Frequently Asked Questions about the IFCD Application Process

Yes. For funding requests from Parties (public authority/institution) and NGOs, the applicant must be from a developing country that is Party to the 2005 Convention.
No. If the applicant is an international NGO, it does not have to be registered in a country eligible for funding from the IFCD. However the project requested for funding should be carried out in such eligible countries.

No, funding requests cannot be submitted by regional authorities. In the context of the IFCD funding process, “regional” refers to a group or cluster of countries, not a territory within a single country. However, projects that are designed to encourage or support regional cooperation are eligible to apply to the IFCD.

Yes. Regional networks are eligible to apply to the IFCD as long as they have a legal status in compliance with the established rules of the jurisdiction in the country of registration and meet the criteria that define “civil society”, which for the purposes of the 2005 Convention means non-governmental organizations, non-profit organizations, professionals in the culture sector and associated sectors, groups that support the work of artists and cultural communities.

No. All applications must be submitted on the official IFCD On-line Application Platform.

No. All applications must be submitted through the official IFCD On-line Application Platform.

The applicant should first create an account in the IFCD website:
- https://en.unesco.org/creativity/ifcd/apply (English)
- https://fr.unesco.org/creativity/fidc/soumettre-demande (French)
The applicant will then receive by e-mail a login and password that will give access to the platform.

Only International NGO applicants may present a maximum of two applications on the on-line platform. As only one application can be submitted per account, another account must be created to develop the second application by using a different e-mail address.

No. All applications must be submitted on the official IFCD On-line Application Platform.

In order to submit the application, the applicant must fill in all the fields, attach all required documents, check the boxes and sign his/her name in the “Submit proposal” section of the platform.

No. Once the applicant clicks on the SUBMIT button and submits the application, he/she will not be able to come back to the application to make any further changes.

Yes, a National Commission can pre-select and submit up to a maximum of two Parties (public authority/institution) applications and two NGO applications per country.

Yes, INGOs may submit a maximum of two applications that present projects with a demonstrated impact at the sub-regional, regional or inter-regional level, along with written support from the respective beneficiary countries. However, only one application can be selected per applicant.

No, there is no standard letter of support. Party beneficiaries are to express in writing their support for the project and ensure that it is relevant and meets the beneficiary’s needs and priorities.

No. The Rules of Procedure of the Intergovernmental Committee indicate that the working languages of all activities of the Committee are English and French. Therefore, all funding requests submitted to the UNESCO Secretariat should also be either in English or French.

No. Funding requests that solely pertain to the creation of cultural expressions are not eligible for assistance from the IFCD. Requests for projects related to the production of cultural and artistic works and events can be directed to the UNESCO International Fund for the Promotion of Culture.

No. Cultural heritage does not fall within the areas of intervention of the IFCD. The IFCD aims to foster the emergence of a dynamic cultural sector, primarily through activities facilitating the introduction and/or elaboration of policies and strategies that that have a direct effect on the creation, production, distribution of and access to a diversity of cultural expressions as well as the reinforcement of institutional infrastructures supporting viable cultural industries.

Therefore, requests for projects related to intangible cultural heritage should be made to the Fund for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, whereas requests regarding tangible cultural heritage (e.g. World Heritage sites) should be addressed to the World Heritage Fund.

Yes. Once an IFCD-funded project has been officially completed and received its final payment, it is eligible to apply for IFCD funding again.

Yes. The Intergovernmental Committee decided at its fourth ordinary session (December 2010) to set a maximum amount for funding requests. This ceiling amount is US$ 100,000 for each project.

The project implementation period should be between 12 and 24 months.

Final decisions on applications approved for funding will be adopted by the Intergovernmental Committee in December of each year.

Contracts for projects selected for IFCD funding are usually issued three months after the Committee’s decision in December, meaning in March of the following year.

The applicant is the entity who submits the project and signs the application. It is the same entity who, if the project is selected, will be the only “legal beneficiary”, who will sign the contract with UNESCO, and in this framework will be responsible for its implementation. This unique contractor is responsible for the coordination with its members and for the delivery of all the necessary documents for the implementation of the project.

Projects that are approved for funding will receive their allocations in several installments. Beneficiaries normally receive 50% of the total amount approved in the beginning of the project, another 30% mid-way through the project and the remaining 20% once all activities have been completed and the final reports are submitted.