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CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Research and documentation of Traditional Knowledge Systems on

Biodiversity conservation, climate change and disaster risk reduction

in Eastern Africa

Deadline for submission: 5 February 2021

The UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa is seeking proposals from qualified and

experienced national teams or organizations to work closely with UNESCO and its partners to

carry-out a research activity and develop case studies of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) linked

with biodiversity conservation, climate change and/or disaster risk reduction in line with the

UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in each of the

seven pilot countries in the Eastern Africa region that have been selected for this study: Eritrea,

Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions,

the proposal submitted should be from a team based in one of the abovementioned seven pilot

countries and the proposal should only cover one country as per the outline of activities indicated

below; all research will be carried-out on a national basis in line with national health guidelines

and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the prevention of COVID-19.

Each country team will focus on researching and documenting at least one case study

demonstrating the link between intangible cultural heritage (ICH) and biodiversity conservation,

climate change and/or disaster risk reduction. The case studies will provide valuable research and

documentation of indigenous knowledge systems, oral traditions, cultural expressions, rituals

and practices contributing to biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation/mitigation,

and/or disaster risk reduction in the selected country of the Eastern Africa region. The studies

will also analyse safeguarding needs and measures as well as the impact of climate change on

the knowledge system/practice for bearer communities, and suggest possible mitigation

measures. See the project concept note in annex.

The results of the study will guide inventories of intangible cultural heritage and their related

safeguarding strategies and will also contribute to UNEP’s African Group of Negotiators on

biodiversity in the preparation and subsequent implementation of the Post-2020 Global

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Biodiversity Framework. The case studies may also be used in the ICCROM-UNDRR Guidebook

currently under preparation on “Using Traditional Knowledge for disaster risk reduction.” Lastly,

the research will inform the newly formed UNESCO Advisory Panel on Culture and Climate

Change, including the white papers that will be prepared in 2021.

Proposals should be prepared according to the project document (annex), research brief (annex)

and terms of reference (below). A contract will be issued to selected country teams in each

country and will include the costs to carry out the research, including the following tasks:

Terms of Reference:

In close collaboration with the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa and the UNESCO

National Commission for the pilot country concerned, the national research team shall carry-out

the following activities:

1. Familiarize with the provisions of the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and its Operational Directives, the Ethical Principles for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage as well as the text of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, to ensure understanding of the guidance and ethical principles for carrying out the research and documentation of intangible cultural heritage with respect for indigenous, traditional and local communities.

2. Form national teams to research and document on indigenous knowledge systems linked to biodiversity conservation, climate change and/or Disaster Risk Reduction, which should be developed in close collaboration with communities and include photo and video documentation.

3. Liaise with national authorities through the UNESCO National Commission in the country concerned to inform them of the system selected for the research and ensure their endorsement; and share the selected case study topic with UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa prior to commencing the research.

4. Ensure the free, prior and informed consent of community concerned by the intangible cultural heritage described in the case study through the use of consent forms, which are adapted to be culturally and linguistically relevant and appropriate, to be filled out by the representative(s) of participating community members to ensure their agreement for their knowledge system to be documented and shared through this activity.

5. Ensure photo and video consent forms are filled out for each photo and video submitted, and the author agrees to reproduction through UNESCO’s Open Access policy for Scientific Information. The following consent forms are available for photos: https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/ICH-07-photo-20171026-EN.doc, and for videos: https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/ICH-07-video-20171026-EN.doc .

6. Develop one case study in English featuring a knowledge system considered as intangible cultural heritage by a community and practised in the selected pilot country.

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a. Describe the knowledge systems and provide information on how they are affected by and/or adapting to climate change and/or mitigating the impact of climate change.

b. Develop proposals together with the communities concerned for safeguarding measures for these knowledge systems to ensure transmission to future generations.

c. Discuss the challenges of safeguarding, conservation and sustainability of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in the context of diminishing number of custodians of such systems.

d. Provide the interplay and complementarity of the knowledge systems and the conventional scientific knowledge for each of the selected case study.

7. Participate in an online conference on 30 April 2021 to present the results of the case study in a PowerPoint format.

8. Finalize the case study based on feedback received during the online conference and submit a final version to UNESCO for publishing in PDF format along with consent forms, photos and videos. The case study should not be longer than 10 to 20 pages (or 5,000 to 10,000 words), including any photos and annexes, and produced in English. It should also include a one-page summary in English.

