Deadline: 19-Aug-2025
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is inviting grant applications to support the government’s efforts in improving girls’ primary education and preserving cultural heritage in Bahawalpur (South Punjab) and Swat (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). The initiative also extends to Chitral District, aiming to enhance education, sustainability, and cultural conservation.
UNESCO seeks to hire a qualified firm or organization to carry out activities focused on experiential learning for students and youth. These include working alongside local craftsmen and laborers to help restore heritage trails and integrate Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) into both education and environmental sustainability efforts.
The project aims to increase girls’ access to schools in marginalized communities, improve retention and learning environments, and strengthen the capacity of education officials. It also intends to mobilize communities to protect cultural heritage and engage youth in conservation efforts, linking traditional knowledge to modern education.
Activities will include exposure visits, environmental conservation efforts like tree planting and flood mitigation through indigenous techniques, and support for eco-tourism. The initiative will provide learning opportunities by involving students in hands-on projects such as repairing pedestrian bridges or reinforcing riverbanks using traditional methods.
A core focus is on capacity building through workshops and awareness events for teachers and students, integrating indigenous knowledge into the school curriculum using tools like UNESCO’s Greening Curriculum. Students will be engaged in activity-based learning that links environmental awareness to heritage preservation.
Promotion of indigenous culture will involve activities that highlight traditional crafts, construction methods, local festivals, and cuisine. These efforts will be supported through informational materials like brochures and maps, aiming to deepen appreciation of cultural and natural heritage.
Alongside trail restoration, physical interventions will involve skilled local workers, with students observing and participating in educational field visits. These activities will contribute to heritage preservation and offer insight into sustainable construction practices.
To support eco-tourism, the project will offer microfinance grants to women-led businesses along the trail. Tourist resource centers will be established and informational signage installed to enrich visitor experience while boosting local economic activity.
Community engagement efforts will include discussions with parents and local leaders to understand educational barriers. Advocacy campaigns will focus on protecting biodiversity and traditional practices, and community-based school management systems will be activated through School Management Committees (SMCs) and Parent-Teacher Councils (PTCs).
Teacher training programs will promote inclusive, activity-based learning methods and the integration of cultural heritage into school curricula. Youth will participate in curricular and extracurricular events themed around heritage, including competitions and seminars.
Heritage trail restoration will involve assessing and supporting skilled local laborers. Two information centers will be set up along the trail in Chitral to serve as hubs for cultural awareness and tourism support.
Community meetings will be held at these centers, and awareness materials such as brochures and flyers will be developed. Provincial archaeological departments will receive support for heritage site protection through fencing, signage, and public messaging.
For teacher training, local teachers will receive a travel allowance of PKR 2,000–3,000 per day, while outstation teachers may receive up to PKR 7,000 in daily subsistence allowance. Site-based interventions are budgeted between PKR 500,000 to 700,000 per intervention, inclusive of labor.
Women-led businesses along the trail can receive microfinance grants ranging from PKR 300,000 to 500,000, depending on the scope of the business. All activities are expected to start by the end of September 2025 and conclude by March 30, 2026.
Eligible applicants must be legally registered entities with a valid National Tax Number (NTN). They should have at least four years of experience managing community development projects, strong administrative and financial systems, and must submit certified audits for the past two years.
The proposed project team must include a Project Manager with a master’s degree in a relevant field and at least five years of experience in managing development projects. Additional experience with cultural heritage or work in remote communities is preferred. Fluency in English and Urdu is required.
The Education Technical Lead must hold a master’s degree and have at least three years of relevant capacity-building experience. The Community Mobilization Specialist must have a bachelor’s degree and preferably two years of experience in community engagement, particularly around cultural heritage.
This comprehensive initiative combines education, environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, and community empowerment, aiming for long-term impact in marginalized regions of Pakistan.
For more information, visit UNESCO.
