recommendations.
• Collaborate with other departments at Badael to ensure the smooth implementation of the oral history research project.

Qualifications:
• Advanced degree in history, anthropology, sociology, or a related field.
• Extensive experience in conducting oral history methodologies.
• Strong background in supervising and mentoring research teams, with a focus on quality control.
• Experience in archival management and digital archiving is desired.
• Excellent communication skills in both written and spoken English and Arabic.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and right holders.