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Southern Africa has a vibrant tapestry of arts and cultural festivals that not only showcase culture and creativity but also significantly impact local communities. Arts and culture festivals offer more than entertainment and festivities; culturally, these festivals provide unique cultural experiences, promote cultural expressions and the transmission of living heritage, reinforce the cultural identity of local communities, and sustain cultural production. Socially, they foster community cohesion and promote inclusivity and diversity. Economically, they generate employment and create income generating opportunities for local communities, stimulate local economies, and contribute to infrastructure development. Environmentally, festivals have the potential to promote sustainable practices and raise awareness about climate action. 

Across the region, there is a proliferation of arts and cultural festivals, yet many struggle with important challenges, such as unsustainable management and business models, dwindling funding, declining ticket sales, competing festival schedules, and negative environmental impact, to name a few. These challenges have led to impacting artists' livelihoods, small to medium enterprises, local economies, and tourism. Precise data is still needed to comprehend the festival ecosystem in the region fully in terms of its impact on the host societies. Beyond the success and longevity of festivals, there is an opportunity to leverage arts and cultural festivals to address intersecting issues such as inclusion, gender equality, employment and economic growth, sustainable cities, and climate action, all within the broader framework of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The project “Creating for the Future: Harnessing Southern Africa's Arts and Cultural Festivals for Sustainable Development” aims to ensure that Southern African countries recognize and harness the potential of arts and cultural festivals to drive local development, empower communities, promote climate action, and strengthen regional integration. UNESCO will commission a study and produce a report to provide an understanding of the cultural, social, economic, and environmental impact of the arts and cultural festival landscape in Southern Africa. 

The UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) seeks the services of a well-qualified and experienced consultant(s) or firm to conduct the study and produce the report. 

Within the framework of the above context and under the overall authority of the UNESCO Regional Director for Southern Africa and the direct supervision of the Head of the Culture Unit, the consultant(s) or firm shall:

1. Conduct a study of the cultural, social, economic, and environmental impact of a selected number of arts and cultural festivals on their local communities in 9 Southern African countries. The objectives of the study are to:

2. Map out, profile, and analyze at least ten (10) key international festivals in nine Southern African countries: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

3. Identify and analyze existing mechanisms for networking and collaboration between arts and culture festivals in the nine Southern African countries.

4. Collect and analyze data on the cultural, social, economic, and environmental impact of the identified festivals on their local communities, including variables such as: 

   a. income generation and employment creation, 

   b. tax revenue and fiscal incentives,

   c. sources and sustainability of funding, 

   d. education and skills development, 

   e. artist and cultural professional development, 

   f. infrastructure development, 

   g. accessibility,

   h. social responsibility and social impact perceptions, 

   i. cultural participation, 

   j. diversity and inclusivity, 

   k. gender equality and women’s empowerment, 

   l. engagement of youth,

   m. use of digital technologies, and 

   n. climate action and awareness. 

5. Identify the key challenges and opportunities faced by the region’s arts and cultural festivals.

6. Provide recommendations to enhance the positive impact of arts and cultural festivals and their contribution to sustainable development.

7. Produce a report that offers insights into the impact of arts and cultural festivals, challenges, and opportunities in the region.

8. Present the study's findings and recommendations during an online stakeholders' meeting organized by UNESCO.

9. Revise and finalize the report considering the inputs and feedback from the online stakeholders’ meeting and submit the final report to UNESCO. 

The consultant(s) or firm shall submit the following:

1. Technical and Financial Proposal clearly outlining the methodology to undertake the study. The methodology should include the data collection and analysis techniques, reasons for choosing the research method(s), and the associated financial costs. 

2. Work plan

3. A comprehensive report that should contain the following, among other things:

4. Executive Summary.

5. Findings of the study.

6. Recommendations to enhance the impact of arts and cultural festivals and their contribution to sustainable development.

7. A PowerPoint presentation for the workshop outlining the findings and recommendations. 

• The consultant(s), or at least one team member of the firm, should have a master's degree in Cultural Studies, Anthropology, Development Studies, Sociology, Economics, Monitoring and Evaluation or any other related field.

• The consultant(s) or firm must demonstrate experience of at least five (5) years in research and analysis in arts and culture, cultural policy, sustainable development, or monitoring and evaluation.

• Proven expertise in conducting research and assessments in arts and culture, particularly in festivals or cultural events. 

• Excellent English (both written and oral).

• Excellent research and writing skills.

Activities are expected to be completed over three (3) months from the date of signing the contract with UNESCO. 

UNESCO and the selected candidate will discuss the budget based on the Financial and Technical proposal of the selected candidate.