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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Office in Bangkok (UNESCO Bangkok) is seeking a contractor to conduct a feasibility study on UNESCO Creative Cities in Lao PDR.

Culture and creativity play a key role in sustainable urban development. They contribute to diversifying the economy and generating jobs but they also enhance the quality of life of citizens by participating to a city's social fabric and cultural diversity. Similarly, by boosting cultural participation and by regenerating public spaces, creativity also becomes an enabler of inclusion and well-being.

Lao PDR’s rich and vibrant cultural resources hold significant, yet untapped potential through the development of its cultural and creative industries (CCI). Furthermore, there are few opportunities for exchange and dialogue between the public and private sector, including its burgeoning creative workforce. Cities and provinces in Laos, are home to a young and innovative cultural and creative sector, yet the potential of this sector has never been fully explored and realised, particularly in the framework of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

Launched in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) strengthens cooperation with and among cities that have recognized creativity as a strategic factor of sustainable development on an economic, social, cultural and environmental level. Amongst 350 UNESCO Creative Cities in the world since the network’s inception in 2004, only 71 are in the Asia-Pacific region (20.3%) and none is in Lao PDR.

To effectively empower concerned stakeholders and communities of artists and cultural practitioners in Lao PDR to benefit from the UCCN mechanism, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, as the cluster field office for Lao PDR, is seeking to conduct a feasibility study to understand the potential for Lao to designate its first-ever UNESCO Creative City.

The research on the potential of Lao’s Creative Cities could be framed using the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) criteria. Furthermore, the study should also research whether public and private sectors in the Lao cities in study can provide enabling environments to realize the transformative impact of the CCIs, and whether administrations of these cities – at city level or national level – have understanding and enthusiasm to enable culture and creativity to contribute to their urban socio-economic development.

The contractor is requested to undertake a feasibility study on UNESCO Creative Cities designation in Lao PDR, including tasks as follows: 

1. Form a research team of experts with knowledge and experience of the South-East Asia region and Lao PDR. 

2. Conduct literature review of research and publications related to the development of culture and creativity in urban contexts and draft research methodology and workplan;

3. Identify resource persons or organizations for interview, focus group discussion and resource recommendation;

4. Include in the feasibility study a situation analysis to understand the cultural and creative asset base and potentials of Lao PDR, including a desk study to understand opportunities and challenges of the country’s cultural and creative industries and creative economy;

5. Identify between 3-5 cities in Lao PDR that hold potentials to be enlisted as UNESCO Creative Cities.

6. Develop and suggest strategy and action plan, including identifying potential partnerships and alliances in nurturing creative and cultural environments in the potential cities to fulfil the UCCN criteria;

7. Organize an on-site seminar in Vientiane, Lao PDR, inviting concerned provinces or municipalities, responsible national authorities (Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICT)) and international organizations to share the findings, seek feedback and build networks with relevant organizations for potential support and collaboration to enlist the first generation of Lao Creative Cities.

By 30 April 2025, the contractor will submit the final study methodology and workplan and the list of resource persons to be involved;

By 15 July 2025, the contractor will submit an agenda and list of participants for on-site seminar to share study findings;

By 31 October 2025, the contractor will submit the final a feasibility study, consisting of situation analysis, list of potential cities and proposed strategy and action plan, and related materials gathered over the course of the study.

Remote 

• Over 5 years of professional experience in conducting feasibility studies and public reporting in fields related to culture and creative industries;
• Have a roster of allied professionals in fields related to creative economy, CCIs, cultural heritage, who can be called upon to undertake or participate in the planned activities, especially in Lao PDR.

• Long-term experience working in socio-cultural contexts of Lao PDR;
• Familiarity with UNESCO’s work related to the CCIs, UCCN and creative economy;
• Familiarity with the concept and principles in achieving sustainable development goals, relatable to heritage and cultural and creative industries.

Interested organizations are invited to submit to UNESCO Bangkok the application package including

• Institutional/organizational profile
• A technical proposal illustrating how the tasks will be carried out
• A detailed financial proposal indicating rate per unit

Application package is to be sent no later than 28 February 2025, 18:00 Bangkok time (GMT+7).

To the attention of:

Chief of Culture Unit
UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
Email: culture.bgk(at)unesco.org

Only short-listed companies/organizations will be contacted.

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