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UNESCO, in partnership with the Government of South Africa proposed the African Institute in Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIIKS) for Category 2 Institutes and Centres under auspices of UNESCO to contribute to achievements of UNESCO’s Approved Programme and Budget (C/4 and C/5). Category 2 institutes and centres are a global network for institutions of excellence in the Organization’s domains of competence and contribute to global strategies and action plans, sectoral programmes and priorities through implementation of international and regional cooperation, research, knowledge production, policy advice, and capacity enhancement. The AIIKS has been approved as a Research Institute at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and has been recommended by the UNESCO Intersectoral Review Committee for designation of Category 2 Institutes and Centres under the auspices of UNESCO (C2Cs) to proceed with the feasibility study to assess whether the centre is practical and aligns with UNESCO’s principles and requirements.  

AIIKS mission is to promote and support the contribution of African Indigenous Knowledge Systems (AIKS) to the global pool of knowledge with diverse objectives including to use the holistic, multi-and trans disciplinary, community and cultural, ecological specific -based nature of AIKS including indigenous languages and home-grown philosophies, to decolonize and transform research, innovation and knowledge production/scholarship in Africa.  

UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) is seeking an experienced team of experts/organization/institution/NGO to assess the feasibility of establishing AIIKS as a Category 2 Centre, ensuring its alignment with UNESCO’s mission and goals.  

Within the framework of UNESCO's Programme and Budget for 2022-2025 (41 C/5), under the authority of the Director of the Division of Science Policy and Basic Sciences (SC/PBS), and the supervision of the Chief of Section for Small Islands and Indigenous Knowledges, and the Head of Natural Science Unit, UNESCO ROSA, the contractor shall conduct the feasibility study to inform the decision-making process for the designation of Category 2 status to the Biosphere Reserves Institute of Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development to ensure its alignment with the requirements of the 2019 Strategy for Category 2 Institutes and Centres, and its contribution to the Strategic Programme Objectives of UNESCO, notably in the Natural Sciences. The findings of the feasibility study will be included in the Director-General’s report to the 221^st session of the Executive Board, with her recommendations as to whether the designation as Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO should be approved. 

The scope of the feasibility study is to assess the conformity of the proposal with the requirements for a Category 2 Centre. The specific objectives of this work include: 

• evaluation of the alignment of AIIKS with UNESCO’s strategic priorities in reference to the current UNESCO Medium-Term Strategy (C/4)  and C/5 Approved Programme and Budget.  

• assessment of the financial viability and sustainability of the AIIKS,  

• investigation of potential partnerships with governments, academic institutions, and NGOs,  

• examination of AIIKS legal and operational frameworks,  

• estimation of the long-term benefits and contributions of AIIKS to UNESCO missions and goals.  

The consultancy should cover and plan for the following tasks: 

• Evaluate the extent to which the institution’s programmes and activities are relevant and aligned with UNESCO’s Approved Programme and Budget (C/4 and C/5), including global strategies and action plans, as well as sectoral programme priorities; 

• Evaluate the regional or global needs for the AIIKS and how it will fill gaps in knowledge, capacity building, or policy support and global development agendas; 

• Evaluate the geographical reach of activities of AIIKS; 

• Evaluate AIIKS financial model, including operating costs, established and forecast sources of funding, and long-term sustainability plans; 

• Review the legal framework for establishing a Category 2 Centre within the host country, including its governance structure, with attention to the autonomy of AIIKS for the execution of its activities and legal capacity to contract, institute legal proceedings and to acquire and dispose of movable and immovable property;   

• Engage with key stakeholders, including UNESCO, governments/delegations, potential funders, and academic experts;  

• Assess if the institution’s organizational structure, the composition of its Governing Board or comparable body and its existing human resources allow for an effective and efficient management of the institution, and implementation of the functions foreseen; 

• Assess if the institution’s activities complement UNESCO’s programmes and activities and do not overlap with those of other category 2 institutes or centres or with other similar institutions created and operated by other United Nations systems organizations; 

• Describe the operational plan for AIIKS including staff, administration, reporting lines and monitoring.  

The feasibility study methods to be employed shall be determined by the contractor in an inception report, showing how each of the 9 feasibility study dimensions above will be addressed with regards to data sources and data collection methods. Among others, the following methods should be considered:  

• Document review (desk study)  
• Interviews with stakeholders (face to face, phone/online)  
• Direct observations through field visit(s), and  
• Questionnaires/surveys with stakeholders, such as Partners institutions and beneficiaries (trainees).  

The AIIKS will provide the experts with relevant documentation to be reviewed in the desk study. Interviews are to be conducted with relevant key stakeholders (e.g., academics and professionals, trainees) who have been involved in or benefitted from the work of AIIKS. The AIIKS will make all relevant documents and information available to the expert, including:  

• Technical reports if applicable  
• Progress and activity reports 
• Curricula of trainings  
• Financial reports 
• List of staff 
• List of key publications 
• List of donors and project partners 
• Minutes of the Governing Board meetings 
• Available audit and evaluation reports (if available) 

List of beneficiaries, people trained, and countries assisted

UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) will assist in the preparation and organisation of the feasibility study. The expert will be responsible for being self-sufficient as regards logistics (office space, administrative and secretarial support, telecommunications, printing of documentation, travel costs etc.). However, suitable working space, when necessary, will be provided during the visit to AIIKS. While the experts are primarily responsible for the dissemination of all methodological tools (surveys, questionnaires), UNESCO will facilitate this process to the extent possible (providing contact information, email addresses, etc.).  

