UNESCO Memory of the World Initiative to Safeguard Documentary Heritage at Risk

At a time of increasing environmental issues caused by climate change, escalating conflicts, and wars, documents of universal value are not exempt from being permanently damaged or destroyed. Documentary heritage at risk includes many forms of paper and audiovisual materials, yet digital repositories and collections are also vulnerable to rising global challenges.

Thus, the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme provides financial support to projects at national, regional, or international levels that address specific needs on the ground for safeguarding all forms of endangered documentary heritage and ensuring its accessibility, including in a post-crisis scenario.

UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme’s mission is to facilitate preservation of the world’s documentary heritage, enable its universal access and enhance public awareness of its significance. Anchored on the 2015 UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Preservation of, and Access to, Documentary Heritage including in Digital Form, the issue of preserving documentary heritage allows for a further linkage to other international development agreements, notably the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which provides a useful mechanism for discussing possible policy actions for the preservation of documentary heritage.

Scope

• The Call for proposals covers the following activities in three main areas, which are not exhaustive:
  • Mitigation and Preparedness
    • Operational activity for preservation of documentary heritage (e.g. digitization, cataloguing, etc.)
    • Capacity building (e.g. workshops, training, expert exchange to support assessment, planning and training.
    • Research activity for emergency preparedness.
    • Development of disaster plans.
    • Deployment of early warning system.
    • Awareness-raising and advocacy.
    • Measures to mitigate the impact of climate change and/or reduce carbon footprint.
  • Response
    • Rescue of damaged documentary heritage.
    • Emergency digitisation capacity building.
    • Deployment of rapid assessment and advisory missions.
    • Documentation and monitoring.
  • Recovery
    • Equipment for preservation/digitisation of documentary heritage.
    • Activity in a post-disaster/conflict environment.
    • Documenting disasters, generating social memory by community engagement.

Funding Information

• An estimated 10 to 20 grants will be distributed under this Call. Amounts allocated will range from a minimum of USD $15,000 up to a maximum USD $70,000.

Duration 

• The activities described in the proposal must cover a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 18 months of implementation.

Geographical Scope

• The Call for proposals is global in scope. However, special attention and priority will be given to Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• Countries from the African, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean regions are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Proposals from other countries are expected to be received. Nevertheless, proposals from developed countries must have a focus on and be beneficial to LDCs and SIDS (e.g: piloting applications, including the use of Artificial Intelligence, that can enhance digital preservation of documentary heritage at risk in LDCs and SIDS).

Eligibility Criteria

• The Call for proposals is open for the following candidates:
  • Memory Institutions. These include but are not limited to archives, libraries, museums and other educational, cultural and research organizations.
  • Professional associations and networks, academic and research institutions, NGOs, and other documentary heritage holding entities. These are not exhaustive.

Requirements

• Selected implementing partners should:
  • Have at least 2 years of proven work in the field of identification, preservation, accessibility or awareness raising of documentary heritage.
  • It is beneficial if the candidate has experience in a disaster risk reduction (mitigation, preparation, recovery and/or response) in any field that would make a significant contribution to the sustainable preservation of documentary heritage (cultural heritage, environmental, etc).
  • Display basic managerial and record-keeping competencies, as well as appropriate internal control procedures.
  • Have proof of legal status of an entity independent to UNESCO.
  • Have a sound financial status: applicants must prove they have stable and sufficient sources of funding to maintain their activity throughout the project period.
  • Have the capacity to:
    • Manage the volume of funds and implement the agreed-upon activities in an efficient and effective manner.
    • Participate in planning, monitoring, and evaluation activities (the latter, if applicable).
    • Assign a staff to carry out or lead the implementation of the project (if applicable).

For more information, visit UNESCO.