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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Regional Office in Bangkok (UNESCO Bangkok) is seeking a contractor to produce communication materials and spin-off activities of the project ‘Field School for Capacity-building in Safeguarding Living Heritage of Ethnic Communities in Thailand’.

The project 'Field School for Capacity-building in Safeguarding Living Heritage of Ethnic Communities in Thailand' (2023-25) has been a pilot initiative supported by UNESCO International Assistance Fund for Intangible Cultural Heritage to the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.

The project was undertaken within an overall vision to sustain the lifeways of minority ethnic groups, especially those living in Protected Areas, in order to promote their identity and self-sufficiency based on their living heritage, while also contributing to the sustainable management of natural resources and the environment. 

The 'Field School' pilot project has developed a capacity-building model for ethnic communities to link their cultural diversity with the conservation of biodiversity in protected areas where they live, through inventorying and safeguarding activities. The project was piloted in 7 ethnic communities of Karen (Pgakenyaw and Pwo) and Chao Lay or sea nomads (Mogan, Moglan and Urak Lawoi) from Northern to Southern Thailand. 

The Field School model has been developed as a platform for delivering the following components: 

• Organizing hands-on training for ethnic communities as well as government staff and development workers in safeguarding living heritage of ethnic communities related to cultural diversity and biodiversity; 
• Implementing fieldwork activities related to:
  • inventorying and transmitting the living heritage related to cultural diversity and biodiversity,
  • developing safeguarding plans for living heritage of ethnic communities in designated or potential "Special Cultural Zones", and
  • undertaking field visits between different ethnic groups for them to exchange knowledge and build networks; 
• Undertaking public communication and advocacy activities; 
• Producing technical and policy guidance.

Following the initial achievements of the pilot phase, UNESCO in collaboration with the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre are now seeking to review, consolidate and advocate the pilot 'Field School' model with a view to reinforcing the contributions of living heritage practices for sustainable management of natural resources and the environment. 

The contractor will review, consolidate and advocate the UNESCO-supported project 'Field School for Capacity-building in Safeguarding Living Heritage of Ethnic Communities in Thailand', as follows:

• Review the achievements and challenges of the 'Field School' pilot project activities related to 'inventory', 'transmission', 'safeguarding' and 'exchange' of living heritage related to cultural diversity and biodiversity, in terms of effectiveness and impacts, by seeking feedback from participants, partner organizations and other stakeholders. This review should include an analysis of the strengths, gaps and future potential of the pilot project outputs in terms of positively feeding into Protected Area management policies, plans and practices.
• Based on these insights, further consolidate the Field School model related to 'transmission' and 'safeguarding' through field-based activities to refine the pilot training and outreach methodologies, using two selected communities out of the original 7 pilot sites/communities, as follows:
  • 'Transmission' should involve methodologies for 'learning by doing' to enable intergenerational communication of living heritage practices;
  • 'Safeguarding' should involve intersectoral collaboration to create awareness and acceptance for incorporating living heritage practices into policies, plans and practices for conserving local environmental resources, for instance, in Special Cultural Zones and/or in Protected Areas.
• Consolidate materials that reflect outcomes of the pilot Field School project, and advocate the Field School model at public events such as events commemorating the World International Day for Indigenous Peoples (WIDIP).

• By 30 April 2025, a workplan showing when and where the concerned activities will take place;
• By 30 June 2025, a list of materials and events advocating for Field School model;
• By 31 October 2025, the final project report.

Thailand

• Minimum 10 years of experience in implementing and assessing projects in ethnic communities and/or Protected Areas in Thailand;
• Have extensive networks related to cultural diversity and biodiversity, including ethnic minority groups;
• Be familiar with policies, programmes and practices related to Protected Area management, particularly regarding the role and involvement of ethnic groups;
• Have on-site staff to oversee administration and logistical arrangement of capacity-building activities.

• Able to coordinate and communicate effectively bilingually in Thai and English;
• Be familiar with national and international statutory frameworks and principles related to indigenous rights, cultural diversity and biodiversity, including the 1972 World Heritage Convention and the 2003 Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention.

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

• Institutional profile,
• A technical proposal illustrating how the tasks will be carried out,
• A detailed financial proposal indicating rate per unit in USD.

Application package is to be sent no later than 25 March  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.

#CallForProposals #LivingHeritage