The Bureau,
- Recalling Chapter V of the Convention as well as Chapter I.4 of the Operational Directives relating to the eligibility and criteria of International Assistance requests,
- Having examined document LHE/25/20.COM 2.BUR/3 as well as International Assistance request no. 02209 submitted by Honduras,
- Takes note that Honduras has requested International Assistance for the project entitled Preparation of inventories of the intangible cultural heritage of Honduras with the active participation of the communities:
To be implemented by the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History (IHAH), this twenty-six-month project aims to build national capacity for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and establish comprehensive inventories with the active participation of communities in four municipalities of Honduras. The most recent periodic report submitted by Honduras in 2021 indicates the need to systematise the information gathered over decades of research in the form of inventories to be developed with broad community participation. The project entails the development of a methodological guide for the preparation of inventories, as well as a series of training workshops on the principles of the 2003 Convention, inventorying, and safeguarding. Activities also include awareness-raising measures to promote living heritage, with a focus on the importance of safeguarding inventoried elements. Furthermore, the project is expected to facilitate the establishment of a network involving local authorities, communities, universities and the IHAH, for the safeguarding of living heritage, and potentially inspire other municipalities to adopt similar practices. In the long term, the project’s outcomes will contribute to the revision of the provisions under the Cultural Heritage Protection Law to ensure the legal protection of intangible cultural heritage and the recognition of community rights.
- 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;
- Also takes note that Honduras has requested an allocation of US$100,000 from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the implementation of the project;
- Decides that, from the information provided in file no. 02209, 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: Following the request for technical assistance made by the national authorities, an expert from Guatemala undertook a mission to the country in July 2024. During this mission, the national authorities organized a number of workshops with communities who shared their safeguarding needs and gave their consent to participate in the project. The communities concerned are Lenca Indigenous Communities of San Francisco de Opalaca, Opatoro, Guajiquiro, and the Yarumela community (in Yarumela). In addition, a series of consultation meetings were held from August to November 2024 with these communities to develop the International Assistance request in question, which will be implemented through inclusive and participatory approaches. Accordingly, communities will be involved in the development of the methodological guide and the elaboration of inventories and will benefit from the various training sessions. They will also participate in project planning, monitoring and follow-up. The request emphasizes the importance of gender equality and social inclusion, ensuring the participation of diverse groups, including women and youth, in all components of 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 presents four main activities: (a) the development of a methodological guide for the preparation of inventories; (b) capacity-building workshops for communities and government officials; (c) community-based inventories; and (d) awareness-raising activities and dissemination of the project’s results. The activities are presented in a logical sequence and correspond to the objectives and expected results outlined in the request.
Criterion A.4: The project aims to lay a sustainable foundation for the safeguarding of living heritage in Honduras. It will contribute to the development of a methodological guide for community-based inventories, which will be used as a tool for inventorying and safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in the four communities as part of the project. The established methodology will be applied to inventorying the living heritage of other communities across the country, beyond the completion of the project. In addition, the project will foster the creation of networks amongst the IHAH, communities, non-governmental organizations, and universities aiming to promote its results. It will also lead to a reflection on gender dynamics in the enactment of intangible cultural heritage and how these dynamics might influence its safeguarding, including transmission. As a long-term outcome, the project will establish sustainability mechanisms, a key element of which will be the work of the IHAH on the regulation of the Law for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (Decree 220-97) to ensure legal protection of intangible cultural heritage and the recognition of community rights. The current regulation only defines intangible cultural heritage but does not address its safeguarding or the role of communities, local and national authorities.
Criterion A.5: The requesting State Party will contribute 28 per cent (US$39,290) of the total amount of the project budget (US$139,290). Consequently, International Assistance is requested from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the remaining 72 per cent of the total amount of the project.
Criterion A.6: The project has an important capacity-building component which includes two training programmes. The first is a training of trainers that will form a group of twelve resource persons in the field of intangible cultural heritage. These trainers will be identified from within the project’s team and the four communities concerned, and will in turn train members of the communities. The second component consists of a series of eight workshops to train communities, bearers and officials from local authorities on the key principles of the 2003 Convention and on community-based inventory methodologies. Approximately 200 individuals will benefit from the capacity-building activities at both the institutional and community levels. The project will also help to spread knowledge to the relevant communities and support the development of future inventories at the local and national levels.
Criterion A.7: Honduras has benefited from International Assistance from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund through one preparatory assistance project and two multinational International Assistance projects.
[1] The work stipulated by the contracts related to these projects was carried out in compliance with UNESCO’s regulations.
Paragraph 10(a): While the project will be implemented in two departments of Honduras, it is national in scope. It involves national partners such as the IHAH, local authorities, and indigenous organizations such as Lenca Women’s Association, Lenca Environmental Council of Honduras (ILECH) and the Indigenous Lenca Environmental Platform of Guajiquiro (PALAGUA).
Paragraph 10(b): The requesting State Party will have resource persons trained in the field of intangible cultural heritage, beyond the completion of the project. Furthermore, the communication materials to be developed during the project will contribute to raising awareness among communities and the broader public about the importance of safeguarding their living heritage. Finally, communities and other stakeholders will have the required knowledge and tools to develop similar initiatives in other regions of Honduras with the involvement of the communities concerned.
- Approves the International Assistance request from Honduras for the project entitled Preparation of inventories of the intangible cultural heritage of Honduras with the active participation of the communities, and grants the amount of US$100,000 for the implementation of this project;
- Encourages the requesting State Party to consult the Guidance note (2021) on the process of inventorying intangible cultural heritage, which provides a list of issues to be considered prior to and during the inventorying process, as well as the Convention’s capacity-building materials repository on inventorying, which may also provide additional information;
- 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;
- 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 ‘Myths, stories and language of the Tolupan people, Montaña de la Flor, Honduras’ (US$10,000; March 2012–March 2013); (b) ‘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 (c) ‘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).