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/24/19.COM 1.BUR/4, as well as International Assistance request no. 02204 submitted by Côte d’Ivoire,
3. Takes note that Côte d’Ivoire has requested International Assistance for the project entitled Safeguarding and promoting Gbofe:
   • To be implemented by the Office Ivoirien du Patrimoine Culturel (the Ivoirian Cultural Heritage Office), this two-year project aims to ensure the viability of the Gbofe, a transverse trump and a performance of the Tagbana community that encompasses music, song and dance. The element was incorporated in 2008 in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (originally proclaimed as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001). Mainly performed in the village of Afounkaha, the Gbofe is an important part of ritual and traditional ceremonies. However, the practice is disappearing due to decreased interest in the instrument and displacement caused by the military and political crisis, which has led to a break in the chain of transmission of the practice. This safeguarding project involves implementing community-based inventorying and conducting an awareness-raising seminar and workshops to train youth to perform the Gbofe. The activities also include training young people to produce the instruments and planting the plants and trees used to manufacture them. This project is expected to mitigate the risks posed to Gbofe and to support its transmission to future generations, while raising awareness of the practice and of intangible cultural heritage in general. It will support funding and research for the element and the establishment of music groups and regional festivals.
4. Further takes note that this assistance aims 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 Côte d’Ivoire has requested an allocation of US$100,000 from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the implementation of the project;
6. Decides that, from the information provided in file n 02204, 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: This request is the result of extensive consultations with the Tagbana community, including youth, women, bearers and local authorities. The project will use a participatory approach, as communities will be actively involved in all stages of its implementation. Furthermore, community members designated as the ‘Living Human Treasures’ will assist the research team during the documentation work, to help understand the current situation and viability of the element.

Criterion A.2: The overall amount requested seems to be appropriate and structured to support the different components of the project. It corresponds to the planned activities and is consistent with the proposed timeframe.

Criterion A.3: The project consists of four main activities: (a) an awareness-raising seminar; (b) documentation and community-based inventorying; (c) capacity-building workshops and tree planting; and (d) the restitution of project results and organization of a cultural event to perform the Gbofe. The activities are presented in a logical sequence and correspond to the objectives and expected results described in the project.

Criterion A.4: The activities seem to guarantee the sustainability of the project’s results, with a dedicated focus on youth in the transmission of the practice. Activities such as training on instrument making will produce long-term results, both by transmitting knowledge that could provide young people with employment opportunities, and by enabling young people to benefit from government medical coverage. In addition, planting trees and plants as part of the project will ensure the availability of the materials needed to produce the instruments and their accessories in the long term.

Criterion A.5: The requesting State Party will contribute 17 per cent (US$20,000) of the total amount of the project budget (US$120,000). Consequently, International Assistance is requested from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the remaining 83 per cent of the total amount of the project budget.

Criterion A.6: Capacity building is an overarching approach for implementing the project. At the community level, ten young people will receive training on community-based inventorying and on the importance of safeguarding their living heritage. Additionally, fifty other young community members will be trained in manufacturing traditional musical instruments, to ensure the intergenerational transmission of the related skills. At an institutional level, the intangible cultural heritage inventory and the documentation on the new elements will also be undertaken with capacity building in mind to help to improve knowledge of broader stakeholders such as researchers, civil society and cultural associations on the importance of living heritage safeguarding.

Criterion A.7: Côte d’Ivoire has benefited from International Assistance from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for two completed projects.[1] The work stipulated in the contracts related to these projects was carried out in accordance with UNESCO regulations.

Paragraph 10(a): The project is local in scope and involves both local and national partners, including local authorities, the regional directorate for culture, the National Commission to UNESCO and cultural NGOs such as the Association for the Safeguarding of the music of transverse trumps of Côte d’Ivoire (Association pour la Sauvegarde des Musiques de Trompes Traversières de Côte d’Ivoire).

Paragraph 10(b): The request suggests that the project would have a multiplier effect in raising awareness of the element and of intangible cultural heritage in general, both within the national government and among the public. Furthermore, the experience gained by the project team and the community members throughout the project should contribute to the development and implementation of safeguarding measures for the three other elements of Côte d’Ivoire inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

7. Approves the International Assistance request from Côte d’Ivoire for a project entitled Safeguarding and promoting Gbofe and grants the amount of US$100,000 for the implementation of this project;
8. Encourages the requesting State Party to ensure women’s participation in the project activities, as they play an important role in the practices related to Gbofe;
9. Further encourages the requesting State Party to build on the results of the project and to aim, upon its completion, for the establishment of a national system for safeguarding the element;
10. 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;
11. Invites the requesting State Party to use Form ICH-04-Report to report on the use of the assistance granted.

[1] (a) Preparatory assistance (List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding) for the project entitled ‘Gbofe d’Afounkaha’ (US$6,000; December 2008–June 2010) and (b) ‘Inventory of the intangible cultural heritage present in Côte d'Ivoire in view of its urgent safeguarding’ (US$299,972; December 2015–December 2018).