This call is for institutions or legal entities (i.e. for-profit or not-for-profit organisations)

Introduction

This call for expressions of interest is for a consultant company or institution to author the second edition of a new “Policy Briefs” series that will be published digitally by UNESCO’s Diversity of Cultural Expressions Entity.

Background

Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the cultural and creative industries were among the fastest growing sectors in the world. Generating annual revenues of US$ 2,250 billion and nearly 30 million jobs worldwide, they employed more people aged 15 to 29 than any other sector. Over the last decade, it has become clear that cultural and creative industries are drivers for inclusive economic growth, reducing inequalities and achieving the goals set out in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

As the only United Nations agency with a mandate in the field of culture, UNESCO is committed to harnessing the power of cultural and creative industries for sustainable development. The 2005 Convention for the Protection and the Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the 1980 Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artist are the Organization’s main normative instruments to shape the design and implementation of policies and measures that support the creation, production, distribution of and access to cultural goods and services around the world.

Since the entry into force of the 2005 Convention fifteen years ago, its Parties have been at the forefront of emerging trends and issues that affect the cultural and creative sectors. From preferential treatment for cultural goods and services to the impact of digital technologies on the creative sector, Parties’ decisions and resolutions have helped to create a new framework for informed, transparent and participatory systems of governance for culture.

To further nourish and inspire the discussions of Parties to the 2005 Convention, UNESCO is set to launch a new “Policy Briefs” series, which will identify emerging trends in the culture sector, discuss recent developments in specific thematic areas, and provide an analytical overview of future perspectives for the Governing Bodies of the Convention.

In the framework of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions’ Entity’s ongoing research activities in the field of culture and creativity, the consultant company or institution will be responsible for the drafting of a Policy Brief on an emerging topic within the creative and culture sectors. Based on existing data, the consultant company or institution will provide a comprehensive, yet concise overview of a given topic based on existing quantitative and qualitative evidence. As far as possible, the Policy Brief should provide a balanced geographic overview of the current state of the field of the given topic.

The Policy Brief is intended to:

• provide UNESCO Member States, and particularly Parties to the 2005 Convention, an overview of emerging trends and recent developments in the culture and creative sectors;
• provide an analytical overview of future perspectives for the Governing Bodies of the 2005 Convention to help them identify priority areas of intervention over the medium and long term and plan the sequence of their future interventions.

Objective

Recognizing that cultural diversity is a defining characteristic of humanity, the 2005 Convention affirms that the diversity of cultural expressions, including traditional cultural expressions, is an important factor that allows individuals and peoples to express and to share with others their ideas and values. At its core, the Convention rests on the principle of equal dignity and respect for all cultures. It recognizes that the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions presuppose the recognition of equal dignity of and respect for all cultures, including the cultures of persons belonging to minorities and indigenous peoples. This is consistent with the vision of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in which States ‘envisage a world of universal respect for human rights and human dignity, the rule of law, justice, equality and non-discrimination; of respect for race, ethnicity and cultural diversity; and of equal opportunity permitting the full realization of human potential and contributing to shared prosperity’.

Cultural diversity manifests itself in multiple ways, including individuals’ freedom to create, disseminate, distribute, and access their cultural expressions. Especially in audio-visual media, cultural content sends powerful conscious and unconscious messages about identity. Lack of visible representation or stereotypical representation in cultural products, such as TV, film, theatre and music, can play an important role in perpetuating discriminatory dispositions against marginalised groups or identities. Promoting representation in media and enhancing the voice of persons from minority groups is therefore essential to promote inclusion and mutual understanding, and to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of culture by all. Ultimately, by empowering individuals and communities, diversity and representation can be powerful tools to fight systemic discrimination and strengthen fundamental human rights.

In this context, this Policy Brief will focus on diversity and representation of minorities in audio-visual cultural expressions around the world. The consultant company/institution will provide a critical assessment of initiatives from public and private broadcasters, producers, and publishers that seek to address  underrepresentation in audio-visual cultural contents including, but not limited to: television shows, films, theatre plays and video games, of marginalised communities due to factors such as  race or ethnicity, gender, disability, migratory status and others.

It is expected that the consultant company/institution will review existing studies and available information, including the periodic reports of the Parties to the 2005 Convention, gather primary data and conduct a mapping of good practices put in place to promote diversity, representation and inclusion in audio-visual cultural expressions around the world. From this data, the consultant company/institution will highlight promising results and outline measures or initiatives that have meaningfully improved representation and diversity. It should also analyse the broader structural impacts of the approaches put in place and identify common actions/steps that can serve as inspiration to promote diversity.

This Policy Brief, which is conceived as a strategic document, should be concise and written in an accessible language for an informed audience of policy-makers, researchers and cultural professionals.

Scope of work

The consultant company will be responsible for:

1. Carrying out a desk review of existing studies conducted by intergovernmental organizations, governments, research centres, cultural institutions, universities or consulting firms addressing diversity, representation and inclusion in audio-visual arts, ensuring the geographical balance of the sources consulted/analysed and the balance of the sub-sectors examined.
2. On the basis of qualitative and quantitative evidence gathered from various sources, providing a thorough but concise analysis of the data, identifying good and inspirational practices.
3. Offering insight regarding opportunities to contribute to the better implementation of the 2005 Convention, by identifying possible areas of intervention and innovative collaboration mechanisms, including with the governing bodies of the Convention.

Qualification requirements

The research institution or partner should have a solid experience, and a good record of accomplishments, in global research and analysis of cultural policies and measures. Demonstrable subject expertise, including research experience and publications on cultural diversity and representation will be considered an asset.

The team must be able to consult sources of information in English and French. The ability to consult information sources in additional languages, especially Spanish and Arabic, will be considered an asset.

Proposal

The consultant company should include in his offer:

• A proposal regarding the team composition and structure with recent CVs, including a list of publications and research achievements. The requested team should have diversified skills including at least a Team Leader and a subject expert.
• A detailed presentation of the proposed approach, strategy and methodology.
• A detailed work plan for the assignment, including a precise timeline.
• A financial proposal, broken down by activity and quoted in US Dollars. If an amount is included for the purchase of data, please include the sources being considered.

Proposals should be submitted in English or French.

Deliverables

1. A full draft of the Policy Brief in English or French, for review by the UNESCO Secretariat.
2. The final Policy Brief of a maximum of 15 standard UNESCO pages and an executive summary of less than one page. The Policy Brief should be written in a clear and concise way for an informed audience, avoiding jargon or specialized terminology, and include a minimum of illustrative infographics.

Timeframe

The Contractor shall submit to UNESCO, in electronic format, the following:

1. On or before 3 May 2021, the draft Policy Brief
2. On or before 18 May 2021, the final Policy Brief

Expressions of interest should be submitted by email, clearly indicating “Policy Brief on diversity and representation in audio-visual cultural expressions” to convention2005@unesco.org.

Closing Date of Applications: 6 April 2021