Decision of the Bureau: 13.COM 2.BUR 4.7

The Bureau,

  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 ITH/18/13.COM 2.BUR/4 as well as International Assistance request no. 01441 submitted by Uganda,
  3. Takes note that Uganda has requested International Assistance for the project entitled Strengthening the capacity of community museums to promote inscribed Intangible Cultural Heritage elements:

Implemented by the Uganda Community Museums Association, in partnership with five community museums located in different regions of Uganda, the proposed 24-month project aims to strengthen the capacity of community museums to promote elements of intangible cultural heritage practised in their vicinity that are inscribed on the Lists of the 2003 Convention. Currently, post-inscription activities for such elements are still limited in Uganda, and the majority of community members are not meaningfully engaged in related activities. This low level of engagement is exacerbated by the limited capacity of community museums to promote intangible cultural heritage, due to insufficient knowledge and experience. To respond to this situation, the proposed project aims to support five community museums in collaborating with their immediate communities to enhance the understanding, appreciation and visibility of the inscribed elements of intangible cultural heritage. Specifically, the project will be based around the following interventions: building the capacities of community museum managers through training to equip them with sufficient information they can share through museum spaces; producing a film and publication for the five elements to enhance their visibility at the national level; encouraging youth participation through outreach activities such as exhibitions and heritage competitions; and strengthening the network of the five community museums to conduct community outreach activities.

  1. 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;
  2. Also takes note that Uganda has requested assistance in the amount of US$64,750 from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the implementation of this project;
  3. Decides that, from the information provided in file no. 01441, 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 request refers to the wide participation of communities in the preparation of the request and in the implementation of the proposed activities through the involvement of community representatives in the management committees of the five community museums, in collaboration with the bearers of the inscribed elements concerned. However, the request lacks a clear explanation of the mechanisms for fully involving communities during the execution of the project and as to how their perspectives and aspirations would be integrated into the management of the project;

Criterion A.2: Although the presentation of the budget is generally clear, the appropriateness of the amount requested cannot be assessed due to the expenditure unit costs not being described in US Dollars as well as a significant number of calculation errors throughout the budget. These issues result, in turn, in inconsistencies between the calculation of subtotals and the total budget and consequently lead to uncertainty as to the amount of assistance requested. A detailed description of the activities is also required in order to provide a sufficient justification of the projected expenses in the proposed budget. In addition, there are lump sums that are not budgeted in precise detail such as the activity ‘Conduct community outreach activities’;

Criterion A.3: Although the request presents clearly identified activities such as the ‘training of the managers of the community museums’, ‘the production of a promotional film and publication’ and ‘the development of community outreach activities’, etc., such activities are not described in sufficient detail and do not allow for a better assessment of their relevance in relation to the safeguarding objectives of the project. Additional information is needed to explain the clear links between the different activities proposed in a logical sequence, describing how each activity could build on the results of the others;

Criterion A.4: The community museum management committees, together with the trained museum managers, are expected to continue supporting efforts to promote the inscribed elements concerned beyond the project period, through ongoing training, documentation and promotional activities, with the support of the implementing partners. However, more precise information on the concrete support mechanisms for communities to sustain their safeguarding efforts would have been appreciated;

Criterion A.5: The requesting State will share 2 per cent of the overall budget of the project for which International Assistance is requested, while the Uganda Community Museums Association will cover 1 per cent;

Criterion A.6: The information provided in the request foresees the capacity building of the managers of the community museums through a four-day training programme using UNESCO capacity-building materials. In addition, the bearer communities, community museums, young people and local authorities are expected to enhance their general knowledge and skills in the documentation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage. However, the proposed activites are not sufficiently described to demonstrate that they will have a lasting impact on the capacities of the wide range of actors involved, especially the communities, to safeguard the elements concerned and effectively ensure their viability;

Criterion A.7: Uganda has benefitted from International Assistance from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for two completed projects – entitled ‘Inventorying the intangible cultural heritage of four communities in Uganda’ (file no. 00557, 2013-2015, US$216,000) carried out by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, and ‘Safeguarding and promotion of Bigwala, gourd trumpet music and dance of Busoga Kingdom in Uganda’ (file no. 00979, 2015-2017, US$24,990) by the National Council of Folklorists of Uganda – as well as two ongoing projects, entitled ‘Promoting intangible cultural heritage education in institutions of higher learning in Uganda (file no. 01310, 2017-2020, US$97,582), implemented by the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda, and ‘Community-self documentation and revitalization of ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda’ (file no. 01210, 2018-2020, US$232,120) by Engabu Za Tooro – Tooro Youth Platform for Action. The work stipulated by the contracts related to these projects was and is being carried out in compliance with UNESCO’s regulations;

Paragraph 10(a): The project is national in scope and involves cooperation with local and national implementing partners, including the Ugandan National Commission for UNESCO, the National Council of Folklorists of Uganda as well as various non-governmental organizations;

Paragraph 10(b): The request is expected to generate wider interest in documenting and promoting other intangible cultural heritage elements and to encourage schools to continue their support for youth participation in awareness-raising activities. The request also indicates the possibility of attracting funding from local government organizations.

  1. Decides to refer to the requesting State the International Assistance request for the project entitled Strengthening the capacity of community museums to promote inscribed intangible cultural heritage elements and invites it to submit a revised request to the Bureau for examination at a forthcoming session;
  2. Encourages the State Party, if it wishes to resubmit its request, to revise the content of the project, taking into account the above-mentioned concerns, and to ensure that clear and transparent details are provided through the presentation of an accurate and coherent budget.

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