Girls for Culture|Culture for Girls: For women cultural professionals in West Africa : Call for Interest

CONTEXT

On the African continent, as in the rest of the world, gender equality represents a major challenge from which the cultural and creative industries are no exception. Women remain under-represented in this sector, where they lack visibility and face real difficulties, particularly in terms of access to funding or representation on decision-making bodies. This issue of equality, often regarded as a minor matter, is not only of symbolic importance, but also central to the development of sustainable, prosperous societies.

UNESCO’s Regional Office for West Africa has thus been engaged since 2016 in pioneering work to promote gender equality and women’s rights in the cultural and creative sectors. Through concrete measures and alongside multiple partners, it has developed a strategy based on two main axes:

• Strengthen recognition of women’s rights as fully-fledged professionals in the sector

The aim is to combat the discrimination faced by women, in terms of working conditions, wage inequality, access education, violence and stigmatization. The initiatives undertaken have made it possible to bring these issues into the public debate, to stimulate reflection and bring about change with all players in the sector.

• Develop advocacy actions to increase the visibility of women creators, their work and their commitment

Women may be under-represented, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. To drive change, they need to be given the space and recognition they deserve. In this regard, UNESCO Regional Office for West Africa is contributing to highlight artists and cultural professionals who could be a source of inspiration for other women and girls, but also reach out to the younger generations, thus raising questions or vocations, and helping everyone to make their own decisions in societies that are still very traditional.

In this context, UNESCO Regional Office for West Africa aims to:

• Identify and promote women involved in the cultural and creative industries, as well as in heritage preservation and transmission; 

• Expand its regional network of women cultural professionals.

These actions are part of the Girls for Culture|Culture for Girls regional program, which aims to promote gender equality in the cultural sectors of West Africa, by creating an environment conducive to the inclusion and fulfillment of girls and women in terms of rights, training opportunities, employment and professional development.

UNESCO’s Regional Office for West Africa is launching a call for expressions of interest to identify profiles of inspiring women working in the fields of culture, creativity and heritage across the West African region.  

Are you an artist, designer, archaeologist, museum curator, site manager, protected area curator, performance technician, creative entrepreneur, cultural journalist, researcher or professional in the field of culture, creativity or heritage?  This call is for you.

• Women (all generations). 

• Originating from and residing in one of the following countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo;

• At least 5 years’ experience in the cultural, creative or heritage professions; 

• Involved in artistic, educational, heritage or community activities/projects related to culture and heritage; 

• This focus on nationals of these fifteen countries does not exclude other African candidates. It merely indicates that, if choices have to be made, priority will be given to West African professionals;

• CV; 

• A biography including a description of your background, major projects and achievements (maximum 500 characters); 

• One or two representative visuals of your work in action or of your productions/works. 

Deadline for submission: July 20, 2025 to m.schmitz@unesco.org with Girls4Culture UNESCO Dakar in the subject line.

A response will be sent in the first week of August 2025. 

If you would like to recommend profiles that you consider relevant, you are encouraged to invite them to respond to this call for expressions of interest.