Relevant stakeholders are being requested to provide documents relevant to the feasibility study. 

The feasibility study will result in 3 (three) deliverables, as follows: 

• Inception Report: Initial report outlining the detailed methodology, timeline, and any specific requirements for the study.  

• Draft Feasibility Report: Draft document containing key findings and recommendations, presented for stakeholder feedback.  

• Final Feasibility Report: A final, comprehensive report including: 

• SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) 

• Detailed financial projections 

• Legal and administrative recommendations 

• Alignment with UNESCO’s programmatic areas 

• Risk assessment and mitigation strategies 

The Implementing Partner will be expected to complete the project within 3 months and will need to define a clear timeline with key milestones (e.g. submission of draft reports, feedback sessions with stakeholders, and submission of the final report). 

All reports must comprise a programmatic and financial section that will be submitted with deliverables before each contract instalment is released. A draft feasibility study shall allow adequate time for a discussion of the findings and the recommendations with pertinent stakeholders. Report templates should be agreed on in advance with UNESCO. All reports should be submitted in English in word and pdf format

A technical description, which demonstrates an understanding of assignment, including challenges and solutions to address them effectively and efficiently in the given timeframe. 

Contents of Technical Proposal 

The written technical proposal to include the following elements as a minimum requirement: 

• Presentation of the bidding institution including: 

• Name of the institution; 

• Date and country of registration/incorporation; 

• Summary of corporate structure and business areas; 

• Corporate directions and experience; 

• Location of offices; and 

• Number and type of employees or agents relevant to this proposal. 

• Complete UNESCO Partner Identification Form (Form AM-7-9A) 

• Narrative description of the bidding institution’s experience and capacity in the areas: 

Relevant references of the bidding institutions (past and on-going assignments) in the past three years. 

UNESCO may contact reference persons for feedback on services provided by the bidding institution. 

• Proposed methodology and potential constraints for work assignments. It should minimize repeating what is stated in this ToR and respond to the methodology outlined above. There is no minimum or maximum length. If in doubt, ensure sufficient detail. 

• Work plan, which will include as a minimum requirement the following: 

• Detailed work plan based on the one proposed in the ToRs 

• Detailed timetable by activity proposed by the bidding institution (it must be consistent with the general work plan and the financial proposal). 

• Team: 

• Summary presentation of proposed team leader; 

• Summary presentation of proposed key personnel; 

• Level of effort of proposed team leader by activity (it must be consistent with the financial proposal); and 

• CV of team leader and key personnel proposed to work on this assignment. 

Financial Proposal 

The price proposal must be fully separated from the technical proposal. The financial proposal will be submitted in hard copy. Costs will be proposed in USD$ excluding all taxes. It should be aligned and comparable as much as possible with the proposed activities and workplan. Partner contribution will need to be clearly highlighted in a dedicated column of the budget and expressed also in percentage. The budget must include the following elements as a minimum requirement:  

1. Overall price proposal; and  

Breakdown of costs for consultancy fees, stakeholder engagement, travel, and other 

To undertake the activities mentioned, the implementing partner should specify the qualifications and experience required for the experts conducting the feasibility study such as: 

• Expertise in UNESCO’s strategic areas; 

• Proven track record in working in advancement of African Indigenous Knowledge Systems as Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) for sustainable futures; 

• International experience in promoting the role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in global epistemic justice in public, private and education sectors;  

• Proven track record in conducting similar feasibility studies;  

• Understanding of Category 2 Centres and their functioning;  

• Experience in legal, financial, and operational assessments.  

All the items listed below must be nested and submitted in one folder (technical and financial proposals should be submitted in different folders). Each file in the folder must have a distinct name so that one can easily tell its content even without opening it and reading through. 

Technical proposal based on the UNESCO template (Annex 1). The proposal should demonstrate understanding of the TORs and include the following:

• Company profile

• Proposed Methodology, Approach and Implementation Plan 

• Team composition and level of effort of each proposed team member (include CVs of each team member).

• Certificates of incorporation
• Demonstrated previous experience in similar assignments and traceable references 
• Audited Financial Statements for the past two years

Financial proposal based on UNESCO template (Annex 2). The financial proposal should be in United Stated Dollars. The budget should be prepared in sufficient detail to justify resource requirements, demonstrate cost-effectiveness and, as far as practicable, provide a breakdown of the resource requirements corresponding to the periods for which cash transfers will be made to the contractor.

Interested parties may submit a cover letter, CVs of team members and/or Company Profile together with a brief technical proposal and financial proposal and associated documents to vacancies.harare@unesco.org.

Please download the template in the Annexes below and quote " African Institute in Indigenous Knowledge Systems – AIIKS – as a UNESCO Category II Centre" in the email subject lines.  Submissions without proper referencing as given will be disqualified.

Annexes

Annex 1 –  

Annex 2 – 

Closing date for applications: 11 February 2025

UNESCO DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS.

WOMEN CANDIDATES AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY