Burkina Faso is launching a national project to inventory and promote its intangible cultural heritage, thanks to financial assistance of US$260,000 from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund.
From now until 2015, this major project will enable Burkina Faso to create an inventory and database of the intangible cultural heritage present throughout its territory. With the participation of representatives from different communities, civil society organizations and academic institutions, this project will enable the country not only to identify its intangible cultural heritage, but also to evaluate its viability and to plan for appropriate safeguarding measures. A national strategy for intangible cultural heritage will also be elaborated within the framework of the project, including raising the awareness of its importance among the communities and various stakeholders concerned.
This project is one of four international assistance projects approved by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2012. The three other projects aim to support Senegal, Mongolia and Uganda in their safeguarding efforts.