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 3.BUR/3 as well as International Assistance request no. 02127 submitted by Belize,
3. Takes note that Belize has requested International Assistance for the project entitled Empowering communities for the safeguarding of Belize’s foodways: a community-based inventory project for sustainable development and disaster resilience:

To be implemented by the National Institute of Culture and History (NICH), this twenty-four-month project aims to strengthen community capacity and create a comprehensive inventory of foodways in Belize, which faces threats related to globalization, rapid urbanization and climate change. The project will equip community members and cultural officers with the knowledge and skills to document, inventory and safeguard living heritage, with a particular focus on foodways. It aims to result in an inventory of at least eighty food-related elements of living heritage representing the country’s various cultural groups. Through a phased approach, the project will start with consultations among practitioners, bearers and community representatives to review existing food-related intangible cultural heritage and safeguarding efforts. Training workshops focusing on safeguarding and documenting living heritage will be conducted at the national and district levels. Workshop participants will then conduct community-based inventorying focused on traditional knowledge, recipes, preparation techniques, rituals and associated practices related to food. The project also entails producing educational videos and a campaign to raise awareness about the inventoried elements. The project is expected to contribute to sustainable development by safeguarding Belize’s foodways and culinary traditions and to enhance the country’s disaster risk preparedness and resilience.

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 Belize has requested an allocation of US$98,600 from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the implementation of the project;
6. Decides that, from the information provided in file no. 02127, 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 project was initiated in response to a request from the State Party for technical assistance to prepare an International Assistance request. An expert advised the State Party in developing their request in August 2024. Communities played a central role in the preparation of the request, through their participation in the Belize Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Network (https://belizelivingheritage.org/). This network brings together a diverse group of practitioners, researchers, NGOs, civil society and community representatives, including cultural organizations such as the Garifuna National Council, the Kriol National Council, and Maya indigenous associations, among others. The network met on three occasions to reflect on the needs and to make recommendations to prepare the request. The communities’ involvement in all aspects of project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation is clearly demonstrated. They will also be represented in the project advisory committee. Finally, women, who play a central role in safeguarding the food heritage of Belize, are adequately represented, demonstrating that gender balance is ensured throughout the project.

Criterion A.2: The budget breakdown and the proposed timetable are well structured and in line with the activities described in the request. The amount of assistance requested is deemed appropriate.

Criterion A.3: The request is clearly structured and presents ten activities that relate to: research and documentation; awareness raising and the production of communication materials; capacity-building training and community-based inventories; and monitoring and evaluation, among others. The activities are clearly identified and correspond to the objectives and expected results outlined in the request. They seem feasible for the proposed project duration.

Criterion A.4: The activities appear to ensure the sustainability of the project outcomes through three key mechanisms: (a) capacity building and the acquisition of equipment to enable communities to continue documenting, inventorying and safeguarding their foodways and other elements of living heritage; (b) the creation of an online and open-access digital inventory, which will serve as a sustainable resource for research, education and additional community-based initiatives; and (c) strengthening the Belize Intangible Cultural Heritage Network to continue to function as a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing and advocacy, for the safeguarding and promotion of Belize’s cultural heritage. Finally, the project is expected to contribute to sustainable development by safeguarding foodways and their associated culinary traditions, while promoting cultural pride and enhancing disaster preparedness and resilience.

Criterion A.5: The requesting State Party will contribute 38 per cent (US$60,437) of the total amount of the project budget (US$159,037). Consequently, International Assistance is requested from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the remaining 62 per cent of the total amount of the project.

Criterion A.6: Capacity building will primarily benefit community members and bearers, including women and young people. The project aims to establish a sustainable and robust network of individuals committed to safeguarding living heritage, with a focus on community ownership and empowerment. In addition, it will build the capacity of the focal point and of 140 community members in safeguarding and inventorying intangible cultural heritage. It will also provide training to at least fifteen coordinators from the ‘Houses of culture’ and to state representatives at the district level, equipping them with the skills to continue the inventorying and developing safeguarding measures for foodways. Finally, the equipment acquired during the project will be made available to communities for future inventorying activities in the country.

Criterion A.7: Belize has benefitted from the Fund through the two multinational International Assistance projects.[1]

Paragraph 10(a): The project is national in scope and involves partners such as the Belize Intangible Cultural Heritage Network, the Institute for Social and Cultural Research, the Institute of Archaeology, the Institute for Creative Arts, and the Museum of Belize and Houses of culture.

Paragraph 10(b): The project focus on food security, which is inherent to sustainable development and disaster resilience, could attract new partnerships with and support from agencies working in these areas, such as the National Emergency Management Organization and the Sustainable Development Unit of the Government of Belize. Furthermore, the Belize Intangible Cultural Heritage Network will be reinforced and enlarged with trained members who can actively participate in festivals and cultural exchanges, at national and international levels. The project is also expected to contribute to creating opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration with other communities and organizations.

7. Approves the International Assistance request from Belize for the project entitled Empowering communities for the safeguarding of Belize’s foodways: a community-based inventory project for sustainable development and disaster resilience, and grants the amount of US$98,600 for the implementation of this project;
8. Notes with appreciation that the current request addresses the training needs of communities, identified during the implementation of an ongoing extra-budgetary project[2] as indicated in the periodic report submitted by the State Party in 2022;
9. Notes with interest the project’s focus on the inventorying of foodways and their safeguarding and encourages the State Party to share its experience gained from the project, in particular on the ways in which living heritage related to foodways could contribute to disaster resilience and food security;
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] ‘Capacity building for community leaders and public managers to safeguard the living heritage of Afro-descendant communities in the SICA region and Cuba’ (Phase I) (US$99,986; February 2023 – August 2024) and ‘Exchange of experiences and cultural dialogues for the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage of Afro-descendant peoples through the preparation of inventories in the SICA region and Cuba’ (Phase II) (US$99,990; June 2024 – contract under establishment).

[2] ‘Capacity building for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in emergencies in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific and the Caribbean’ funded by the government of Japan (US$500,000 for five countries (Bahamas, Belize, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu), April 2022 – April 2025).