NB: Questions are those received by the Secretariat through the special e-mail account. Answers to this FAQ are based on the Convention’s Guidelines on the use of the resources of the Fund (the Guidelines) and Decisions taken by the Intergovernmental Committee (the Committee) and Conference of Parties.

1.   Is there a minimum or maximum ceiling for funding requests submitted to the Fund?

The Committee has decided not to set a minimum or maximum ceiling for funding requests. Applicants should be aware that the overall value of the Fund is currently 2 575 079, 71 USD (Status:  June 2010). However, at the end of the 36-month pilot phase in June 2012 the Committee might decide to set a minimum and/or maximum ceiling(s).

2.   The current amount of resources available in the Fund is 2 575 079, 71 USD (Status:  June 2010). Is this the budget per applicant or the overall budget for the whole Fund?

70% of the total funds available in the IFCD as of 1 July 2010 will be used to finance projects/programmes during the 2010-2011 period.

3.   What is the number of projects that State Parties to the Convention are expected to submit?

The Convention’s Guidelines on the use of the resources of the Fund do not set any limits on the maximum number of projects that each eligible country is allowed to submit via their National Commissions.

4.   Is there a limit to the number of projects preselected by the National Commission that will be considered for funding?

The Guidelines do not set such limits.

5.   What is the time frame for project implementation?

The Committee has not set any specific time frame for the projects.

6.   Are programmes/projects that involve the production of cultural expressions eligible to apply to the Fund?

The aim of the Fund is to provide support for:

i) Programmes/projects that are designed to:
facilitate the introduction of cultural policies that protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions and, where appropriate, strengthen the corresponding institutional infrastructure;

-  provide capacity-building opportunities;

- strengthen existing cultural industries;

-  foster the emergence of new cultural industries;

-  protect cultural expressions at risk of extinction, under threat, or in need of urgent safeguarding.

ii) Preparatory assistance activities that help to identify the special needs of developing countries that are Parties to the Convention and to assist them when preparing their requests for funding. This may include, for example, engaging in stakeholder consultations, undertaking a mapping exercise, research study and/or situational analysis.

Programmes, projects and requests that solely pertain to the creation of cultural expressions will not be eligible for assistance from the Fund.

7.  Must the applicant and all of its partners be from one of the countries eligible to the Fund?

The applicant must meet the eligibility criteria established for the Fund. Only one organization can make the application and be the legal ‘beneficiary’ signing the contract, be responsible for its budget and implementation. The Intergovernmental Committee has not set limitations on partners that may be involved in the execution of the project/programme.

Those eligible to apply to the Fund are:

-  all developing countries that are Parties to the Convention;

-  all State Parties to the Convention that have determined the existence of special situations on their territory in conformity with Articles 8 and 17 of the Convention and related operational guidelines;

-  non-governmental organizations from developing countries that are Parties to the Convention, which meet the definition of civil society, i.e. non-governmental organizations, nonprofit organizations, professionals in the culture sector and associated sectors, groups that support the work of artists and cultural communities;

-  international non-governmental organizations, which meet the definition of civil society  and which present projects with impact at the sub-regional, regional or inter-regional level;

- representatives of vulnerable groups and other social groups identified in Article 7 of the 2005 Convention (i.e. women and other social groups, including persons belonging to minorities and indigenous peoples) from developing countries that are Parties to the 2005 Convention.

8.  Can a project be submitted for funding by regional authorities?

Projects cannot be submitted for funding by regional authorities. Funding requests are to be sent to National Commissions or other channels officially designated by States Parties and submitted to the Secretariat of the Convention.
However, projects that are designed to encourage or support regional cooperation are eligible to apply to the Fund.

9.  Are NGOs that did not directly participate in the Intergovernmental Committee sessions eligible?

NGOs that did not participate to the Intergovernmental committee are eligible under the following conditions:
They must have interests and activities in one or more fields covered by the Convention; they must have a legal status in compliance with the established rules of the jurisdiction in the country of registration; they must be representative of their respective field of activity, or of the respective social or professional groups they represent.