9. Ensure that communities benefit from the results of the research by organizing a presentation with the local community representatives to share the case studies, photos, videos and ensure an exchange of ideas and knowledge following the research project.

Deliverables:

1. Draft budget and work plan

2. Case Study (according to draft template) and one page summary.

3. At least 10 photos

4. At least one video (5 to 10 minutes long with subtitles in English)

5. Consent forms from community representative and for all of the above to be used for Open

Access, shared among local communities, partners and researchers, produced in a PDF

publication, and featured on UNESCO and partners web sites.

6. PowerPoint presentation of the results of the study (using PPT Template Format provided by

UNESCO and including photos)

7. Submission by 30 April 2021 to UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa.

8. Participation in online conference organized in on 30 April 2021 (1pm-3:30pm EAT) to

present the results of the research

9. Organization of a meeting with local community to share results of research, photos, videos

and publications as well as to initiate further exchange by 30 June 2021.

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Selection process

The selection of the national team will be decided upon by UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern

Africa based on the quality of the proposal and work plan as well as the budget.

Payment

The research team will submit a proposed budget together with the proposal for the research

topic. Upon signature of a contract, a first payment will be issued at the start of the activity upon

submission of a final budget and work plan. The remaining payment will be issued upon receipt

of the above-mentioned deliverables: final case study, photos, video, PPT and consent forms

How to Apply:

1. Research teams interested in applying should send a copy of your

company/university/organization profile, CV(s) of expert(s), proposal including a budget

in USD by email to k.monteil@unesco.org no later than 5 February 2021.

2. The proposed budget should be in the following format:

Item Description Amount (USD)

Fees

Organization of national team, research and development of case study, photos and videos

Community meetings

Venue, refreshments (local authorities, community representatives), consent forms, presentation of case studies

Communications Phone/Wifi

Total

3. For questions, please contact Ms. Karalyn Monteil, Culture Programme Specialist,

UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, k.monteil@unesco.org

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ANNEX 1

CONCEPT NOTE

SUPPORTING RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION

OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS

FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE

ADAPTATION/MITIGATION, AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

IN EASTERN AFRICA

©Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health TICAH

Geographical scope/benefitting country(ies):

Eastern Africa region:

Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda

Duration (in months): February to June 2021

Name, Unit and contact details of Project Officer(s) :

Karalyn Monteil, Programme Specialist for Culture, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, k.monteil@unesco.org

Partner(s) institutions: UNEP Africa Office, UNDRR, ICCROM, Ministries of Culture and Environment, Universities in Eastern Africa region, NGOs

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Rationale and overall purpose

Intangible Cultural Heritage includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and

passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive

events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to

produce traditional crafts. The importance of intangible cultural heritage is not the cultural

manifestation itself but rather the wealth of knowledge and skills that is transmitted through it from

one generation to the next. The environmental, social and economic value of this transmission of

knowledge is relevant for minority groups and for mainstream social groups within a State, and is as

important for developing States as for developed ones.

The UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage recognizes the

contribution of intangible cultural heritage to environmental sustainability, including in the areas of

sustainable natural resource management and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity

(Operational Directives Chapter VI.3). Traditional knowledge systems, oral traditions, rituals and

practices, accumulated and renewed by communities across generations as part of their intangible

cultural heritage, can play an important role alongside scientific knowledge and policies in sustaining,

regenerating, conserving and governing biodiversity. Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage not

only serves to transmit knowledge and skills about the environment, but also shapes a certain

relationship to nature, usually fostering notions of respect, custodianship and connectivity towards

the natural environment.

Following the UNESCO desk study carried out in 2019 on universities and intangible cultural heritage in

the Eastern Africa region, and in view of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) work on

“People and Biodiversity”, and the UNEP support to the African Group of Negotiators on Biodiversity in

preparation (and eventual implementation) of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework for the

conservation under the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as in support of the International

Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) and the United

Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)’s joint collaboration on the Words-into-Action guide

“Using Traditional Knowledge for disaster risk reduction”, this activity seeks to build on the network of

universities established by linking them with international experts and NGOs in the region, and mobilizing

them to undertake research and documentation on intangible cultural heritage through traditional

knowledge systems linked to biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation/mitigation, and

disaster risk reduction in the Eastern Africa region, and develop case studies to be shared among

partners working in these fields.

