The Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture has received a grant of $ 99,980 from Unesco’s International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) to support a one-year project on mainstreaming gender equality in the creative sector.
The ministry says, in a press statement, that the provision of the funds follows a successful proposal that was made through the Department of Arts.
It was submitted in response to Unesco’s 14th Call for Proposals issued in March 2023.
The statement further says the project will be implemented in collaboration with the Malawi National Commission for Unesco, with close involvement of stakeholders.
The project runs from December 2024 to December 2025.
The IFCD is a multi-donor funding framework that supports projects in developing countries.
The countries are parties to the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
The fund was established under Article 18 of the convention and it aims at supporting sustainable development and poverty reduction efforts in developing countries by fostering the emergence of a dynamic cultural and arts sector.
The country ratified the 2005 convention in March 2010.
The statement from the ministry further says the project will aim to create a more gender-inclusive cultural ecosystem in Malawi.
“The project represents a milestone in Malawi’s journey towards a more inclusive cultural and creative industry, emphasising equal opportunity and participation for women in line with local policies and international conventions,” it reads.
The project on ‘Mainstreaming Gender Equality in Malawi’s Cultural and Creative Sector’ is anticipated to elevate the presence and influence of women on the country’s creative industries, promoting gender parity and cultivating a dynamic and inclusive ecosystem.
Some of the key activities that are set to be undertaken include regional training programmes, national conference on gender equality and policy review.
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