Safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage of Niger in a situation of urgency and for the resilience of displaced populations - pilot project in Tillabéry and Diffa

  • Financial assistance:
    • US$ 257,829 granted in 2017
  • Dates of implementation:
    • 26/06/2018 - 30/06/2021
  • Documents:

Benefitting country(ies): Niger

Overview:

Since 2012, Niger has seen the rise of religious fundamentalism in the region, and particularly of Boko Haram. This crisis is combined with increasing poverty and internal ethnic tensions, exacerbated by mass displacements of populations within the country, particularly in the border provinces. In this context, this project aims to raise awareness among the communities, decision-makers, persons in charge and national and local stakeholders about the importance of safeguarding living heritage, as well as to identify the elements of intangible cultural heritage affected by the crisis situation in the two pilot regions, the provinces of Diffa and Tillabéry. By mobilizing living heritage as an instrument for unity, integration, peace and cohesion among communities, the project will involve carrying out a participatory needs assessment to review the impact of the security crisis on the viability of intangible cultural heritage. A set of capacity building training workshops and an awareness-raising campaign and activities to support dialogue among the communities will also be implemented. Such activities will result in the establishment of an inventory of twelve elements with the participation of the communities. The project thereby aims to contribute to the safeguarding and revitalization of the intangible cultural heritage of the displaced populations and host communities, highlight its role as a source of resilience and contribute to dialogue and social cohesion between displaced populations and host communities. The project will be implemented by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage and the Promotion of Leisure within the Ministry of Culture, supported by a national coordination committee and two regional branches, including representatives from the communities concerned, traditional leaders, local authorities, research institutions and humanitarian actors.

News and activities:

01/01/2019 - 30/06/2021 – 2018 - European Year of Cultural Heritage: Engaging youth for an inclusive and sustainable Europe 07/05/2019 - 01/04/2021 – Strengthening inventory preparation capacity for implementing the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Saint Kitts and Nevis

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