The identification of intangible cultural heritage practices through this activity will help address challenges

related to biodiversity loss, nature deterioration, climate change and achieving a good quality of life for

all, which are interconnected and must be addressed synergistically. The activity is in line with the UNESCO

Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS) programme and supports the Intergovernmental

Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). The unique knowledge systems, practices,

expressions and skills identified through this study and recognized by communities as part of their

intangible cultural heritage will provide valuable research and documentation on the crucial links between

biological and cultural diversity, and provide a foundation for locally-appropriate solutions to sustainable

development. Moreover, the research can also serve as case studies to guide: the African Group of

Negotiators on Biodiversity towards the development of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

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as well as in the early implementation of the framework; the UNESCO Advisory Panel on Culture and

Climate Change white papers that will be commissioned in 2021 on culture and climate change impacts,

adaptation and mitigation; and lastly as a potential case study for the ICCROM/UNDRR guidebook on

“Using Traditional Knowledge for disaster risk reduction.” It will also be made widely available to other

researchers and the public through publication on UNESCO and partners’ web sites.

Why UNESCO?

Capitalizing on the strengths and comparative advantages of UNESCO as the only UN Agency with a

mandate for culture, a comprehensive portfolio of international normative instruments in the field of

culture, and a wide network of partners, experts and stakeholders, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern

Africa is well positioned to coordinate the identification, research and documentation of intangible

cultural heritage in the Eastern Africa and adjacent Indian Ocean Islands region related to biodiversity

conservation, climate change adaptation/mitigation, and disaster risk reduction in the Eastern Africa

region.

The 2003 Convention is complementary to other UNESCO Conventions in the field of culture and is also

cross-cutting with all other UNESCO sectors: Education, Communications and Information, Social and

Human Sciences and Science. Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) has close links with UNESCO’s Priority

Africa & Gender Priority Programmes as well as the cross-cutting UNESCO Youth Programme and the

UNESCO Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS) programme.

Building on the UNESCO- SCBD (Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity) Joint Programme on

the Links between Biological and Cultural Diversity, UNESCO recognizes that culture and nature are

intertwined, interconnected and co-productive. Indigenous and traditional knowledge is an important

element in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity as recognized by the Convention

on Biological Diversity1 and its Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit sharing of genetic resources.

African countries in particular place great importance to the role of indigenous and traditional knowledge

in the sustainable use of biodiversity.

UNESCO has numerous resources and programmes available to guide and provide a basis for the research

and documentation to be carried-out as part of this activity including but not limited to the following:

Relevant resources from the 2003 Convention on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage:

Operational Directives, Chapter VI on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development at the national level, https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/ICH-Operational_Directives-7.GA-PDF-EN.pdf

Sustainable Development Toolbox, https://ich.unesco.org/en/sustainable-development-toolbox-00987

1 Article 8(J) of the CBD requires state parties to “(j) Subject to its national legislation, respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and promote their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of such knowledge, innovations and practices;”

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Information sheet: Environmental sustainability policy, https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/Environmental_sustainability_EN.pdf

ICH and Climate Change, https://en.unesco.org/news/experts-highlight-role-culture-climate-change-mitigation-and-adaptation

Ethical Principles for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, https://ich.unesco.org/en/ethics-and-ich-00866, (elaborated in the spirit of the Convention and existing international normative instruments protecting human rights and the rights of indigenous peoples).

Environmental sustainability and indigenous peoples, https://ich.unesco.org/en/indigenous-peoples. Living heritage can help protect biodiversity. Many local and indigenous communities have developed lifestyles and practices that are closely linked to nature and that respect the environment. An example in the region is the ‘Traditions and practices associated with the Kayas in the sacred forests of the Mijikenda, Urgent Safeguarding List (Kenya), https://ich.unesco.org/en/USL/traditions-and-practices-associated-with-the-kayas-in-the-sacred-forests-of-the-mijikenda-00313.

