Inform the people of Yarmouk Camp and people displaced from Yarmouk Camp about accountability processes related to atrocities perpetrated there, while also providing them with a platform to express their views on justice and accountability for these crimes. To this end, the contractor(s) should create an Arabic-language podcast with decent production quality, with episodes shareable through social media, including Facebook. The podcast should ensure accuracy of information provided, be accessible and understandable to average people, be able to find expert answers to questions raised by the audience, and provide listeners with possibilities to express their opinions on justice and accountability. It should engage audiences in creative or innovative ways to share information and encourage interaction. It should have a clear approach for ensuring the content is trauma-sensitive and survivor-centered.
Timeline is starting as soon as possible, through the end of September 2026.
Partners
The Center for Victims of Torture will conceive and launch this project together with affected individuals, community organizations, and Syrian civil society organizations. An advisory board of 4-6 individuals will provide guidance and feedback on the project. CVT is supporting Syrian-led legal organizations to monitor the Yarmouk-focused trials in Sweden and Germany, and these reports can inform trial updates provided by the podcast. CVT can facilitate the involvement of various Syrian and international justice and accountability experts to provide expert answers in response to listener questions.
Format
Some episodes provide factual background and updates on the trials in easy, accessible language. Some episodes respond to listener questions that are submitted through social media or by email or text, with contributions from Syrian and international experts on justice and accountability provided through pre-recorded phone interviews. Some episodes may cover thematic topics (certain crimes, legal concepts, meaning of justice for people in Yarmouk, including justice beyond formal legal proceedings, etc.) Some episodes provide listener views on the Swedish and German trials, or issues of justice and accountability more broadly. Listeners may share their own experiences from the war in Yarmouk, with the producers and hosts giving due consideration to avoiding allegations made against individuals not already mentioned in public investigative or prosecution reports, and to avoiding the retraumatization of listeners (see section on risks, below). Listener views can be submitted by internet or phone.
Length and frequency: Episodes may vary in length – with factual updates and thematic explorations probably provided in longer episodes and the other two kinds of episodes shorter (depending on how much listener engagement there is). Minimum of two episodes per month, aiming for weekly episodes if possible.
Considerations and Criteria
Applications should reflect an understanding of the goals of this project and should consider the following risks and assessment criteria.
Risks to consider and mitigate:
- Can’t be boring. The host or hosts need to have engaging personalities.
- Poor technical quality. The contractor or contractors must be able to guarantee good production value so that episodes are easily understood and inviting.
- Smears and misinformation. The podcast must not become a platform for spreading unsubstantiated allegations against any specific individuals not already named in public justice proceedings (for ethical reasons and reasons of legal liability), or for spreading misinformation (although it may serve as a platform to engage with rumors or misinformation and provide facts). In submitting proposals, applicants will be asked to declare any existing relationships or prior work that may affect how people from Yarmouk will view their involvement.
- Too editorial. Producers and hosts should make people with differing views on justice and accountability issues feel comfortable expressing themselves. This is not a platform for them to editorialize on issues that may be divisive.
- Re-traumatization. Podcast must be trauma-informed, with producers and hosts in no circumstance conducting interviews or taking any other action that causes harm to survivors or victim families.
Criteria in assessing proposals:
- Alignment of vision
- Knowledge of the Syria context
- Experience in podcasting, in Syria, and any previous work in Yarmouk Camp.
- Technical expertise (production, editing, hosting)
- Availability
- Neutrality and independence from any direct affiliation with an existing political party or civic organization in Syria
- Price
Summary
The project aims to inform residents of Yarmouk camp and those displaced from it about accountability mechanisms and procedures related to the atrocities committed there, while providing a platform for them to express their views and perspectives on justice and accountability for these crimes. To this end, the contracting party(s) must develop and produce a podcast in Arabic with appropriate production quality, ensuring its episodes are suitable for sharing on social media platforms, including Facebook. The podcast must guarantee the accuracy of the information presented, be accessible and understandable to the general public, provide informed and reliable answers to listeners’ questions, and offer spaces for them to express their views on the concepts of justice and accountability. It should also employ creative or innovative methods in presenting information and fostering audience engagement, and include a clear methodology to ensure that the content is trauma-sensitive and survivor-centered.
