CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Technical Consulting Activities 

To Support the Research on Economic values of Trang An World Heritage site property and its contribution to sustainable development (Viet Nam)

Background

At the 20th session in 2015, the General Assembly of States Parties to UNESCO adopted the 2015 UNESCO Policy for the Integration of a Sustainable Development Perspective into the Processes of the World Heritage Convention. This Policy reiterates three overarching principles of Human Rights, Equality, and Sustainability through a long-term perspective and urges Member States to fully recognize three dimensions of sustainable development, namely: environmental sustainability, inclusive social development, and inclusive economic development, together with fostering of peace and security.

In reference to the UNESCO 2015 Policy Document on World Heritage and Sustainable Development, Ninh Binh Province requests for UNESCO’s cooperation and support in facilitating the international exchange of expertise and advice along the process of research carried out by the Vietnam National University, Hanoi – School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts (VNU – SIS), including coordination the technical consultations with international and independent national experts, supporting technical inputs and discussions between the participating teams, consultation workshops, and dissemination of the research results including international publication in the project “Research on Economic values of Trang An World Heritage site property and its contribution to sustainable development”.

Assignments

Under the overall authority of the UNESCO Representative in Viet Nam and the project coordination of the Culture Specialist and Senior Project Assistant, the Contractor will be responsible for the following assignments:

1. Conduct comprehensive overview of relevant and updated UNESCO guidelines, decisions, and relevant cultural policies related to the Site, including identification and analysis of relevant sources such as legislative documents, reports, statistical data and information, scientific literature, relevant management measures, best practices at local and global level to be potentially considered as benchmarks, etc.
2. Complementary to the desk research, conduct at least five semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders of similar international Sites with good practices that has potential to be replicated in the Site, with a view to including both governmental and non-governmental actors, to identify possible policy gaps and opportunities in conservation and development of Trang An World Heritage Site.
3. Conduct desk analysis, stakeholder analysis, good practice analysis with the collected information and produce a report including:
   1. A situation analysis of the cultural policy scenario in Trang An World Heritage Site; 
   2. A summary of main policy gaps, priorities and opportunities for conservation and development of Trang An World Heritage Site; 
   3. Consolidated policy recommendations incorporating the principles of sustainable development, as outlined in the World Heritage Convention, into national and Ninh Binh provincial policies and plans to guide the conservation and development of Trang An World Heritage in the future.

4. Support the Vietnamese research team to identify appropriate approaches and content for comprehensively assessing the cultural and natural values of Trang An World Heritage in the context of sustainable development, with a particular focus on the high valuation scenario (Phase II), including

• Analyzing the results of Phase I with the Vietnamese research team;
• Systematizing the data of the research results;
• Proposing scientific arguments and international experiences for the High Valuation Scenario, including the assessment of the impact of the Heritage, in coordination with the Vietnamese research team.

5. Support the Vietnamese research team in preparing and participating in online and in-person expert discussions and consultation workshops, including the joint publication of the evaluation results of the project. Conduct up to 02 delegations to Vietnam to support and participate in these events. To maximize feasibility and cost-effectiveness, the contractor will attend additional online workshops as proposed whenever possible. 

6. Collaborate with the Vietnamese research team on the most relevant analytical components for a joint publication and review the research team's published manuscript, providing feedback on structure, clarity, coherence and adherence to international academic standards.

7. Create a comprehensive communication plan to promote the project's results on an international scale, including the identification of suitable journals, publication outlets, international conferences, and various communication channels.

8. Language: The working language of the assignment is English.

Deliverables 

• Inception report: detailed workplan, first round of feedback for the Vietnamese research team
• Comprehensive Policy Analysis and Recommendations Report assessing the current situation, identifying policy gaps, and offering recommendations for the sustainable conservation and development of Trang An World Heritage Site.
• A comprehensive report that includes an in-depth analysis of Phase I results, a systematic compilation of data and information relevant to the High Valuation Scenario, and proposed scientific arguments for the High Valuation Scenario, including an impact assessment of the Heritage, developed collaboratively with the Vietnamese research team to ensure relevance and alignment with local and global sustainable development goals.
• A comprehensive communication plan to promote the project's results on a global level.
• A completed manuscript for publication.

How to apply 

Interested companies can send the application by 7 November 2024 (COB) at the latest to email dn.nguyen@unesco.org. The applicaion should include: 

• Company profile including profiles of the lead consultant and team members
• Budget proposals/quotations