Indigenous Peoples:

The UNESCO Policy on Engaging with Indigenous Peoples, https://en.unesco.org/indigenous-

peoples/policy, guides the Organization’s work, in all areas of its mandate that involve or are relevant

for indigenous peoples and of potential benefit or risk to them. It ensures that the Organization’s

policies, planning, programming and implementation uphold the United Nations Declaration on the

Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS), https://en.unesco.org/links Local and indigenous knowledge refers to the understandings, skills and philosophies developed by

societies with long histories of interaction with their natural surroundings. For rural and indigenous

peoples, local knowledge informs decision-making about fundamental aspects of day-to-day life.

This knowledge is integral to a cultural complex that also encompasses language, systems of classification,

resource use practices, social interactions, ritual and spirituality. UNESCO's Local and Indigenous

Knowledge Systems programme (LINKS) promotes local and indigenous knowledge and its inclusion in

global climate science and policy processes. LINKS has been influential in ensuring that local and

indigenous knowledge holders and their knowledge are included in contemporary science-policy-society

fora on issues such as biodiversity assessment and management (CBD, IPBES), climate change assessment

and adaptation (IPCC, UNFCCC), natural disaster preparedness (ISDR) and sustainable development

(Rio+20, Future Earth). Working at local, national and global levels, LINKS strives to strengthen indigenous

peoples and local communities, foster transdisciplinary engagements with scientists and policy-makers

and pilot novel methodologies to further understandings of climate change impacts, adaptation and

mitigation. A UNESCO project is currently underway in Mauritius as part of the “Local indigenous

knowledge systems and SIDS programme” managed by UNESCO Science Sector.

Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity:

The recognition that local and indigenous people have their own ecological understandings, conservation

practices and resource management goals has important implications. It transforms the relationship

between biodiversity managers and local communities. While previously they were perceived simply as

resource users, indigenous people are now recognised as essential partners in environmental

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management. Indigenous and traditional knowledge is recognised globally as providing the invaluable

initial screens for scientific identification isolation and formulation of active ingredients for a variety of

products ranging from pharmaceuticals, to cosmetics and foods etc. However, systems for access to and

sharing of benefits accruing from the use of such knowledge is under-developed thus not benefiting the

local and indigenous communities who have for centuries safeguarded the knowledge which enabled

them to sustainably co-exist with biodiversity.

Differences between scientific and indigenous worldviews continue to create barriers to meaningful

collaboration, as does the widespread assumption that science is superior to other knowledge systems.

One of the major challenges to indigenous and traditional knowledge on biodiversity is the lack of proper

documentation and inadequate accreditation of its ownership by local and indigenous communities.

LINKS works on a number of processes and projects relating to indigenous and local knowledge and

biodiversity, including supporting the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

(IPBES) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). A recent example is the Climate Policy Brief.

Knowledges of Nature 8: Knowing our Lands and Resources: Indigenous and Local Knowledge of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Africa

The Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and its Task Force on indigenous and local knowledge systems (ILK) present a series of case studies based on indigenous and local knowledge from Africa. This report from the Dialogue Workshop in UNESCO, Paris (14–16 September 2015) contributes ILK to the African regional assessment, while piloting methods to reinforce ILK in biodiversity assessments.

United Nations University

Traditional Knowledge and Biodiversity (publication), https://collections.unu.edu/eserv/UNU:5773/TKB_Book_2013.pdf

Links with 2030 Agenda

UNESCO shares the vision of the African Union for “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa,

driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.” The UNESCO Priority

Africa Programme aims to “Harness the power of culture for sustainable development and peace in

a context of regional integration.”

The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want provide a roadmap for safeguarding cultural and natural heritage and harnessing culture for sustainable development through the majority of the Sustainable Development Goals, and in particular: SDG 11, which aims to “strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world's cultural and natural heritage” among its targets (11.4); SDG 4 for Quality Education, which includes “…appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development” in target 4.7; as well as SDG 7 for Environmentally sustainable and climate resilient economies, SDG 14 for Life below water, and SDG 15 Life on Land; as well as the

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AU Aspiration 1 for A Prosperous Africa, based on Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development together with ‘Aspiration 5: An Africa with a Strong Cultural Identity, Common Heritage, Values and Ethics’.

