The National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ) with the guidance of the UNESCO Expert Facility will host a one-day multi-stakeholder public presentation and validation of the Zimbabwe 2005 Quadrennial Periodic Report on Friday 16 October 2020 at Cresta Oasis Hotel in Harare.

 

The report, which started to be drafted in December 2019 by the members of the National Team is due to be submitted on 01 November 2020. The meeting is expected to reunite relevant stakeholders who include artists, cultural practitioners, media professionals, public institutions and representatives of various ministries for a final reflection and validation.

 

After the public presentation, the national team will come together for a debriefing session to integrate the results of the public debate in view of finalizing the periodic report. The national team will also discuss lessons learnt and follow-up actions.

 

The quadrennial periodic report (QPR) is a form that is collaboratively completed by the public, private and civil society actors underlining the state of cultural policies in a country, which is submitted by State Parties to UNESCO’s 2005 Convention every 4 years.

 

The elaboration of the QPR process strengthens the network of cultural policy makers to better monitor the ever-evolving creative industries. The process identifies a number of challenges such as lack of relevant data and information required for evidence-based and transparent policy-making; limited capacity to assess and monitor the impact of policies and measures for the diversity of cultural expressions; fragile networking between governments and civil society.

 

The elaboration of Zimbabwe’s QPR, benefited from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) project called “Reshaping cultural policies for the promotion of fundamental freedoms and the diversity of cultural expressions” where Zimbabwe and other 16 partner countries are beneficiaries.

 

The project is a follow up (phase II) of the successful similar project entitled, “Enhancing fundamental freedoms through the promotion of the diversity of culture expression” to which Zimbabwe submitted its first Quadrennial Periodic Report.

 

Government officials and representatives from the Ministry of Information, Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation, non-governmental organisations, civil society tourism stakeholders, creatives and artists, entrepreneurs are expected to attend presentation. The Ministry of Youth Sport Arts and Recreation, Dr T Chitepo is expected to officiate. Other speakers include National Arts Council of Zimbabwe Director Mr. Nicholas Moyo and UNESCO Regional Director for Southern Africa, Prof. Hubert Gijzen.