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 LHE/19/14.COM4.BUR/4 as well as International Assistance request no. 01534 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:

To be implemented by the Uganda Community Museums Association, the proposed twenty-four-month project is intended to strengthen the capacities of community museums to promote inscribed elements of intangible cultural heritage in Uganda. Although several safeguarding measures have been proposed for these elements, the concept of intangible cultural heritage is still not well-understood, particularly among young people, and the elements are not sufficiently visible at the local or national levels. The proposed project therefore aims to support five community museums in collaborating with their respective communities to enhance the understanding, appreciation and visibility of these elements. The project is expected to build on the capacities of community museum managers and selected representatives of the bearer communities to better appreciate the role they can play in promoting and safeguarding living heritage. The museums will be equipped with information which they can then creatively share through museum spaces, youth competitions and public events, increasing the visibility of the elements and strengthening transmission mechanisms. In addition, a film and publication will be prepared and disseminated, highlighting the role of community museums. As a result, it is expected that two managers and two bearers from each of the five community museums will acquire the knowledge and capacity to publicize and safeguard living heritage and that community members, especially youth, will become more involved in its safeguarding.

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 Uganda has requested assistance in the amount of US$61,471 from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the implementation of this project;
6. Decides that, from the information provided in file 01534 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: While the request was initiated by the Uganda Community Museums Association, as an association of community-founded museums it ensures the participation of the communities concerned. These include the bearer communities of the five elements in Uganda inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. The communities were involved in the preparation of the project and will be engaged in different phases of the implementation of the project, including the monitoring and evaluation of the proposed activities.

Criterion A.2: The budget is presented in a structured manner, reflecting the planned activities and their related expenses. The amount of assistance requested may therefore be considered as appropriate for the implementation of the proposed activities. Nevertheless, more detailed information would have been appreciated for some expenditure items, for example in relation to the production of the film.

Criterion A.3: The request proposes a series of eight activities, which correspond to the main objective of the project – to raise the visibility and appreciation of the inscribed elements. These activities are structured in a coherent sequence and range from a training workshop and quarterly mentoring sessions to the production of promotional material and the organization of awareness-raising events. The activities also appear to be feasible within the proposed timeframe of twenty-four months.

Criterion A.4: Through the project, the community museums are expected to become centres of learning and engagement on intangible cultural heritage and to help enhance the intergenerational transmission of the elements concerned. While seeking to ensure the sustainability of these expected results, however, it is important that the proposed activities reflect the needs and aspirations of the communities at all times throughout the project, as well as the fundamental safeguarding objective to effectively ensure the viability of the elements concerned.

Criterion A.5: The requesting State Party 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 an additional 1 per cent.

Criterion A.6: Capacity building will primarily benefit community museum managers and the bearer communities, including elders and young members of the communities. They will acquire practical skills in researching and documenting the elements, developing communication materials to promote the elements and organizing outreach and awareness-raising activities. In addition, the knowledge and competencies of local government authorities, such as the District Community Development Officers of the regions concerned, will be enhanced, to allow for the further promotion of the elements.

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 its implementation involves national and local partners, including the Uganda National Museum, the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO and the District Community Development Officers.

Paragraph 10(b): The community museums are expected to share the experience and knowledge they acquire with other museums and to motivate them to replicate similar projects through the trained community museum managers. The request is also intended to attract additional financial support from local governments and school administrations.

7. Approves the International Assistance request from Uganda for the project entitled Strengthening the capacity of community museums to promote inscribed Intangible Cultural Heritage elements and grants the amount of US$61,471 to the State Party to this end;
8. Requests that the Secretariat reach an agreement with the requesting State Party on the technical details of the assistance, paying particular attention to ensuring that the budget and the work plan of the activities to be covered by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund are detailed and specific enough to provide a sufficient justification of all the expenditures;
9. Invites the State Party to use Form ICH-04-Report when reporting on the use of the International Assistance provided.