In the framework of UNESCO’s approved Programme and Budget for 2020-2021 (40C/5) and its Expected

Result 6 - Intangible cultural heritage identified and safeguarded by Member States and communities, in

particular through the effective implementation of the 2003 Convention, this project will focus on

supporting research and documentation of traditional knowledge systems linked to biodiversity

conservation, climate change adaptation/mitigation, and disaster risk reduction in the Eastern Africa

region, and develop case studies on these intangible cultural heritage practices to be shared among

partners working in these fields.

Summary of outcomes, outputs and activities

Outcome N°1 Increased awareness of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) practices for biodiversity

conservation, climate change adaptation/mitigation, and disaster risk reduction in the Eastern Africa

region as well as their proposed safeguarding measures and impacts of climate change on these

practices

Output N°1: Research, documentation and case studies of traditional knowledge systems linked to

biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation/mitigation, and disaster risk reduction in the

Eastern Africa region produced

Activity 1: Advisory panel created to guide the studies and provide research briefs

Activity 2: Identify and engage universities, NGOs and partners to carry-out research and

documentation of traditional knowledge systems contributing to biodiversity conservation, climate

change adaptation/mitigation, and disaster risk reduction in the Eastern Africa region, and develop

case studies

Activity 3: PDF publication produced and featured on UNESCO, UNEP, UNDRR, ICCROM, participating

universities and other partners’ web sites.

Outcome N°2 Strengthened networks and synergies for ICH, Biodiversity Conservation, Climate

Change adaptation/mitigation, and disaster risk reduction in the Eastern Africa region

Output N°1: Organization of a regional online conference to share case studies and develop

recommendations for future actions

Activity 1: Online conference to present and review results of the seven research/case studies with

participants from the 13 countries covered by UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa (Comoros,

Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South

Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda)

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Implementation Strategy

The UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa will work closely with universities, experts, ministries

responsible for culture and for environment/natural heritage as well as UNEP, UNDRR, ICCROM, NGOs

and other partners to carry-out this activity.

An Advisory Panel will be established to guide and review the research. The panel will be composed of

experts from UNESCO and partner organisations. The panel will guide the preparation of the research

brief and provide inputs on the results of the case studies as well as recommendations for future actions

during the final conference.

Experts, NGOs, Universities and other relevant organizations will be identified to lead the research in

collaboration with experts with backgrounds in environment/biodiversity from the 2003 Convention’s

Global Network of Facilitators as well as from partner networks of experts (ICCROM, UNEP, UNDRR).

Partnerships with relevant NGOs will be established as needed to reinforce the fieldwork.

Seven pilot countries in the Eastern Africa region (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles, Somalia, South

Sudan, Uganda) have been selected for this study based on their readiness to carry-out the research

(availability of a research team, existing research in the field, presence of UNESCO Field Offices, etc). Each

country team will focus on researching and documenting at least one case study of ICH linked with

biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation/mitigation and/or disaster risk reduction. The case

studies will provide valuable research and documentation of traditional knowledge systems, oral

traditions, cultural expressions, rituals and practices contributing to biodiversity conservation, climate

change adaptation/mitigation, and disaster risk reduction in the Eastern Africa region. A thematic area

such as water could be proposed as a focus as it is a crosscutting theme for disasters, climate change and

conflicts. The studies will also analyse safeguarding needs and measures as well as the impact of climate

change on the practice, suggest possible mitigation measures. Photos and videos will be produced during

the research and made available for wide use among partners and researchers through Open Access.

All documentation and research will follow the guidelines of the 2003 Convention for carrying out

community-based inventories, ensuring the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of the communities

concerned and in line with the Ethical Principles for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage. Consent

forms will be filled out by all participating community members to ensure their agreement.

Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, all research will be carried-out on a national basis in line with national

health guidelines and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the prevention of COVID-19.

The international expert consultations will take place online as well as the final meeting to present the

results of the study, which will take the form of an online conference.

The final case studies will be published in a PDF publication and shared widely with partners through web

sites and social media.

The results of the study will guide national inventories and safeguarding strategies and will also contribute

to UNEP’s African Group of Negotiators on biodiversity in the preparation and subsequent

implementation of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The case studies may also be used in

the ICCROM-UNDRR Guidebook currently under preparation on “Using Traditional Knowledge for disaster

risk reduction.” Lastly, the research will inform the newly formed UNESCO Advisory Panel on Culture and

Climate Change, and the white papers that will be prepared in 2021.

