Strengthening the System of Governance for Culture in Developing Countries
This UNESCO expert facility project is funded by the European Union and contributes to the implementation of the 2005 Convention. It aims to strengthen the system of governance for culture in developing countries and reinforce the role of culture as a vector for sustainable development and poverty reduction.Following an international call for interest launched in 2010, a network of 30 leading cultural policy experts was constituted, representative of the fields covered by the 2005 Convention. This Expert Facility provides long-term technical assistance in the form of policy advice, skills training, knowledge sharing. From 2010 to 2015, 13 countries benefited from the UNESCO/EU Expert Facility project, which resulted in the design and implementation of over 23 cultural policies. These included strategies, recommendations, action plans and legal documents for the promotion of the cultural and creative industries, both at national and local level. All beneficiary countries have ratified the 2005 Convention on the Protection and the Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The Expert Facility was expanded in March 2015 to include 43 experts - integrating new fields of expertise and ensuring a better geographical representation of experts.
The Expert Facility, comprised of 30 international leading experts from all geographical regions and disciplines, was created to help build capacities in the area of public policies for the cultural and creative industries.13 partner developing countries were accompanied and 23 policies, strategies, recommendations, action plans and legal documents for the promotion of the cultural and creative industries were designed and implemented. Through the establishment of national teams made up of public authorities, professional associations and non-governmental organizations, the participation of civil society in policy design and implementation processes was strengthened and awareness among decision-makers about the importance of the 2005 Convention as a key policy framework for integrating culture in sustainable development national plans and about the crucial importance of inter-ministerial and cross-sectoral coordination and collaboration was raised. The role of women and young people in cultural production through trainings, networking, information sharing and skills development was enhanced. Platforms for public-private partnerships were built to ensure that the opportunities offered by the new digital environment in the creation, production, distribution. The need for sustainable political engagement and financing during policy development, implementation and monitoring processes was highlighted.
13 Countries, over 40 field missions, 26 experts involved, 4 years of implementation
UNESCO Identifies 30 leading international cultural policy experts from all geographical regions and disciplines.
Boosting culture the experts fostered: 9 strategies, 4 action plans, 5 sets of recommendations and 5 policy papers.
EU funded 1.5 Million euros.