10.  Can a regional network submit an application to the Fund?

Regional networks are eligible to apply to the Fund as long as they meet the criteria that define “civil society”. The definition of civil society is presented on the IFCD website under “Who can apply”. Please see: www.unesco.org/culture/en/diversity/convention/fund

11.  Are activities that do not take place in the country/region of the applicant or beneficiaries, but have a positive effect on the cultural industries in the region eligible?

Activities should take place in the country of the applicant, but can also take place in other countries. The Committee has not indicated a geographic limitation for projects.

12.  Are SME's eligible to apply to the Fund?

Micro, small and medium sized enterprises (SME’s) of the private sector active in the cultural field of developing countries that are Parties to the Convention are eligible to the Fund to the limit of available funds from contributions provided by the private sector, in full conformity with the domestic laws of the Parties concerned.

So far the Fund has not received any contribution from the private sector. Therefore SME’s can not yet apply to the Fund. It is the reason why this category of beneficiaries is not mentioned in the IFCD section of the 2005 Convention website.

13.  Are the Fund’s working documents, for example the application forms and explanatory note, available in other languages than English and French?

The Rules of Procedure of the Committee indicate that the working languages of all activities of the Committee are English and French. Therefore, all funding requests submitted to the Secretariat of the Convention must be either in English or French.

Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish versions of the Resolutions approved by the Conference of Parties, including the Guidelines on the use of the resources of the Fund, are available on the Convention website.

14.  What is the difference between the application form for preparatory assistance and the one for project/programme funding?

The application form for preparatory assistance contains a specific section for this type of assistance. Although they have many similarities, these two application forms are distinct due to administrative management reasons.

The Fund provides support for preparatory assistance to identify the specific needs of developing countries that are Parties to the Convention and to assist them when preparing their requests for IFCD funding within the framework of activities described above. This may include, for example, engaging in stakeholder consultations, undertaking a mapping exercise, research study and/or situational analysis.

15.  Do applicants have an obligation to attach additional documentation (including photos) to the official application form and what type of documentation it should be?

There is no obligation to attach additional documentation to the official application form of the Fund.  However, if they wish, applicants may attach any relevant information that contributes to the presentation of the project.

16.  If the applicant has a physical space that will be used for the implementation of the project, should it be included in point 21 on project costs/budget?

Yes, a physical space that will be used for the implementation of the project should be mentioned in point 21 (non financial contribution) of the official application form for Programs / Projects. Partial self-financing is encouraged, but not mandatory.

17.  When a project is submitted by an umbrella Organization for its members, who is responsible for the implementation of the project?

The applicant is the entity who submits the project and signs the application form. 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 co-contractor is responsible for the coordination with his/her members and for the delivery of all the necessary documents for the implementation of the project.

18.  How do funding requests have to be submitted and transmitted by the National Commissions for UNESCO to the Secretariat of the 2005 Convention?

Funding requests are to be submitted in English or French duly filled in using the attached official forms.  A copy of each funding request together with the pre-examination form duly filled by the National Commissions for UNESCO is addressed to the Secretariat of the 2005 Convention.

19.  Are States Parties beneficiaries required to support in writing the projects submitted by INGOs that aim to generate sub-regional, regional or inter-regional impact?

Each State Party beneficiary concerned has to express in writing its support to projects submitted by INGOs whether their impact is aimed at the international, national, regional or local level.

20.  Is there a standard letter of support or a specific form available for the States Parties beneficiaries concerned to express their support for projects submitted by INGOs?

There is no standard letter of support. States Parties beneficiaries are to express in writing their support for a project in the manner they consider most appropriate.

21.  What is the role of the Secretariat of the 2005 Convention as regards the application process?

The role of UNESCO’s Secretariat is, upon receiving the requests, to perform a technical evaluation to ensure that the applications are complete and therefore admissible.

22.  When will UNESCO announce which applicants will receive funding from the Fund?

Final decisions on successful applications will be adopted by the Committee in December 2010.

23.  Are contracts made between UNESCO and the beneficiaries or between UNESCO and National Commissions?

Contracts are made directly between UNESCO and the beneficiaries. Funds are disbursed to the public or private organization(s) and/or individual(s) who applied for funding according to the terms of the contract and UNESCO regulations.

24.  Would the resources of the Fund be transferred to the beneficiaries’ account before or after the realization of the successful project?

Successful projects will receive their allocations in several instalments; the first one will be transferred at the beginning of the project.