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Stakeholders, beneficiaries and partners

Direct beneficiaries of this project are local communities, universities, NGOs, Ministries responsible for

natural and cultural heritage and the environment as well as other national partners in the safeguarding

of intangible cultural heritage and the documentation of traditional knowledge systems.

As the research will be carried-out by universities and experts with the direct involvement of the local

communities, they will have ownership of the process. As mentioned above, consent forms will be filled

out by all participating community members to ensure their agreement. The online conference and

publication will enable sharing the results of this project with a wider community in Eastern Africa and

globally through the 2003 Intergovernmental Committee meetings as well as through UNEP’s global

meeting for adoption of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in May 2021 in China. The results

may also be featured in an upcoming ICCROM-UNDRR publication on Indigenous Knowledge and Disaster

Risk Reduction.

The project can help to strengthen collaborations between ministries for culture and environment, and

will also help to strengthen synergies among UN agencies including UNESCO, UNEP and UNDR.

Risk analysis, sustainability and exit strategy

COVID-19 travel restrictions and prevention measures may inhibit field research. However, the project

has been designed to focus on national research combined with international consultations online.

The results of the study will serve multiple purposes and will strengthen synergies among key actors

working in these areas, notably UNESCO, UNEP, UNDRR, and ICCROM.

The research will also strengthen the capacities of participating universities and researchers, who may

continue further research in this important area of study after the project.

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ANNEX 2

RESEARCH BRIEF

SUPPORTING RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS

ON BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE AND DISASTER RISK REDUCTION IN EASTERN AFRICA

Overview

The UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa is working closely

with universities, experts, local NGOs, ministries responsible for

culture and for environment/natural heritage as well as UNEP,

UNDRR, ICCROM, NGOs and other partners to carry-out this

research activity in line with the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the

Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Seven pilot countries in the Eastern Africa region have been

selected for this study: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Seychelles,

Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda. Country teams will be formed in

each country to carry-out the research activities.

Each country team will focus on researching and documenting at least one case study of intangible cultural

heritage (ICH)2 linked with biodiversity conservation, climate change and/or disaster risk reduction. The

selection of the case study will be decided upon by the national research team in collaboration with the

national authorities through the National Commission for UNESCO in each country, and the topic will be

submitted to UNESCO prior to commencement of the research. The case studies will provide valuable

research and documentation of indigenous knowledge systems, oral traditions, cultural expressions,

rituals and practices contributing to biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation/mitigation,

and/or disaster risk reduction in the Eastern Africa region. The studies will also analyse safeguarding needs

and measures as well as the impact of climate change on the knowledge system/practice, and suggest

possible mitigation measures. Non-implementation of safeguarding measures could also be addressed, as

well as information on how the practice/knowledge may have adapted and evolved in the context of

climate change. Photos and videos will be produced during the research and made available to UNESCO

for wide use among partners and researchers through Open Access.

2 Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts.

Photo ©TICAH, Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health (Kenya)

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The results of the research should be shared by the national team with the local communities through the

organization of a public event where the photos and videos as well as the final publication is shared with

the communities. The UNESCO National Commission for UNESCO should be invited to participate in this

event. Any costs related to this event should be foreseen in the budget for the research project.

All documentation and research will follow the Operational Directives of the 2003 UNESCO Intangible

Cultural Heritage Convention for carrying out community-based inventories, as well as the guidelines of

the Convention on Biological Diversity, ensuring the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of the

communities concerned and in line with the Ethical Principles for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural

Heritage. Consent forms should be filled out by all participating community members to ensure their

agreement with the research and documentation (including any photos/videos). These consent forms

should be adapted so they are culturally and linguistically appropriate and understood, in the local

context, by participating communities and individuals. Members of communities who will be the focus of

the research should be involved in the development of the research tools so that they can ensure

relevance to community needs and that questions to be explored, and their implications, are understood

in the local context.

Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, all research will be carried-out on a national basis in line with national

health guidelines and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the prevention of COVID-19.

A regional meeting with international experts from the Advisory Panel will take place online in April/May

2021 (date tbc) to present the case studies and discuss the results of the study, and identify

recommendations for future actions.

