1. Overview of The Day After:
The Day After (TDA) is an independent, Syrian-led civil society organization working to
support a democratic transition in Syria. In August 2012, TDA completed work on a
comprehensive approach to managing the challenges of a post-Assad transition in Syria.
The Day After project brought together a group of Syrians representing a large spectrum of
the Syrian opposition—including senior representatives of the Syrian National Council
(SNC), members of the Local Coordination Committees in Syria (LCC), and unaffiliated
opposition figures from inside Syria and the Diaspora representing all major political trends
and components of Syrian society—to participate in an independent transition planning process.
The TDA report, “The Day After: Supporting a Democratic Transition in Syria”, provides a
detailed framework of principles, goals and recommendations from within the Syrian
opposition for addressing challenges in six key fields: rule of law; transitional justice;
security sector reform; constitutional design; electoral system design; and post-conflict
social and economic reconstruction. TDA has since shifted its focus from transition
planning efforts to implementation of the recommendations presented in the TDA report.
2. Background:
The Bridges to Democratic Transition project, implemented by Toplumsal Dayanışma ve Araştırma
Derneği (TDA), seeks to foster reconciliation and democratic transition in Syria by engaging youth,
community-based organizations (CBOs), and international stakeholders in structured dialogue, policy
advocacy, and evidence-based recommendations.
As part of its implementation, the project will generate substantial qualitative and quantitative data through:
- Youth Dialogue Sessions (9 sessions in 9 governorates, involving 140–180 youth participants)
- Cross-Community Dialogue Workshops (4 workshops with 60-80 diverse community
representatives) - Public Surveys (2,250 youth respondents nationwide) The findings from these activities will inform the Safe, Calm, and Neutral Environments (SCNE) national vision and contribute to advocacy at the SCNE Conference.
3. Purpose of the Assignment:
The researcher will play a critical role in consolidating evidence from the project’s Youth Dialogue Sessions, Cross-Community Dialogue Workshops, and Public Surveys. The purpose of the assignment is to:
● Document and analyze citizen perspectives on Safe, Calm, and Neutral Environments (SCNE), with a focus on youth voices and community-based insights.
● Attend and observe sessions and workshops wherever possible, ensuring accuracy, context, and first-hand understanding of discussions.
● Support the reporting process by preparing detailed reports for Youth Dialogue Sessions and Cross-Community Dialogue Workshops.
● Examine the political atmosphere, with specific attention to how governance stability and confidence-building measures between government and citizens contribute to safe environments.
● Assess legal requirements, including the removal of restrictive laws, the establishment of a framework that protects freedoms in line with the rule of law, and the initiation of transitional justice processes.
● Analyze civil and community incentives, exploring how national reconciliation, civil peace, and societal stability can be secured, and how civil society can foster safe, constructive, and inclusive environments.
● Produce a comprehensive findings and recommendations report that synthesizes qualitative and quantitative data into actionable policy guidance to inform the SCNE vision and advocacy strategy.
4. Scope of Work:
The researcher will undertake the following tasks:
- Design and Implement the Public survey:
- Initiate the Public Survey and develop the tool to be used through digital data collection applications.
- Provide training to the enumerators regarding the tool and test it.
- Data Collection & Attendance
- Attend Youth Dialogue Sessions and Cross-Community Dialogue Workshops whenever
possible to observe discussions, interact with participants, and collect first-hand qualitative notes. - Liaise with the M&E team to ensure accurate and complete session documentation.
- Attend Youth Dialogue Sessions and Cross-Community Dialogue Workshops whenever
- Data Review & Analysis:
- Review session notes, transcripts, and recordings from Youth Dialogue Sessions and Cross-
Community Workshops. - Analyze the survey data.
- Apply qualitative coding techniques to identify recurring themes, perceptions, and
recommendations from participants in Youth Dialogue Sessions and Cross-Community Workshops.
- Review session notes, transcripts, and recordings from Youth Dialogue Sessions and Cross-
- Synthesis & Integration
- Cross-reference qualitative findings from dialogues with quantitative survey results to
ensure comprehensive triangulation. - Highlight commonalities and differences between youth perspectives, community leader
insights, and public survey responses. - Identify policy-relevant insights aligned with SCNE principles.
- Cross-reference qualitative findings from dialogues with quantitative survey results to
- Report Development
- Produce a consolidated Findings & Recommendations Report in both English and Arabic,
including:
o Executive Summary
o Methodology
o Key Findings per activity
o Comparative analysis
o Thematic recommendations for local, national governance, and international level. - Prepare visual summaries (graphs, infographics, tables) to accompany the report.
- Produce a consolidated Findings & Recommendations Report in both English and Arabic,
- Presentation
- Present findings to the TDA team ahead of the SCNE Conference.
- Incorporate feedback into the final version of the report.
5. Deliverables:
The consultant is expected to produce the following:
- Inception Note: outlining research plan, attendance plan, analytical framework, and timeline
(including how political, legal, and community dimensions will be assessed). - Reports for Youth Dialogue Session: documenting discussions, emerging themes, and
recommendations, with attention to political atmosphere, legal frameworks, and community reconciliation aspects raised by participants. - Reports for Cross-Community Dialogue Workshop: capturing dialogue outcomes, consensus
points, and recommendations, highlighting governance, rule of law, and community incentives for civil peace and stability. - Draft Consolidated Findings & Recommendations Report: synthesizing qualitative and
quantitative data, with dedicated sections on:- Political Atmosphere: governance stability and confidence-building between government
and citizens. - Legal Requirements: removal of restrictive laws, protection of freedoms, rule of law principles, and transitional justice.
- Civil and Community Incentives: national reconciliation, societal stability, and the role of civil society in fostering safe environments.
- Political Atmosphere: governance stability and confidence-building between government
- Final Consolidated Report: bilingual (English & Arabic), revised to integrate stakeholder feedback, with a clear policy-oriented framework addressing the three dimensions above.
- Presentation Slides: summarizing key findings, including insights on political, legal, and community dimensions, for presentation at the SCNE Conference.
6. Reporting & Coordination:
The researcher will report directly to the Project Coordinator and work closely with:
- MEAL Manager (for data provision & quality assurance)
- MEAL Officer (for survey datasets, contextual clarifications)
- Media and Advocacy dep (for final publication)
7. Qualifications & Experience:
- Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Political Science, Peace & Conflict Studies, or related field.
- Proven experience (minimum 5 years) in qualitative & quantitative research in conflict or post-conflict settings.
- Strong skills in thematic analysis, statistical interpretation, and triangulation of mixed- methods data.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Syrian socio-political context.
- Experience producing policy-oriented research outputs.
- Fluency in Arabic and English (spoken & written).
- Excellent writing and data visualization skills.
- Evaluation criteria:
Experience and qualifications (70%), financial offer (30%)
8. Ethical Considerations :
- Maintain confidentiality and anonymity of all participants.
- Apply conflict-sensitive and gender-sensitive approaches in analysis and reporting.
- Ensure informed consent protocols are respected in the use of data.
How to apply
Interested candidates should submit:
- CV highlighting relevant experience.
- Cover letter describing suitability for the role.
- Two samples of previous research work.
- Financial proposal (monthly rate in EURO).
- Please apply using the following address: recruitment@tda-sy.org
- All Candidates MUST put the email subject:
(Researcher – “Bridges to Democratic Transition”- Name of the candidate)