Draft operational directives on the means to increase the resources of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund 

Donors

1.

The Committee welcomes contributions to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund [“the Fund”] aimed at reinforcing the capacities of the Committee to execute its functions.

2.

The Committee welcomes such contributions from the United Nations and its specialized agencies and programmes, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, and from other international organizations. The Committee also encourages States Parties to the Convention and other States to provide voluntary contributions to the Fund. The Committee further welcomes contributions to the Fund from public and private bodies and individuals.

Articles 25.3,  26.1 and 27

3.

The Committee encourages the establishment of national, public and private foundations or associations aimed at promoting the objectives of the Convention, and welcomes their contributions to the Intangible Heritage Fund.

4.

The Committee calls upon States Parties to lend their support to international fundraising campaigns organized for the benefit of the Fund under the auspices of UNESCO.

Article 28

Conditions

5.

No political, economic or other conditions which are incompatible with the objectives of the Convention may be attached to contributions made to the Fund.

Article 25.6

6.

No contributions may be accepted from entities whose activities are not compatible with the aims and principles of the Convention, with existing international human rights instruments, with the requirements of sustainable development or with the requirements of mutual respect among communities, groups and individuals. The Secretariat may decide to put specific cases of contributions before the Committee.

Article 2.1

7.

Voluntary contributions to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund are governed in accordance with the Fund’s financial regulations, the Guidelines for the use of the Fund, drawn up by the General Assembly, and the Plans for the use of the resources of the Fund that are periodically prepared by the Committee. In particular, the following provisions apply to voluntary contributions to the Fund:

1. Donors have no direct influence on the use that the Committee will make of their contribution to the Fund;
2. No individual narrative or financial reporting is provided to the donor;
3. Agreements are reached by a simple exchange of letters between the Secretariat and the donor.

Article 25.4

8.

Voluntary contributions may be made following the model letter attached to these Operational Directives in annex ***. Information on the procedures to follow for providing voluntary contributions is also available at www.unesco.org/culture/ich or by writing to fundich@unesco.org.

Benefits for donors

9.

The Secretariat shall annually inform the Committee about the voluntary contributions provided to the Fund. The Committee shall provide visibility, if so wished by the donors, to these contributions. Voluntary contributions will also be made known on the website of the Convention.

10.

The Committee at its next session will submit its recommendations to the General Assembly about the forms of recognition to be given to the contributors to the Intangible Heritage Fund.

11.

States Parties are encouraged to consider the possibility of recognizing private voluntary contributions to the Fund as eligible to benefit from fiscal mechanisms that motivate such voluntary financial contributions, such as tax benefits or other forms of public policy instruments defined by national law.