The final case studies will be published in a PDF publication and shared widely among partners through

web sites and social media. In addition, as mentioned above, the results of the studies will be shared with

the local communities to allow for inter-community knowledge exchange.

The results of the study will guide national inventories and safeguarding strategies and will also contribute

to UNEP’s African Group of Negotiators on biodiversity in the preparation and subsequent

implementation of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The case studies may also be used in

the ICCROM-UNDRR Guidebook currently under preparation on “Using Traditional Knowledge for disaster

risk reduction.” Lastly, the research will inform the newly formed UNESCO Advisory Panel on Culture and

Climate Change, including the white papers that will be prepared in 2021.

Research Focus

1. Research and documentation on intangible cultural heritage practices and indigenous knowledge systems linked to biodiversity conservation, climate change and/or Disaster Risk Reduction, which should be developed in close collaboration with communities and include photo and video documentation.

2. Development of one case study featuring an indigenous knowledge system from each pilot country.

3. Proposals for safeguarding measures for these knowledge systems to ensure transmission to future generations.

4. Information on how the knowledge systems are affected by and/or adapting to climate change and/or other impacts from population change dynamics

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5. Organisation of an information exchange meeting with the local community to present the final pilot case studies and share the PDF publication as well as any photos or videos.

Sustainability

UNESCO National Commissions will be consulted at the start of the project to ensure national

endorsement of the activity.

An Advisory Panel composed of international experts will guide the research by contributing to the

Research Brief and participating in the final online conference to review the studies and provide

comments and recommendations prior to publication of the PDF document. This will ensure the relevance

of the research and its application to ongoing and future initiatives by UNESCO and its partners.

As the research will be carried-out by universities and/or experts with the direct involvement of the local

communities, they will all have ownership of the process. As mentioned above, consent forms, which are

adapted to be culturally and linguistically relevant and appropriate, will be filled out by a representative

of participating community members to ensure their agreement with the research, photos and videos.

The online conference and publication will enable sharing the results of this project with a wider

community in Eastern Africa and globally through the 2003 UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for

Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage meetings as well as through UNEP’s global meeting for adoption

of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in May 2021 in China. Some of the case studies may also

be featured in an upcoming ICCROM-UNDRR publication on Indigenous Knowledge and Disaster Risk

Reduction. The final case studies, photos, videos and PDF publication will also be shared with local

communities by the researchers to allow for further cross-community knowledge sharing.

This pilot project can help to strengthen collaborations between ministries for culture and environment,

and will also help to strengthen synergies among UN agencies including UNESCO, UNEP and UNDRR as

well as intersectoral collaboration between UNESCO Culture and Science sectors.

Terms of Reference

In close collaboration with the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa and the UNESCO National

Commission for the pilot country concerned, the national research team shall carry-out the following

activities:

1. Familiarize with the provisions of the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and its Operational Directives, the Ethical Principles for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage as well as the text of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, to ensure understanding of the guidance and ethical principles for carrying out the research and documentation of intangible cultural heritage with respect for indigenous, traditional and local communities.

2. Form national teams to research and document on indigenous knowledge systems linked to biodiversity conservation, climate change and/or Disaster Risk Reduction, which should be developed in close collaboration with communities and include photo and video documentation.

3. Liaise with national authorities through the UNESCO National Commission in the country concerned to inform them of the system selected for the research and ensure their endorsement; and share

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the selected case study topic with UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa prior to commencing the research.

4. Ensure the free, prior and informed consent of community concerned by the intangible cultural heritage described in the case study through the use of consent forms, which are adapted to be culturally and linguistically relevant and appropriate, to be filled out by the representative(s) of participating community members to ensure their agreement for their knowledge system to be documented and shared through this activity.

5. Ensure photo and video consent forms are filled out for each photo and video submitted, and the author agrees to reproduction through UNESCO’s Open Access policy for Scientific Information. The following consent forms are available for photos: https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/ICH-07-photo-20171026-EN.doc, and for videos: https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/ICH-07-video-20171026-EN.doc .

6. Develop one case study featuring a knowledge system considered as intangible cultural heritage by a community and practised in the selected pilot country.

Describe the knowledge systems and provide information on how they are affected by and/or adapting to climate change and/or mitigating the impact of climate change.

