Exchange of experiences and cultural dialogues for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage of Afro-descendant peoples through the preparation of inventories in the SICA region and Cuba

Financial assistance:
- US$ 99,990 granted in 2024
Dates of implementation:
- Approved in 06/2024 - not yet under implementation
Documents:
- Request form ICH-04: English|French
- Budget and timetable: English|French

Benefitting country(ies): Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama

Overview:

To be implemented by the Central American Educational and Cultural Coordination (CECC/SICA) in cooperation with the Regional Center for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Latin America (CRESPIAL) and with the involvement of the Central American Black Organization (ONECA), this eighteen-month multinational project aims to build collective and participatory knowledge on the processes of inventorying the living heritage of Afro-descendant peoples. It builds on a first project started in February 2023 (scheduled to be completed by August 2024), which has supported the establishment and capacity building of national living heritage management units, the mapping of safeguarding initiatives in the States Parties concerned and the preparation of project proposals for national inventories. As a second phase of this project, the new project will continue to apply a regional and intersectoral approach in the nine submitting countries to: (a) further build the capacities of officials and community bearers and leaders in inventorying living heritage; (b) draw-up inventories of living heritage; and (c) share experiences among the participating communities and countries. Activities include virtual workshops, in-person meetings and online technical support for developing national inventorying projects. At the community level, the project is expected to strengthen the safeguarding capacities of community bearers and leaders, while setting the foundation for future safeguarding projects, policies, and measures at the state level. At the regional level, it will serve as a model for multinational projects and may contribute, in a long run, to the creation of a regional observatory of intangible cultural heritage of African descent.

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