The implementation period begins as soon as possible and extends until the end of September 2026.
Partners
The Center for Victims of Torture will design and launch this project in partnership with affected individuals, community organizations, and Syrian civil society organizations. An advisory board of four to six members will provide guidance and feedback on project implementation. The Center supports Syrian legal organizations, led by Syrian professionals, monitoring trials related to Yarmouk Camp in both Sweden and Germany, and their reports can be used to provide the podcast with updates on these trials. The Center for Victims of Torture can also facilitate the participation of a group of Syrian and international experts in the fields of justice and accountability to provide specialized answers to listeners’ questions.
Formula
Some episodes provide factual background information and updates on the trials, presented in clear and accessible language. Other episodes are dedicated to answering listener questions submitted via social media, email, or text message, featuring Syrian and international experts in justice and accountability through pre-recorded phone interviews. Some episodes may focus on specific topics, such as certain types of crimes, legal concepts, or the meaning of justice for the residents of Yarmouk camp, including forms of justice that extend beyond formal judicial procedures. Other episodes may include listener perspectives on ongoing trials in Sweden and Germany, or broader issues of justice and accountability.
Listeners can also share their personal experiences during the war in Yarmouk camp. The production and presentation team will take special care to avoid accusing individuals not named in publicly available investigative reports or prosecutions, and to avoid re-exposing listeners or participants to trauma (please see the Risks section below). Listener comments and contributions can be submitted online or by phone.
Duration and number of episodes: Episode length can vary; episodes featuring fact-based updates or in-depth exploration of specific topics are likely to be relatively longer, while others will be relatively shorter (depending on audience engagement and the volume of submissions). A minimum of two episodes per month is recommended, with the aim of producing a weekly episode where necessary.
Standards and considerations
Applications submitted should reflect a clear understanding of the objectives of this project, and take into account the following risks and assessment criteria defined below.
Risks that must be considered and strategies developed to mitigate them:
Poor appeal and engagement: The podcast host(s) should have effective communication skills and a presence that will enhance interaction and maintain listeners’ interest.
Poor technical quality: The contracting party(s) must ensure a high level of production quality, including recording, editing, and sound engineering, so that the episodes are clear, easy to understand, and appealing to listeners.
Defamation and Misinformation: The podcast must not become a platform for disseminating unsubstantiated claims against individuals not named in public legal proceedings, for both ethical and legal reasons. The dissemination of misinformation must also be prohibited. Conversely, it can serve as a professional space to address rumors or inaccurate information by fact-checking and providing evidence-based information. Applicants are required to disclose any past or present affiliations that might influence the perception of Yarmouk residents regarding the impartiality of their participation.
Excessive editorial bias: The production and presentation team should adopt a neutral approach that provides a psychologically safe space for people with different views on issues of justice and accountability to freely express their views, without the podcast becoming a platform for expressing biased editorial positions on issues that may incite divisive behavior.
Reviving Trauma: The podcast must be based on a trauma-sensitive approach, and the production or presentation team must under no circumstances conduct interviews or take actions that could cause psychological harm to survivors or victims’ families. This requires adhering to the principles of “do no harm,” respecting participants’ boundaries, and ensuring referrals to psychosocial support services where needed.
Criteria for evaluating proposals:
The extent to which the proposed vision aligns with the project’s objectives.
Familiarity with the Syrian context.
Experience in podcast production, working inside Syria, and any previous experience in Yarmouk camp.
Technical competence (production, editing, presentation).
Full availability and the ability to commit to a timetable.
Neutrality and independence, and no direct affiliation with any political party or civil entity existing in Syria.
Determining the financial cost.
How to apply
Applicants must complete the form on the following page to be considered for this contract. Strong responses should take into account the goals, considerations, and criteria above. Applications may be submitted in English or Arabic.
