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UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) is implementing the “Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in basic education” project in Namibia and Zimbabwe. This project is supporting the integration of living heritage in basic education, through a whole-school approach involving communities, teachers, and learners. Incorporating living heritage in schools can help contextualize how and what students learn, create stronger connections between classrooms and learners’ everyday life and strengthen their sense of pride for their own cultures and respect for others. Integrating living heritage in schools strengthens appreciation of cultural diversity; connects schools, families, and communities; reinforces relations between children, their parents, and grandparents; engages them in heritage safeguarding; and stimulates students’ curiosity – all this while making learning more relevant, inclusive, and accessible. 

Furthermore, intangible cultural heritage supports linking education systems to the local community and vice versa, recognizing the role of the communities in the teaching and learning processes. In this regard, intangible cultural heritage provides a needed and incredibly rich resource for attaining SDG 4, notably Target 4.7 which emphasizes learning to ‘appreciate cultural diversity’ and to ‘understand the role of culture for development’ as part of education for sustainable development and global citizenship.  

In this context, UNESCO is seeking a consultant(s) to develop two policy briefs for the "Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Basic Education " project, and to provide expertise and support through planning, facilitation, and participation at the high-level policy dialogue meetings to be held in Namibia and Zimbabwe in November 2024. 

The consultant(s) will provide the following services under the “Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in Basic Education in Namibia and Zimbabwe” project. 

1. Draft and submit a detailed workplan including: 

2. The approach the contractor will undertake to complete the tasks in the contract. 
3. Proposed dates for internal planning meetings with the UNESCO Project Coordinator and related stakeholders. 
4. A timeline outlining the start and end dates for each task and milestone.  
5. Travel schedule to Namibia and Zimbabwe for project related work. This should include, where necessary: 

– one trip to Namibia and Zimbabwe reflectively for consultative meetings with stakeholders on the development of policy briefs.  

– one trip to Namibia and Zimbabwe to attend and facilitate sessions for the high-level policy dialogue meetings. 

1. Develop Policy Briefs on integrating living heritage in formal education in national education systems:   

2. Engage and manage a technical expert on intangible cultural heritage to assist with the drafting of two context specific policy briefs.  

3. Draft (2) two context specific policy briefs ((1) one for Namibia and (1) one for Zimbabwe), providing recommendations, and actionable strategies for integrating living heritage in formal education in national education systems. 

4. Conduct research and/ or interviews with the key stakeholders as needed in developing the policy brief in consultation with the key stakeholders.  

These stakeholders should include:  

• Government officials from the Ministry of Arts and Education in Namibia, 

• Curriculum Developers from the National Institute for Educational Development (NIED) in Namibia,  

• Southern African Intangible Cultural Heritage platform members in Namibia and Zimbabwe, 

• Government officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, specifically from the department of Primary, Secondary and Non-Formal Education (PSNE) in Zimbabwe,  

• Curriculum Developers from Curriculum Development and Technical Services (CDTS) under Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Zimbabwe.  

The contact list will be supplied to the contractor by the UNESCO Project Coordinator.  

1. Present the proposals in the policy briefs at two high-level inter-ministerial policy dialogue meetings in Namibia and Zimbabwe and suggest possible next steps to integrate living heritage in formal education at the national level.   

1. Participate in the planning meetings and develop the agenda and run of show for the high-level inter-ministerial policy dialogue meetings. 

2. Under the guidance and approval of UNESCO Project Coordinator and in consultation with the ministries in Namibia and Zimbabwe, develop the meeting agenda/program and run of show, ensuring alignment with the objectives of the event. 

3. Participate, as needed, in planning meetings for high-level policy dialogue meetings scheduled to be held in November in Zimbabwe and Namibia.  

1. Facilitate the session high-level inter-ministerial policy dialogue meetings in Zimbabwe and Namibia. 

2. Prepare (2) two presentations on the policy briefs developed for Namibia and Zimbabwe, for review and endorsement by the UNESCO Project Coordinator. 

3. Deliver the presentations, which should include a summary of the policy and actionable proposals to high-level delegates and meeting participants during the inter-ministerial meeting.  

4. Facilitate and moderate the policy dialogue sessions.  

 Project duration is estimated to be at least 6 months. 

The contract will be managed by the UNESCO ROSA based in Harare, Zimbabwe. The contractor will be expected to provide an updated status of the assignment as per agreement in the terms of references. Formal reporting is expected upon delivery of each deliverable. Additional reporting activities may be requested by UNESCO ROSA on a need basis. 

The consultant/firm will be selected following a competitive bidding process. Candidates must submit a cost estimation (in USD) as an expression of interest, clearly itemizing costs. Payment will be done upon submission of each deliverable. 

All rights, including title to property, copyright, trademark and patent; in any work produced by the consultant by virtue of the contract, shall be vested in UNESCO which alone shall hold all rights of use.  

Accountability (C)  

Communication (C)  

Innovation (C)  

Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)  

Planning and organizing (C)  

Results focus (C)  

Teamwork (C)  

Professionalism (C) 

The successful bidder is expected to demonstrate experience and list relevant projects as follows:

1. Experience and Expertise:

2.  Team Composition:

3.  Communication and Coordination:

4. Stakeholder Engagement:

5. Agenda Development and Facilitation:

6. Reporting and Evaluation:

• At least 5 years of experience in policy analysis, development, and advocacy, preferably in cultural heritage, education, or related areas.

• Previous experience working with international organizations or NGOs, particularly in facilitating high-level policy dialogues and developing policy briefs for government stakeholders.

• Proficiency in conducting research and interviews to gather relevant data and insights for policy brief development.

• Experience in analyzing policy contexts and identifying actionable strategies and recommendations for policy integration.

• Availability of a multidisciplinary team with expertise in policy analysis, research, stakeholder engagement, cultural heritage, education, and facilitation.

• Inclusion of technical experts on intangible cultural heritage or related fields to ensure the accuracy and relevance of policy briefs.

• Strong communication and coordination skills to liaise effectively with UNESCO Project Coordinator, government officials, and other stakeholders.

• Ability to develop detailed work plans, including internal planning meetings and travel schedules, and adhere to agreed timelines.

• Ability to engage with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, curriculum developers, and cultural heritage experts, to gather input and ensure policy relevance and buy-in.

• Experience in organizing and facilitating stakeholder consultations and high-level policy dialogue meetings.

• Skills in developing meeting agendas and run-of-show documents aligned with meeting objectives and stakeholder expectations.

• Experience in facilitating and moderating policy dialogue sessions, including presentation delivery and interactive discussions.

• Capacity to provide comprehensive reports on policy brief development processes, stakeholder engagements, and outcomes of high-level policy dialogue meetings.

• Willingness to participate in post-event evaluations and incorporate feedback for future improvements.

Please support this with at least two references

For detailed information, please consult the [UNESCO Competency Framework] (). 

Proposals should be received by 24 May 2024 at the latest. No modifications can be made to the application submitted. The proposals received after the above deadline will not be considered.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice and may include tests and/or assessments, and a competency-based interview. UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates. Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment. UNESCO is committed to achieve and sustain gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities, as well as nationals from non-and under-represented Member States are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.