UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

11/21/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/22/2024 12:31

UNESCO launches a call for the establishment of a new alliance of university chairs on the study and the history of enslavement and the transatlantic slave trade

Established over 30 years ago, the Programme aims to foster interuniversity collaboration and networking to enhance institutional capacities through knowledge sharing and collaborative work.

The Chairs on the study and the history of enslavement and the transatlantic slave trade will be invited to join an alliance to support UNESCO's work in this area, and to amplify the work of universities and their partner institutions around the concept, as well as the consequences and impact of this tragic history.

Universities around the world are invited to submit an application for the establishment of a new Chair by 30 April 2025, as part of the 2025 cycle of UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Networks application process.

Context

Since 1994, the UNESCO Routes of Enslaved Peoples Programmehas played a major role in breaking the silence surrounding the history of enslavement and placing this tragedy in the universal memory.

Today, the Programme produces knowledge and conducts research, supports remembrance through its Network of Places of History and Memory and its city twinning programme, promotes the contributions of people of African descent to the general progress of humanity and addresses the consequences inherited from this tragedy. UNESCO also convenes a series of Dialogues for Reparatory Justice aimed at developing a long-term action plan in collaboration with multiple stakeholders.

The Programme celebrated its 30th anniversary on 9 and 10 October 2024 under the theme "Constructing Equality, Healing and Understanding".

It has become critical to acknowledge this shared history and understand how it has shaped our societies. Through research and publication, teaching and training activities, and community engagement actions, the Chairs, together with their partners, will provide comprehensive views on the consequences of enslavement and the slave trade, connecting historical information with contemporary issues, particularly relating to understanding the landscape of historical archives, issues around gender and enslavement, implications for contemporary horizontal inequality within countries, implications for economic and social development in Africa and in Afro-descendant communities in diasporas, amongst others.

When established, the Chairs will play an important role in identifying and conducting new research and fostering dialogues and learning initiatives to acknowledge and redress the impacts of enslavement and the slave trade in terms of inequalities, racism and discrimination, particularly against people of African descent.

Who can apply

Higher education institutions that are recognized, accredited or otherwise sanctioned by the competent national or local authorities.

Interested applicants are invited to consult the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs guidelines. Kindly note that at this stage, this call is limited to the establishment of UNESCO Chairs, and applications for UNITWIN networks will not be considered.

How to access the online submission platform?

The application is to be completed in English or French through the dedicated submission platform and should be validated by the relevant National Commission for UNESCO.

  1. Register. To receive an invitation, higher education institutions must register by completing an Account Request Form. In completing the form, indicate the contact information of the person at the proposed host institution who will prepare and submit the application.

  2. Receive access link to online platform. An e-mail will be sent to the higher education institutions including the link that will enable access to the online submission platform (please also check the "Spam" folder). Once received, click on the link to access the online application form.

  3. Log in. If the email address provided is already associated with a Microsoft account (i.e. @outlook.com, @hotmail.com, @live.com), enter the account information and password accordingly. Once authenticated, the user will be directed to the online submission platform.

  4. Complete the application and upload supporting documents. The application can be filled out in part and saved for later completion (all information does not need to be entered during the same session).

As the online submission platform will only be available from January-April 2025, applicants are encouraged to begin the elaboration of their proposals using the Application Form in Annex A of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs guidelines. Kindly ensure that the proposal meets all the required criteria in Annex B.

For technical assistance while completing the online application form, please contact the UNITWIN Programme team at [email protected]. For more information on the topic, kindly contact [email protected].

Applications by email will not be accepted.

UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme