The Bureau,
- Recalling Article 23 of the Convention as well as Chapter I.4 of the Operational Directives relating to the eligibility and selection criteria of International Assistance requests,
- Having examined document LHE/23/18.COM 2.BUR/5 and the request for preparatory assistance no. 02145 submitted by Mongolia,
- Takes note that Mongolia has requested International Assistance in the amount of US$8,340 to prepare a proposal for possible selection of the Nomadic Mongolia festival as a programme, project or activity for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage that best reflects the principles and objectives of the Convention:
To be implemented by the Foundation for the Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage, this ten-month initiative aims to prepare a proposal in view of sharing safeguarding experiences related to the Nomadic Mongolia festival through the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices, in the sense of Article 18 of the Convention. The Nomadic Mongolia festival is a nationwide celebration of intangible cultural heritage, held every three years since 2018; around 1,500 living heritage bearers and practitioners showcase their living heritage and safeguarding experiences in front of more than 16,000 visitors. It reflects Mongolia’s integrated policy and approach towards the safeguarding of elements of intangible cultural heritage, with a focus on transmission and dissemination. The Mongolian government considers that the safeguarding experience related to this festival could serve as a model to be shared at the international level.
- Further takes note that this assistance is to prepare a proposal for the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices 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;
- Decides that, from the information provided in file no. 02145, the request responds as follows to the criteria for granting International Assistance set out in Paragraphs 10 and 12 of the Operational Directives:
Criterion A.1: Reflecting the inclusive nature of the festival in question, the request indicates that the preparation of the proposal would broadly involve bearers and practitioners of living heritage, communities concerned, NGOs as well as policy makers and local authorities of the twenty-one ‘aimags’, or provinces, where the festival takes place.
Criterion A.2: The requested amount seems appropriate in relation to the activities proposed for the preparation of the proposal. The costs are presented in sufficient detail.
Criterion A.3: The preparatory assistance would be used to organize meetings and consultations with the communities concerned and other stakeholders to obtain their consent for the proposal. The request also foresees the drafting of the proposal and the translation of the texts into one of the languages of the Committee, as well as the preparation of a ten-minute film and high-quality photography to be submitted as part of the file. There is a clear link between the planned activities to support the preparation of the proposal.
Criterion A.4: The requesting State commits to submitting the proposal as a programme, project or activity that best reflects the principles and objectives of the Convention. The submission is expected before 31 March 2024 for possible selection by the Committee at its twentieth session, provided that the proposal can be included in the 2025 cycle in application of the annual ceiling for the number of nominations and the priority system in force at the time of the submission.
Criterion A.5: The requesting State will contribute 19 per cent and other partners will contribute a further 9 per cent of the total amount of the budget (US$11,560). Consequently, preparatory assistance is requested from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the remaining 72 per cent of the total amount of the budget.
Criterion A.6: Community members and all stakeholders are expected to be widely consulted and involved in the preparation of the proposal, including the production of audio-visual materials.
Criterion A.7: Mongolia has received International Assistance from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for seven completed projects[1] as well as for one ongoing project, ‘Sustaining and transmitting Mongol Biyelgee’ (US$172,095; September 2021–September 2025). The work stipulated by the contracts related to these projects was and is being carried out in compliance with UNESCO’s regulations.
- Approves the request for preparatory assistance from Mongolia for the preparation of the proposal on the Nomadic Mongolia festival, in view of submission for possible selection in the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices, and grants the amount of US$8,340 to the requesting State to this end;
- Requests that the Secretariat reach an agreement with the requesting State on the technical details of the assistance, paying particular attention to ensuring that the budget and work plan of the activities to be covered by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund are detailed and specific enough to provide sufficient justification of the expenditures.
- Invites the requesting State to use Form ICH-05-Report when reporting on the use of the assistance provided.
[1] (a) Preparatory assistance (Urgent Safeguarding List) to prepare the nomination ‘Mongolian folk dance’ (US$6,500; December 2008–April 2009); (b) Preparatory assistance (Urgent Safeguarding List) to prepare the nomination ‘Mongolian Traditional Heroic Epic’ (US$6,000; December 2008–April 2009; the element ‘Mongol Tuuli, Mongolian epic’ was subsequently inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List by the fourth session of the Committee in 2009, Decision 4.COM 14.10); (c) ‘The elaboration of the “Inventories of the Representative List and List in Need of Urgent Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage in Mongolia”’ (US$24,000; October 2009–February 2011); (d) ‘Safeguarding and revitalizing the Mongolian traditional epic’ (US$107,000; June 2013–June 2016); (e) ‘Improving the capacities of intangible cultural heritage related NGOs in Mongolia’ (US$24,900; April–December 2015); (f) ‘Transmitting and stabilizing the folk long song performance technique of Limbe performers - circular breathing - through the old repertoire to the new generations’ (US$99,946; January 2019–January 2022); (g) ‘Supporting natural and cultural sustainability through the revitalization and transmission of the traditional practices of worshipping the sacred sites in Mongolia’ (US$98,500; February 2019 – December 2021).