The overall project is expected to have an inception phase of six months (1 March 2024 - 31 August 2023) and a first implementation phase of 28 months (1 September 2023 - 31 December 2024).

Interested organisations (and consortiums) can access the full tender document issued on 5 September 2023 on the following website: www.simap.ch. (Invitations to tender > Project number 264109 and/or Notice number 1360255)

The deadline for the submission of offers is 27 October 2023. The selection process is governed by strict rules and procedures outlined in the tender document. All potential applicant organisations and consortiums should follow them diligently.

Background

In the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), culture and arts play a key role to preserve and promote Palestinian identities, dialogue and freedom of expression. For this reason, the SDC has supported the culture and arts sector in the oPt as a vector for social change since the 1990s. From ad hoc contributions to cultural events, Switzerland’s engagement has evolved into a culture programme with strategic interventions focused on community-building processes. The programme is embedded in a local governance and state building agenda that aims to enhance citizens’ participation and promote democratic and pluralistic values.

Based on the results of a 2021 study aimed at assessing the arts and culture sector in the oPt and providing recommendations for future Swiss engagement, SDC decided to complement its ongoing activities focussing on culture as a vector for social inclusion with approaches fostering the economic sustainability of the culture and arts sector. This new programme will focus on the cultural and creative industries and is the subject matter of this tender.