Expert Facility
The Expert Facility is an international pool of recognized experts (independent consultants, academics and researchers, governmental officials and civil servants, cultural operators, managers of cultural institutions or associations, etc.) that have a relevant experience in designing or implementing policies to support cultural and creative sectors (e.g., publishing, visual arts, audiovisual/cinema, music, performing arts, media arts, design, etc).
The Expert Facility may be solicited to support many different areas of the implementation of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions such as: developing training materials; writing research papers; evaluating funding requests for the International Fund for Cultural Diversity; providing policy advice, trainings and capacity development; supporting policy monitoring activities; and advancing advocacy and networking opportunities. The experts are familiar with the UNESCO tools and training materials which they adapt to local contexts and use to deliver training and capacity-building services.
The Expert Facility was initially established in 2011, in the context of a European Union funded project on “Strengthening the System of Governance for Culture in Developing Countries”. 30 international experts from 24 countries were initially recruited. This Facility supported developing countries during the period 2012-2014, through technical assistance missions, in their efforts to reinforce their human and institutional capacities and strengthen systems of governance for culture.
In February 2015, a renewed Expert Facility comprised of 43 international experts was created to support capacity development for the 2015-2018 period. This renewal diversified geographical representation, gender balance and areas of expertise.
This network of international experts was renewed for the 2019-2022 period, within the context of the project “EU/UNESCO Expert Facility on the Governance of Culture in Developing Countries: Support for new regulatory frameworks to strengthen the cultural and creative industries and promote South-South cooperation”
Comprised of 42 international experts, this group of 26 women and 16 men from 35 countries represents a wealth of cutting-edge expertise in issues related to creative industries, cultural entrepreneurship, cultural policy, cultural statistics and indicators, digital, artistic freedom, media diversity, trade, status of the artist, gender equality or intellectual property rights.
