16 April 2026
The UNESCO Living Heritage Entity is looking for a team of experts/evaluators to carry out a renewal evaluation of the International Centre for Capacity-building in Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Arab States (ICCBICH), a UNESCO Category 2 Centre based in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates.
Proposals should reach UNESCO (ich-capacity@unesco.org) no later than 15 May 2026 (midnight, Paris time).
Context
Category 2 institutes and centres under the auspices of UNESCO are a global network of institutions of excellence in the Organization’s domains of competence. Given their expertise, these institutes and centres contribute to the implementation of UNESCO’s priorities, programmes, and global development agendas during a defined period. They foster international and regional cooperation, research, knowledge production, policy advice, and capacity enhancement. Though independent of UNESCO, category 2 institutes and centres are a privileged partner of the Organization with access to international and intergovernmental bodies and networks and may leverage UNESCO’s international reach and convening powers. Category 2 institutes and centres under the auspices of UNESCO are an integral part of the Organization’s Comprehensive Partnership Strategy (2019), with eight of the Centres specializing in intangible cultural heritage (the full list can be viewed at this link: https://ich.unesco.org/en/category2).
The UNESCO Strategy for Category 2 Institutes and Centres under the auspices of UNESCO (Available at https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/46612-EN.pdf) provides that an agreement for the establishment of a category 2 institute or centre is for a defined time period, not exceeding eight years. The agreement may be renewed by the Director-General, with the approval of the Executive Board, in light of an evaluation of the activities of the institute/centre and of its contribution to the strategic programme objectives of the Organization and the aforementioned Strategy.
The 40th session of the General Conference, in its 40 C/Resolution 46, approved the establishment at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, of the International Centre for Capacity Building in Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Arab States as a centre under the auspices of UNESCO (hereafter, ‘the Centre’). An agreement between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and UNESCO was signed on 8 December 2021, for a period of six years. On 6 May 2025, the Government of the United Arab Emiratessubmitted a request for renewal of the agreement. To this end, an evaluation of the Centre will be carried out.
The objectives of the Centre are to:
a) Promote the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and contribute to its implementation in the Arab States;
b) Strengthen institutional capacities for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in the Arab States, while promoting the purposes of the 2003 Convention in the region;
c) Increase the participation of communities, groups and individuals in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, and raise awareness of and ensure respect for intangible cultural heritage in the Arab States;
d) Foster regional and international cooperation for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage.
The functions of the Centre are to:
a) Implement long-term and short-term capacity-building programmes and safeguarding activities based on the programme developed by UNESCO for the effective implementation of the 2003 Convention;
b) Adapt capacity-building materials developed by UNESCO to the regional context and ensure their translation into Arabic;
c) Build networks among concerned communities, groups and individuals to reinforce transmission and dissemination of intangible cultural heritage, organize public events and meetings at the regional and international level;
d) Strengthen international and regional networks to exchange information and knowledge concerning the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, including in the context of the Overall results framework of the Convention and periodic reporting.
Purpose
The main objectives of this evaluation are to assess the Centre’s performance with respect to its objectives and functions (see above), and its contribution to UNESCO’s Approved Programme and Budget (C/5), including global strategies and action plans as well as sectoral programme priorities. The conclusions of the renewal evaluation shall be submitted to the UNESCO Intersectoral Review Committee that will make the recommendation to the Director-General as to whether an agreement with the Centre should be renewed or not. Based on this recommendation, the UNESCO Executive Board will examine the renewal request, decide on the renewal or non-renewal of the designation of the Centre as a category 2 centre under the auspices of UNESCO and authorize the Director-General to conclude an agreement between UNESCO, the Government of the United Arab Emirates, and the Centre.
The conclusions of the renewal evaluation shall be shared with the Government of the United Arab Emiratesand the Centre, and will be made available on the website of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (https://ich.unesco.org/en/category2).
Scope
The following parameters shall be considered by the independent experts contracted to undertake the renewal evaluation. The independent experts shall have had no prior affiliation with the Centre, nor its partners in carrying out its activities and shall draft the renewal evaluation in English:
- the extent to which the Centre’s objectives as set out in the agreement signed with UNESCO were achieved;
- the relevance of the contribution of the Centre’s programmes and activities to the achievement of UNESCO’s programme for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and the effective implementation of the 2003 Convention as specified in the Approved Programme and Budget covering the period under evaluation (39 C/5 and 41 C/5), in particular the achievements of the 2003 Convention’s global capacity building programme and the programme for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in formal and non-formal education, in accordance with the agreement;
- the relevance of the contribution of the activities of the Centre to global development agendas, notably to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the related SDGs;
- the quality of coordination and interaction with UNESCO, both at Headquarters and in the field, as well as with National Commissions, other thematically-related category 1 and 2 institutes or centres with regard to planning and implementation of programmes;
- the partnerships developed and maintained with government agencies, public or private partners and donors;
- the nature and efficiency of the Centre’s governance, including organizational arrangements, management, human resources and accountability mechanisms;
- the financial resources available for ensuring sustainable institutional capacity and viability, and,
- the extent to which the Centre enjoys within its territory the autonomy necessary for the execution of its activities and legal capacity to contract, institute legal proceedings, and to acquire and dispose of movable and immovable property.
Methodology
The renewal evaluation of the Centre will include:
Draft evaluation report
A draft report will present findings, conclusions and recommendations, with a draft executive summary. The UNESCO Culture Sector, the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Centre itself will have the opportunity to comment and give feedback to the evaluation team.
Final evaluation report
The final report (max. 20 pages, excluding annexes) should be structured as follows:
The language of the report shall be English.
Requirements for the renewal evaluation team
The evaluation shall be conducted by a team of 2 independent experts (ideally gender-balanced). A single proposal/expression of interest must be submitted on behalf of the team.
The team should have the following qualifications:
Roles and responsibilities
Local travel, materials, secretarial support and office space will be provided by the Centre during the visit. The experts will be responsible for telecommunications and printing of documentation.
The Living Heritage Entity of the UNESCO Culture Sector will facilitate and oversee the renewal evaluation process, to the extent possible, by providing any relevant information, and will be responsible for evaluating and approving the final report.
Schedule
The renewal evaluation shall be completed by 31 August 2026.
The schedule for the evaluation is as follows:
The date of the mission to the Centre will be defined by UNESCO in coordination with the Centre and considering the availability of evaluator(s).
Submission of proposals
Proposals should be submitted in English, consisting of:
- Curriculum vitae of expert(s)/evaluator(s) and, if applicable, a company profile;
- Letter expressing interest and clearly identifying how the team meets the required skills and experience;
- An approach and methodology for the assignment, a Workplan and comments on the Terms of Reference if any (in brief);
- On the basis of the proposed and required tasks, please prepare a budget estimate/budget proposal, including an indication of the travel expenses.Please provide the estimate in a separate document.
Proposals should be submitted no later than 15 May 2026, midnight (Paris time) to the Living Heritage Entity (ich-capacity@unesco.org). Please note that proposals submitted through other channels will not be considered. Selection will be made on the basis of best value for money.
