The Gambia submit first QPR- to be used as model for other countries

Despite not been able to participate in Quadrennial Periodic Reporting (QPR) since the ratification of the UNISCO 2005 Convention The Gambia has finally submitted its quadrennial report, as the first member State submitting the new UNESCO Monitoring Framework. 

The Gambia ratified the 2005 UNESCO Convention in 2011, and the first QPR was due in 2015, but was not possible due to unfavourable political environment.

Mr Hassoum Ceesay - the Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture disclosed that The Gambia has for the first time submitted its Quadrennial Periodic Report (QPR), making the country the first State Party to summit QPR using the new Monitoring Framework.

“This is also the very first QPR prepared by a Party using the new Monitoring Framework of the Convention, adopted by the last Conference of Parties in June 2019,” said Mr Ceesay.

Acknowledging receipt of the Report Officials at the UNESCO Head Office states: “We’re pleased to inform you that we have received the PDF version of the QPR of The Gambia to the 2005 Convention elaborated with the support of the UNESCO Field Office in Dakar.

“The Gambia’s report will be reviewed in the coming weeks by UNESCO, to learn from our experience and share lessons and observations with the other countries currently embarked in the elaboration of their QPRs,” the UNESCO Official states.

Mr Ceesay also disclosed that the feedback received from the UNESCO Headquarters is that the QPR of The Gambia will also be transmitted to the next Intergovernmental Committee to be held in February 2020, and it’s executive summary will be included in the Working Document related to the reporting process of the 2005 Convention.

UNESCO Officials also states the online form to submit the QPR in electronic format is not yet available, adding that they are working on it and hope that it will be operational before the end of the current year, and concern parties will be informed accordingly when it is completed.

Background of the 2005 Convention:

It can be recollected that in October 2003, the Member States requested the UNESCO to pursue its normative action in the defence of human creativity. On the basis of the recommendation of the Executive Board, the General Conference of UNESCO requested the Director-General to submit at the October 2005 session a Preliminary Report accompanied by a Preliminary Draft of a Convention on the Protection of the Diversity of Cultural Contents and Artistic Expressions.

The UNESCO Director-General convened series of experts and intergovernmental meetings between December 2003 and July 2005, and submitted to the General Conference a report on the successive stages, among others, accompanied by a preliminary draft convention.

The instrument, which was renamed the "Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions" following the recommendation of the intergovernmental meeting of experts, was adopted by the General Conference at its 33rd session on 20 October 2005, according to UNESCO Websites.

The Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions is a legally-binding international agreement that ensures artists, cultural professionals, practitioners and citizens worldwide can create, produce, disseminate and enjoy a broad range of cultural goods, services and activities, including their own.  

The Monitoring Framework:

In a presentation by Madam Ojoma Ochai, UNESCO Expert based in Nigeria, "In order to monitor the impact of the Convention over time a monitoring framework was elaborated in 2015.

"This framework illustrates the different policy areas covered by the Convention and offers a road map for the monitoring of policies and measures implemented to achieve the Goals of the Convention

"The indicators and means of verification are expected to apply both at the national level and in the international arena; indeed, much of the success in implementation will depend on the strength of interaction between the two levels.

"Moreover, the monitoring framework offers new insights for monitoring how the implementation of the Convention can contribute to the realisation of targeted SDGs Links with SDGs.

"The implementation of the monitoring framework, notably through the elaboration of the national QPRs, allows to address the following key questions: - Has the Convention induced or inspired policy change at the country level, in the form of new or amendments to current policy provisions and measures to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions?

- How effectively are these policies and measures being implemented? and 

- Have these policies and measures created better outcomes in terms of human development?