??
??

The United Nation’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has launched its third appeal for funding requests to the International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD).

Countries applying for funding requests should demonstrate that the activities aim to foster the emergence of a dynamic, cultural sector at the national level and/or local level, primarily through activities that will facilitate the introduction of new cultural policies and cultural industries, or that will strengthen existing ones.

According to UNESCO, participating countries are allowed to submit four funding requests; two should come from the state and two from non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

UNESCO has advised that detailed information on the IFCD and application forms are available on the IFCD website at: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture%20/themes/cultural-diversity/diversity-of-cultural-expressions/how-to-apply/.

All funding requests should be submitted in digital form and in hard copy to: unesco@mes.gov.bb and The Barbados National Commission for UNESCO, Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development, The Elsie Payne Complex, Constitution Road, St. Michael, no later than June 1, 2012.?? The original signed documents should be presented on letter-size or A4 paper preferably in loose-leaf format.

The Fund is used notably to promote South-South and North-South-South cooperation, while contributing to achieving concrete and sustainable results, as well as structural impacts, where appropriate, in the cultural field.??

Eligible programmes and projects for the funding are activities that have been developed and are ready to be implemented. The IFCD will support those that are designed to facilitate the introduction of those cultural policies that protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions and, where appropriate, strengthen the corresponding institutional infrastructure; strengthen existing cultural industries and foster the emergence of new cultural industries.

In specific cases, the IFCD will support such activities that aim to protect cultural expressions at risk of extinction, under threat, or in need of urgent safeguarding, or that provide capacity-building opportunities.

The maximum amount that can be requested from the IFCD for programmes or projects is US$100,000.

On October 20, 2005, the 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference adopted the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions which entered into force in 2007.

Successful programmes or projects will be notified in December 2012, while formal contracts will be issued in March 2013.??

For further information, NGO representatives may call Juliette Griffith at the Barbados National Commission for UNESCO at 430-2702.

joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb

Pin It on Pinterest