Develop proposals together with the communities concerned for safeguarding measures for these knowledge systems to ensure transmission to future generations.

Discuss the challenges of safeguarding, conservation and sustainability of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in the context of diminishing number of custodians of such systems.

Provide the interplay and complementarity of the knowledge systems and the conventional scientific knowledge for each of the selected case study.

7. Participate in an online conference on 30 April 2021 to present the results of the case study in a PowerPoint format.

8. Finalize the case study based on feedback received during the online conference and submit a final version to UNESCO for publishing in PDF format along with consent forms, photos and videos. The case study should not be longer than 10 to 20 pages (or 5,000 to 10,000 words), including any photos and annexes, and produced in English. It should also include a one-page summary in English.

9. Ensure that communities benefit from the results of the research by organizing a presentation with the local community representatives to share the case studies, photos, videos and ensure an exchange of ideas and knowledge following the research project.

Deliverables:

1. Draft budget and work plan

2. Case Study (according to draft template) and one page summary.

3. At least 10 photos , and one video (5 to 10 minutes long with subtitles in English)

4. Consent forms from community representative and for all of the above to be used for Open Access,

shared among local communities, partners and researchers, produced in a PDF publication, and

featured on UNESCO and partners web sites.

5. PowerPoint presentation of the results of the study (using PPT Template Format provided by UNESCO

and including photos)

6. Submission by 30 April 2021 to UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa.

7. Participation in online conference organized in on 30 April 2021 (1pm-3:30pm EAT) to present the

results of the research

8. Organization of a meeting with local community to share results of research, photos, videos and

publications as well as to initiate further exchange by 30 June 2021.

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Reference Documents

UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

Operational Directives, Chapter VI on Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development at the national level, https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/ICH-Operational_Directives-7.GA-PDF-EN.pdf

Sustainable Development Toolbox, https://ich.unesco.org/en/sustainable-development-toolbox-00987

Information sheet: Environmental sustainability policy, https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/Environmental_sustainability_EN.pdf

ICH and Climate Change, https://en.unesco.org/news/experts-highlight-role-culture-climate-change-mitigation-and-adaptation

Ethical Principles for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage, https://ich.unesco.org/en/ethics-and-ich-00866

Environmental sustainability and indigenous peoples, https://ich.unesco.org/en/indigenous-peoples

UNESCO Policy on Engaging with Indigenous Peoples, https://en.unesco.org/indigenous-peoples/policy UNESCO Science Programme

Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems (LINKS), https://en.unesco.org/links

Policy Brief: Indigenous and local knowledge and climate change, https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/links_climatepolicybrief2_eng.pdf

Knowledges of Nature 8: Knowing our Lands and Resources: Indigenous and Local Knowledge of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Africa

Open Access to Scientific Information, http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/access-to-knowledge/open-access-to-scientific-information/

UN Convention on Biological Diversity, https://www.cbd.int/ UNEP, Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework United Nations University, Traditional Knowledge and Biodiversity (publication), https://collections.unu.edu/eserv/UNU:5773/TKB_Book_2013.pdf UNDRR

Framework for integrating indigenous and scientific knowledge for disaster risk reduction https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/11372

UNDRR: Indigenous knowledge for disaster risk reduction: An African perspective https://www.preventionweb.net/publications/view/49857

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ANNEX 3

INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE CASE STUDY TEMPLATE

SUPPORTING RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION OF INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE

SYSTEMS ON BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE AND DISASTER

RISK REDUCTION IN EASTERN AFRICA

Please prepare a case study of 10 to 20 pages (5,000 to 10,000 words) in English, including any photos and annexes according to the sections below:

1. Title of Proposed Case Study

2. Geographical Location

3. Background to the Case Study

4. Statement of the Problem

5. Objectives of the Case Study

6. Case Study focus

7. Proposed Research Design, Methods/Procedures

Literature review

Population and Study Sample

Sample Size and Selection of Sample

Sources of Data

Secondary sources of data

Primary source of data

Collection of Data

Data Management

Data Analysis Strategies

8. Ethics considerations and Human rights issues

9. Strengths and limitations of the Case Study

10. Findings

11. Discussion / Conclusions

12. Recommendations

13. References / Bibliography

14. Photos/ Videos (including copies of consent forms)

15. 1 page summary of the case study