Documentary Film for Social Cohesion in Bourj Hammoud/Naba’a

1. Background

Lebanon is host to an estimated 1.5 million Syrians who have fled the conflict in Syria since 2011, including 844,056 registered as refugees with UNHCR (UNOCHA, 2021). The protracted displacement, the severe economic crisis that has become apparent in October 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the explosion at the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, have pushed 82% of the population into multidimensional poverty (ESCWA, 2021), generating significant needs for assistance across multiple sectors.

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), Lebanon has been implementing multifaceted emergency response programmes since 2012, tackling the most urgent needs of Syrian refugees. Currently, JRS Lebanon works in 4 locations – Bourj Hammoud/Al-Naba’a, Jbeil, Bar Elias, and Baalbak – and runs basic assistance interventions, formal and non-formal education programmes, mental health and psychosocial support, and adult education. After the Beirut Blast, JRS also distributed emergency cash and food assistance from its centre in Bourj Hammoud/Naba’a.

In Bourj Hammoud/Naba’a, like in many other places of Lebanon, JRS has become concerned about intercommunal tensions between Syrians and Lebanese that have been worsened by the economic crisis. To better understand the lived experiences of those in the neighbourhood, JRS partnered with the Refugees Studies Centre (RSC) in the United Kingdom and the American University of Beirut (AUB). The goal is to come to a deeper awareness of the impact of our programs, and , at the very least, minimize any additional contribution to social fragmentation.

This project has two phases. Phase  1 was conducted in the last two quarters of 2021, and involved engaging a small group of people, familiar with Naba’a through residence or work, sharing five weekly reflections. Topics covered included perceptual maps of geographic boundaries, records of daily interactions, and direct questions about the role of aid in the community.

For Phase II of the project, we want to engage a third party to create a short documentary film to capture some of the complexity of Bourj Hammoud/Naba’a. The film could be used in multiple ways including a) empowering members of the local communities to tell their stories, b) as a tool to build empathy among different members of host and refugee communities, c) to better understand points of harmony and discord that exist and, d) as training material for JRS staff to better understand the context of our work, and e) sharing the experiences of JRS with other organizations.

2. Scope of Work

Under the supervision of a team comprising the Researcher and JRS staff, the filmmakers will provide a 25 minute film that depicts the people and places that we serve. The film should serve as a medium for a narrative-based dialogue about the dynamics unfolding in Bourj Hammoud between the host community and refugees.  Specific points of action include:

1. The filmmaker would undertake an initial filming involving an extended period of focused discussions with members of the local community. Points of tension and harmony should be observed and noted by the Researcher.
2. The filmmakers along with the other core members of the project would review the initial recorded material. Then, there will be a story-boarding process that would include relevant individuals and groups from around Bourj Hammoud/Naba’a. This would help foster a sense of participation with the various communities in Bourj Hammoud/Naba’a.
3. The second round of filming will review the story-boarded material, which may involve doing more interviews along with creative re-enactments.
4. When the final product is complete, there may be a screening event depending on the mutual agreement of the core members.

3. Deliverables and Timeline

The duration of this assignment is from  21st March 2022 to June 2022. The different stages involved in this process will be:

1. Initial filming:                                              21st March 2022 to 28^th March 2022
2. Review of initial film:                                29^th March 2022 to 2^nd April 2022
3. Storyboarding:                                            2nd April 2022 to 12^th April 2022
4. Filming Round II:                                       12^th April 2022 to 5^th May 2022
5. Editing:                                                          5^th May 2022 to 25^th May 2022             
6. Possible screening:                                  June 2022

*adjust for the two Easters

4. Qualifications of the Filmmaker

• Excellent skills in filming, editing, and production.
• Experience in partnering with humanitarian organizations.
• Experience in working in politically and socially sensitive environments.
• Fluency in English and Arabic is required.

5. Remuneration

The remuneration for this assessment shall not exceed $5000. Payment will be distributed according to the following terms:

Deliverable

Contract Amount (% of Total)

Signing of contract

5%

Initial Filming complete

25%

Storyboarding complete

25%

Second round of filming complete

30%

Final video

15%

6. Reporting

The filmmakers will report to a team comprising the Researcher and the JRS team.

7. Application submission

Applicants must submit the below documents no later than 14^th March 2022 in order to be considered:

• CV demonstrating qualifications and relevant previous experience with at least two recommendations
• A cover letter describing why the project is of interest. It should also contain a link to an online portfolio with prior work, a proposed budget, and a proposed plan. It would be good for the applicant(s) to stress how they would approach a participatory film project focused on tension, cohesion, and reconciliation.