Decision of the Bureau: 20.COM 3.BUR 4.6

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. 02454 submitted by the United Republic of Tanzania,
  3. Takes note that the United Republic of Tanzania has requested International Assistance in the amount of US$10,000 to prepare a nomination for Khanga – a symbol of Tanzanian identity and cultural heritage to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

To be implemented by the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, this preparatory assistance request concerns the nomination of Khanga – a symbol of Tanzanian identity and cultural heritage to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Khanga is a rectangular cloth that is deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of the practising, primarily coastal, communities. The cloth is characterized by its three parts: the decorative border (pindo), the central design (mjt), and an inscribed Swahili message or proverb (Uina) reflecting the wearer’s sentiments and cultural values. Initially associated with slavery, Khanga became a symbol of cultural pride after the abolition of slavery. It is used in ceremonies, religious practices and everyday life. Beyond its functional uses, Khanga is a means of communication and a symbol of social cohesion, tradition and national identity. The objective of the project is to safeguard Khanga and promote its cultural significance within the country. It also seeks to ensure that the cultural, historical, and social values embodied in Khanga are transmitted to future generations.

  1. Decides that, from the information provided in file no. 02454, 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 request clearly describes the role of the communities, who will be involved through consultations, workshops and community-based inventorying activities. Community members, including bearers, women and religious leaders, will share their knowledge and practices related to Khanga, participate in documenting its cultural significance, and contribute to the preparation of the nomination file for the element. The project will also ensure the active involvement of traditional leaders, practitioners, and the local artisans who design and produce Khanga in the nomination process. This participatory approach will ensure their ownership of the safeguarding process and promote intergenerational transmission of this living heritage.
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 Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Criterion A.3: The preparatory assistance will support the following activities: (a) the organization of community consultations in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar to obtain their free, prior and informed consent; (b) community-based inventorying to document the element; (c) the preparation of the nomination file; and (d) the preparation of audiovisual materials.
Criterion A.4: The requesting State Party is committed to submitting a nomination for the possible inscription of the element on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 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 7 per cent (US$767) of the total amount of the project for preparatory assistance (US$10,767). Consequently, International Assistance is requested from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the remaining 93 per cent of the total amount of the project.
Criterion A.6: The request foresees the organization of workshops for community leaders, local authorities and practitioners to enhance their understanding of intangible cultural heritage and the mechanisms to safeguard the element. In addition, it will contribute to building the capacities of communities and other stakeholders by engaging them in the inventorying and documentation activities, as well as the production of audiovisual materials. 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 not previously received any financial assistance from UNESCO under the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund of the 2003 Convention to implement activities in the field of intangible cultural heritage.
  1. Approves the request for preparatory assistance from Tanzania for the preparation of the nomination for Khanga – a symbol of Tanzanian identity and cultural heritage in view of its submission for possible inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and grants the amount of US$10,000 to the requesting State Party to this end;
  2. 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;
  3. Encourages the requesting State Party to involve in the implementation of this preparatory assistance the resource persons who have benefited from the 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;[1]
  4. Invites the requesting State Party to use Form ICH-05-Report to report on the use of the assistance granted.

[1] ‘Strengthening capacities at the national and local levels for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in the United Republic of Tanzania and contributing to sustainable development’, funded by the International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region  (US$81,271; October 2022 to December 2024).

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