Decision of the Bureau: 20.COM 3.BUR 4.1

The Bureau,

  1. Recalling Article 23 of the Convention, as well as Chapters I.4, I.7 and I.14 of the Operational Directives relating to International Assistance requests,
  2. Having examined document LHE/25/20.COM 3.BUR/4 and the request for preparatory assistance no. 02379 submitted by Gambia,
  3. Takes note that Gambia has requested International Assistance in the amount of US$9,540 to prepare a nomination for Palm wine tapping to the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding:

To be implemented by the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), this preparatory assistance request concerns the nomination of Palm wine tapping to the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. Palm wine tapping entails using strong tree fibres to make a climbing belt, climbing the palm tree, using a knife to make small holes at the top of the tree, and using a gourd to collect the sap. Believed to have medicinal value, the palm wine is used in food and drink and during religious rituals. The practice is at risk due to deforestation, bush fires, the importation of less expensive liquor, and decreased transmission of the related knowledge and skills. The assistance will support activities to raise awareness on the importance of intangible cultural heritage safeguarding among community members, update the inventory and ensure broad community involvement in the preparation of the nomination file to the Urgent Safeguarding List.

  1. Decides that, from the information provided in file no. 02379, 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: The requesting State Party intends to organize a two-day consultation workshop with representatives of three communities and ethnic groups – Manjagos, Jola and Mansuankas – to ensure their widest possible involvement in the preparation of the nomination and to obtain their free, prior and informed consent to nominate the element to the Urgent Safeguarding List. In addition, the community members will be involved in updating the inventory and documentation related to the element.
Criterion A.2: The amount requested by the State Party seems appropriate in relation to the proposed activities for the preparation of the nomination file to the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Criterion A.3: The preparatory assistance will support the following main activities: (a) the consultation of the communities concerned in the nomination process; (b) the identification of community organizations and other stakeholders; and (c) the updating of the corresponding inventory and documentation. These activities will include research, the development of audio-visual materials and the translation of practitioner testimonies.
Criterion A.4: The requesting State Party is committed to submitting a nomination for the possible inscription of the element on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. The submission is expected before 31 March 2026 for possible inscription by the Committee at its twenty-second session, provided that the nomination can be included in the 2027 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 Party will contribute 12 per cent (US$1,380) and other partners will contribute 5 per cent (US$600) of the total amount of the project for preparatory assistance (US$11,520). Consequently, International Assistance is requested from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the remaining 83 per cent of the total amount of the project.
Criterion A.6: It is expected that the capacity of NCAC staff and communities will be strengthened through their participation in the inventory updating, documentation and the preparation of the nomination file. The project will also contribute to the establishment of a team of resource persons who will be able to prepare future nomination files for inclusion in the lists of the 2003 Convention.
Criterion A.7: The requesting State Party has benefitted from International Assistance from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for one ongoing project.[1] The work stipulated in the contract related to this project is being carried out in accordance with UNESCO regulations.
  1. Approves the request for preparatory assistance from Gambia for the preparation of the nomination for Palm wine tapping in view of its submission for possible inscription on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and grants the amount of US$9,540 to the requesting State Party to this end;
  2. Encourages the requesting State Party to involve in the implementation of this preparatory assistance the resource persons who have benefited from capacity-building activities and training courses on the 2003 Convention, particularly those focused on the preparation of nomination files, organized within the framework of a recently completed project financed with earmarked funds;[2]
  3. 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;
  4. Invites the requesting State Party to use Form ICH-05-Report to report on the use of the assistance granted.

[1] ‘Building capacities on intangible cultural heritage inventorying, safeguarding and awareness raising activities in The Gambia’ (US$99,930; February 2025 to April 2027).

[2] The project, entitled ‘Capacity-building for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and contributing to sustainable development’, was funded by France (US$135,722; December 2021 to December 2023).

Top