CFPs: Mapping of the Book and Publishing Sector in Africa

At the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies (MONDIACULT) in 2022, many Member States from the African region emphasized the strategic importance of cultural and creative industries for the sustainable development of their countries. The importance they attach to these industries is also at the heart of Agenda 2063 adopted by the African Union, which calls for them to be strengthened so that they can play their part in the full realization of Africa’s development potential.

In the same vein, UNESCO plans to map the book and publishing sector in Africa in 2024.

The aim of this mapping is to enable the Member States concerned to be better equipped to respond to the challenges and priority development needs of the book and publishing sector in their countries. It will also allow UNESCO to establish a roadmap to support the development of this strategic sector in Africa through relevant programs.

Objectives

• The selected bidder will be responsible for preparing a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative synthesis including an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the book and publishing sector in Africa as well as priority needs and recommendations for action at the continental level, based on data collected by UNESCO through the dedicated questionnaire sent to UNESCO Member States and relevant stakeholders, as well as additional desk research, as necessary.
• The main objectives of the expected analysis are as follows:
  • To map and analyze the policies, measures and initiatives implemented by relevant UNESCO Member States and other stakeholders on the African continent at all levels of the book and publishing value chain in Africa;
  • To identify the main challenges and opportunities facing the relevant Member States and stakeholders in the book value chain for the development of the sector, and their specific needs for revising existing regulatory frameworks and policies or implementing relevant initiatives;
  • To highlight examples of best practice on the African continent that illustrate how effective policies, measures and initiatives can enable the emergence of sustainable ecosystems in the book and publishing sector.

Expected Deliverables

• The selected bidder will produce and submit to UNESCO the following deliverables:
  • By 30th September 2024, an in-depth analysis of the responses to the questionnaires and the complementary documentary research, as well as an annotated table of contents for the mapping report (10 UNESCO standard pages);
  • By 15th October 2024, a draft analytical report on the general mapping of the book and publishing sector in Africa (40-50 UNESCO standard pages, excluding annexes and visual and graphic data), including a summary of the analytical report (8-10 UNESCO standard pages);
  • By 15th November 2024, the revised final analytical report (40-50 UNESCO standard pages, excluding annexes and visual and graphic data).

Eligibility Criteria

• The bidder shall present a team of at least three (3) experts coordinated by a senior editor.
• The team must demonstrate experience and knowledge of the book and publishing sector in the continent’s five sub-regions (North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa) and key expertise in the book and publishing value chain (creation, production, distribution, promotion), as well as in the cross-cutting themes cited in the mapping Terms of Reference (digital, education, etc.).
• The senior editor and team members should have at least 10 years’ relevant experience and an excellent record of achievements in international research and analysis of cultural policies and measures in the African book and publishing sector. Proven regional and thematic expertise, including research experience and/or peer-reviewed publications on the African book and publishing industry, will be considered as an asset.
• Excellent writing skills and a proven ability to write a clear, comprehensive and analytical document in either English or French are essential.
• The proposed team must be able to consult sources of information in English and French, and the senior editor must have a good command of both languages. The ability to consult information sources in other African languages (Arabic and Portuguese in particular) will be considered as an asset.
• The assignment must be completed within a time span of three months.

For more information, visit UNESCO.