Submit your application as a Word or PDF document and any questions to WitnessSupport@cvt.org with the subject line “Syria Podcast RFP”
Applications must be received no later than 28 February 2026. Application review and preliminary interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis during that time. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
An independent CVT panel will review all applications according to the considerations and criteria listed above. Competitive pricing will be an advantage, but not if there is a clear potential negative impact on planning or production quality. 1-3 applications will be invited to an interview, depending on the application pool, and references will be checked. All applications must follow a transparent and open process uninfluenced by any affiliated civic or political parties.
Application Form – Expression of Interest in CVT Support for a Yarmouk Justice Podcast
Please respond to each of the following questions. If a clear answer is not possible at the moment, please briefly explain and state your process for identifying an answer.
- Who will be responsible for managing the project? (If an organization or company, please also include the name and location of the individual who will be responsible.)
- Who would host the podcast? (List individual name or names.)
- Who would produce and technically support the podcast?
- For each of the individuals, organizations, or companies listed in the answers to questions 1-3, please provide up to five links to relevant previous work (recorded, written or visual content), or provide attachments for offline work.
- Please briefly describe the experience of the individuals, organizations, or companies above related to justice in Syria, or Yarmouk in particular.
- How do you propose to encourage an inclusive podcast that reflects a diversity of views among Yarmouk community members, often on painful and divisive issues?
- How soon can the team be assembled, and by when could a first episode be produced?
- Briefly describe how you propose to raise awareness of the podcast and distribute its episodes.
- Please include a budget outlining broad expense categories, including equipment, personnel, and publicity. Add additional categories as necessary.
- For individuals, organizations or companies that have not already engaged in contractual work with CVT, please provide names and contact information for two individuals or organizations who can speak to your work on other projects.
Applicants must complete the form on the following page for their applications to be considered under the terms of this contract. Responses should demonstrate a clear understanding of the project objectives and take into account the considerations and evaluation criteria outlined above. Applications may be submitted in English or Arabic.
Applications in Word or PDF format, along with any inquiries, should be sent to the email address: WitnessSupport@cvt.org
with the subject line: “Syria Podcast RFP” .
Applications must be received by February 28, 2026. Applications will be reviewed and initial interviews conducted gradually during the application period. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
An independent committee from the Centre for Victims of Torture will review all applications according to the considerations and criteria mentioned above. A competitive price is a positive factor, provided it does not compromise the quality of planning or the level of production. Between one and three applicants will be invited for interviews, depending on the number and nature of the applications received, and references will be verified.
All applications must be based on a transparent and open process, and must not be influenced by any partisan or civic affiliations or ties.
Application Form – Expression of Interest in Obtaining Support from the Center for Victims of Torture to Produce the Justice in Yarmouk Podcast
Please answer each of the following questions. If you are unable to provide a clear answer at this time, please briefly explain why and suggest a method for arriving at the answer.
- Who will be responsible for managing the project? (If the entity is an organization or company, please state the name and location of the person who will be directly responsible for the project).
- Who will present the podcast? (Please mention the suggested name(s)).
- Who will be responsible for producing the podcast and providing technical support for it?
- For each individual, organization, or company mentioned in the answers to questions 1-3, please provide us with no more than five links to relevant past work (recorded, written, or visual content), or attach samples of work not available online.
- Please provide a brief description of the experience of the individuals or entities mentioned above with regard to justice issues in Syria in general, or in Yarmouk camp in particular.
- How do you propose to ensure that the podcast is inclusive and reflects the diversity of viewpoints within the Yarmouk community, particularly on painful or controversial issues?
- How long will it take to form the team? And when can the first episode be produced?
- Please describe the proposed strategy for introducing the podcast and distributing its episodes.
- Please attach a budget that includes the main categories of expenses, including equipment, human resources, and media promotion, adding any other items as needed.
- For individuals, organizations, or companies that have not previously contracted with the Torture Victims Center, please provide us with the names of one or two entities and their contact information who can provide recommendations regarding your work on previous projects.