Back to Contents The EU Common Guidelines on (Joint) Fact Finding missions suggest that: • • • • Possible sources may include academics, research institutes and think tanks, NGOs, INGOs, UN agencies, experienced news reporters and journalists, community leaders or other representatives, religious authorities, or political parties, government representatives It is important that a variety of sources are identified and interviewed so that information can be cross checked The guidelines state “try to avoid sources with too similar agendas, standpoints, backgrounds and interests, which can be a challenge – especially when using the ‘Snowballing’. It is generally useful to consult at least three different sources that are independent of each other on each main topic of the ToR” It also suggests that interviewing mid-level staff, rather than those in more senior roles, may be more helpful as they are likely to have more experience working on the ground / in the field. Asylos will source relevant stakeholders by reference to those cited in UK case law, those having published academic material on the issue in question (e.g. JSTOR search), those recommended by the Statelessness Forum and Refugee Legal Group, the European Network on Statelessness (ENS), the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion (ISI) Electronic Immigration Network (EIN), and the Refugee Rights in Exile Programme. Other project partners with relevant specialist knowledge may also be consulted. Relevant organisations will be sourced and relevant representatives from these identified by reference to human rights material or media sources, for example published on COI databases such as the Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation’s (ACCORD) ecoi.net, UNHCR’s Refworld or Reliefweb. Asylos will also seek recommendations from their respective boards of trustees and networks of legal representatives. All individuals and organisations contacted will be asked to recommend other potential stakeholders for interview. We will include in the final report a list of all places in which we looked for stakeholders. All researchers will be required to keep a record of any websites, organisations or other sources consulted when identifying stakeholders. In order to assess the validity of individuals and organisations as a potential source, the following questions will be considered: • • • Who is the source and do they have specific knowledge / experience which makes them have expertise on the topic? What context do they work in and to what extent might this context influence them or create any bias? How does the source formulate any information they present? Is it presented in an objective, neutral and transparent way? It is anticipated that all stakeholders with the relevant knowledge/experience in question may be contacted for an interview unless there are compelling reasons not to do so. It is our aim to conduct at least 5 interviews per report, from a range of different disciplines. Given that not all stakeholders will respond, a maximum of 15 will be initially contacted by email requesting an interview. Asylos will aim at ensuring that represented in this 15 is a balance between those who are academics, professionals on the ground and government representatives. Step 7: Instructing interviewees Once a list of potential interviewees to contact has been agreed, Asylos Programme Manager(s) will send an initial email introducing the project and asking if they would consider contributing their expertise. They may ask project partners for support in making first contact with potential interviewees where their connections may increase the chance of a positive response. Where the Programme Manager(s) do not receive a response from potential interviewees, she will follow up with them by email and/or phone. 17. Appendices 147