The Committee,

1. Recalling Article 23 of the Convention as well as Chapter I.4 of the Operational Directives relating to the eligibility and criteria of International Assistance requests,
2. Having examined Document LHE/19/14.COM/10.d as well as International Assistance request no. 01501 submitted by Burkina Faso,
3. Takes note that Burkina Faso has requested International Assistance for the project entitled Capacity building for stakeholders involved in safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage in Burkina Faso:

The proposed twenty-four-month project is geared at building the capacities of stakeholders involved in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in Burkina Faso. Following an inventorying process conducted as part of the implementation of the Convention, the need to establish a critical mass of stakeholders capable of taking on the process of safeguarding living heritage at the national level became clear. In this context, this project focuses on a process of training trainers, expected to lead to the establishment of a team of ten national facilitators who will train 225 local stakeholders. Specifically, it aims to: implement a training programme on safeguarding living heritage; produce and disseminate information and communication tools to ensure that the concept of intangible cultural heritage is well understood and implemented in local public policies; and establish a network of facilitators and other stakeholders to support the implementation of the Convention at the local level. The project is to be implemented in two stages. The first twelve-month stage will involve training 110 people, from whom ten national facilitators will be selected. Two international living heritage experts will be invited to partake in this process. In the second stage, the ten facilitators will train 225 people through nine regional workshops. These stakeholders are then expected to work with their local communities to safeguard living heritage at the local level.

4. Further takes note that this assistance is to support a project implemented at the national level, in accordance with Article 20 (c) of the Convention, and that it takes the form of the provision of a grant, pursuant to Article 21 (g) of the Convention;
5. Also takes note that Burkina Faso has requested assistance in the amount of US$387,770 from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the implementation of this project;
6. Considers that, from the information provided in the file, the request responds as follows to the criteria for granting International Assistance given in paragraphs 10 and 12 of the Operational Directives:

Criterion A.1: The Customary and Traditional Chiefdom’s Higher Council is the national organization that brings together all the traditional and customary leaders of Burkina Faso. The Council participated throughout the proposal of the project on behalf of all the communities it represents. The project was also discussed with associations and non-governmental organizations working to safeguard intangible cultural heritage. The activities are to be implemented for and by members of the communities concerned, including women and young people. While the facilitators in the first phase will not necessarily come from the communities, in the second phase, the facilitators will all be members of the communities selected during the first phase.

Criterion A.2: The budget is detailed and appropriate. It reflects the activities and expenses in a clear manner and corresponds with the detailed description of the activities, which are sufficient for the implementation of the project. The bulk of the funds (89 per cent) will be allocated to training courses, which are the core of the project, while the remaining 11 per cent will be allocated to the follow-up of the project, the reports and the communication campaign.

Criterion A.3: While they are ambitious, the proposed activities correspond with the objectives and expected results of the project and are feasible under the proposed timeline. They are presented as a practical next step in the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in Burkina Faso, taking into account previous national experiences and problems encountered. The project is to be implemented by a review committee and a management unit, which are also in charge of monitoring and evaluating the project, for which the mechanisms are also clear. Furthermore, the project is framed as part of the strategic plan for the development of cultural heritage in Burkina Faso, which covers the period 2019–2028, and includes the participation of national, regional and local authorities as well as non-governmental organizations and local organizations.

Criterion A.4: The training programme is aimed at establishing a wide network of people with the appropriate tools to safeguard intangible cultural heritage and a team of facilitators who can replicate the training across many regions, as extensively as possible. The critical mass of people equipped with knowledge relating to intangible cultural heritage will be able to support safeguarding activities, projects and programmes after the end of the project, especially through the implementation of the resulting safeguarding plans. Moreover, the project will empower the communities concerned to manage their own living heritage, contributing to the systematic safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in Burkina Faso.

Criterion A.5: The State Party is to cover 20 per cent of the total budget. Most of the payments to the participants (both international and domestic) are expected to come from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund, while payments to institutions and smaller expenses are to be covered by the State Party. This includes expenses related to the organization of the workshops, the production of banners, media coverage, the organization of radio and TV programmes, travel expenses, stationery, and costs relating to the monitoring and evaluation of the project and the writing of reports.

Criterion A.6: The specific purpose of the request for assistance is to reinforce local and national capacities to safeguard intangible cultural heritage. The proposed project would promote strong decision-making and produce behavioural changes to improve the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, encouraging the adoption of a bottom-up approach in its management. Furthermore, the project includes monitoring, reporting and evaluation activities, which could generate invaluable feedback on the project strategy as well as on the concrete steps taken with regard to the training and its impact on the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in Burkina Faso.

Criterion A.7: The State Party benefited from International Assistance from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the project ‘Inventory and promotion of intangible cultural heritage in Burkina Faso’ (2013–2018; US$262,080). The project was carried out in compliance with UNESCO regulations and was successfully completed.

Paragraph 10(a): The proposed project is national in scope and involves participants from the thirteen administrative regions of Burkina Faso. It also involves many national institutions with clear responsibilities. Two international experts will be invited, both of whom are members of UNESCO’s network of facilitators for the implementation of the Convention: one to lead the training sessions and the other to carry out an external evaluation.

Paragraph 10(b): Although the project will not have direct multiplier effects in terms of attracting concrete financial or technical contributions from other sources, it will generate a large group of stakeholders, numbering 335 in total, with the capacity to support future projects for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. Moreover, these stakeholders will help ensure that intangible cultural heritage is taken into account in local development plans, which has the indirect potential to attract new funds for the safeguarding of living heritage. The proposed project could also serve as a source of inspiration or methodology to be replicated in other States.

7. Decides to approve the International Assistance request from Burkina Faso for the project entitled Capacity building for stakeholders involved in safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage in Burkina Faso and grants the amount of US$387,770 to the State Party to this end;
8. Commends the State Party for submitting a very well-structured project, with clear objectives, activities and expected results and a comprehensive budget and timeline, which is intended to reinforce the capacities of a wide group of local stakeholders at the national level;
9. Invites the State Party to use Form ICH-04-Report to report on the use of the assistance granted.