ANNEX: Operational directives for programmes, projects and activities that best reflect the principles and objectives of the Convention for the purposes of promotion and dissemination

The proposal and selection process

1.

States Parties are encouraged to propose national, subregional or regional programmes, projects and activities for safeguarding intangible heritage to the Committee for selection and promotion as best reflecting the principles and objectives of the Convention (Article 18.1).

2.

In its selection and promotion of safeguarding programmes, projects and activities, the Committee shall pay special attention to the needs of developing countries and the principle of equitable geographic distribution, while strengthening South-South and North-South-South cooperation.

3.

Such programmes, projects and activities may be completed, in progress, or planned at the time they are proposed to the Committee for selection and promotion.

4.

States Parties may submit proposals individually or jointly. The Committee encourages the submission of subregional or regional programmes, projects and activities as well as those undertaken jointly by States Parties in geographically discontinuous areas.

5.

States Parties may request preparatory assistance for the elaboration of such proposals (Article 18.3) in accordance with the provisions concerning international assistance, i.e. Articles 20-24.

6.

Submitting States Parties are requested to use the proposal format presented in Annex ***. A proposal shall be submitted by 1 March of the year in which the Committee is requested to evaluate it.

7.

Initial examination of proposals will be accomplished by a working group of the Committee to be established by it during a session. The working group shall provide the Committee with its opinion of the merits of proposals and a summary recommendation.

8.

The Committee decides whether or not to select a programme, project or activity.

9.

At each session the Committee may explicitly call for proposals:

a.    characterized by international cooperation as mentioned in Article 19 of the Convention, and
b.    focusing on specific priority aspects of safeguarding.

Criteria for selection and promotion

10.

From among the programmes, projects or activities proposed to it, the Committee shall select those that best satisfy all of the following criteria:

a.    The programme, project or activity involves safeguarding, as defined in Article 2.3 of the Convention.
b.    The programme, project or activity promotes the coordination of efforts for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage on
       regional, subregional and/or international levels.
c.    The programme, project or activity reflects the principles and objectives of the Convention.
d.    If already completed, the programme, project or activity has demonstrated effectiveness in contributing to the viability
       of the intangible heritage concerned. If still underway or planned, it can reasonably be expected to contribute
       substantially
       to the viability of the intangible heritage concerned.
e.    The programme, project or activity has been or will be implemented with the participation of the community, group or, if
       applicable, individuals concerned and with their free, prior and informed consent.
f.     The programme, project or activity may serve as a subregional, regional or international model, as the case may be,
       for safeguarding activities.
g.    The proposing State(s) Party(ies), implementing body(ies), and community, group or, if applicable, individuals
       concerned are willing to cooperate in the dissemination of best practices, if their programme, project or activity is
       selected.
h.    The programme, project or activity features experiences that are susceptible to an assessment of their results.
i.     The programme, project or activity is primarily applicable to the particular needs of developing countries.

Promotion and dissemination

11.

The Committee shall encourage research, documentation, publication and dissemination of good practices and models with international cooperation in generating safeguarding measures and creating favourable conditions for such measures that have been evolved by States Parties in the implementation of selected programmes, projects and activities, with or without assistance.

12.

The Committee shall establish, keep up to date, and publish a register of programmes, projects and activities that it has selected as best reflecting the principles and objectives of the Convention.

13.

The Committee shall encourage States Parties to create favourable conditions for the implementation of such programmes, projects and activities.

14.

In addition to the register of selected programmes, projects and activities, the Committee shall compile and make available information about the measures and methodologies used or to be used, and experiences gained, if any.

15.

The Committee shall encourage research on and evaluation of the effectiveness of safeguarding measures included in the programmes, projects and activities that it has selected and shall promote international cooperation in such research and evaluation.

16.

On the basis of experiences gained and lessons learned in these and other safeguarding programmes, projects and activities, the Committee shall provide guidance on best practices and make recommendations on measures for safeguarding intangible heritage (Article 7(b)).