The Bureau,

1. Recalling Chapter V of the Convention as well as Chapter I.4 of the Operational Directives relating to the eligibility and selection criteria of International Assistance requests,
2. Having examined document LHE/26/21.COM 3.BUR/3 as well as International Assistance request no. 02475 submitted by the Syrian Arab Republic,
3. Takes note that the Syrian Arab Republic has requested International Assistance for the project entitled Safeguarding and transmission of traditional Syrian glassblowing skills:

To be implemented by the Syrian Development Organization, this thirty-six-month community-based project aims to safeguard and ensure the transmission of ‘traditional Syrian glassblowing’, an element inscribed in 2023 on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. The element’s viability is severely threatened due to the limited number of artisans remaining and the lack of structured training programmes. Through a series of training cycles led by experienced artisans, participants will acquire practical skills in traditional glassblowing techniques, alongside basic design and production knowledge adapted to contemporary needs. The project will also include awareness-raising activities and the development of audio-visual materials and educational resources to ensure that the knowledge associated with the element is safeguarded, accessible and valued. The project will be implemented in Damascus and will focus on intergenerational transmission, capacity-building and inclusive participation. It will engage young women and men, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as individuals with disabilities. In addition to enhancing the element’s viability, this project is expected to support income generation and local resilience and to serve as a reference for the design of similar safeguarding programmes. It will also reinforce the role of living heritage as a driver of inclusive economic recovery and sustainable development, thereby encouraging broader engagement in the cultural heritage sector.

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 the Syrian Arab Republic has requested an allocation of US$99,700 from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the implementation of the project;
6. Decides that, from the information provided in file no. 02475, 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 communities involved, including master glassblowers, artisans and youth, have contributed to the development of the request. Consultations contributed to identifying safeguarding needs and priorities and to the development of the project’s activities. During the project’s implementation, master artisans and practitioners will lead training activities related to the transmission of knowledge and skills. The project will adopt an inclusive and gender-balanced approach, with women constituting at least 50 per cent of the trainees, thereby strengthening their participation as future practitioners of the craft. The project also involves the establishment of a ‘Community Advisory Group’ composed of artisans, trainees and stakeholders. The group will monitor the project, enabling community participation in decision-making processes. In addition, communities will be involved in outreach, documentation and awareness-raising activities.

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 proposed activities are in line with the objectives and expected results of the project. They include: (a) the establishment of the project governance; (b) the identification of master artisans and selection of trainees; (c) the development of training modules and materials; (d) the implementation of apprenticeship and training cycles; (e) documentation and awareness-raising activities; and (f) the support for product development and market access. The sequence of the planned activities is logical, and the proposed timeframe is realistic and coherent.

Criterion A.4: The project aims to facilitate the implementation of some of the safeguarding measures identified in the nomination file for the inscribed element submitted in 2023. Activities are designed to address the threats to the element, such as the decline of the number of bearers and practitioners (with only two master artisans remaining in Damascus), the loss of transmission chains, the closure of workshops, socio-economic instability, and the absence of apprenticeship systems and of structured training opportunities for younger generations.Through a variety of activities, the project aims to ensure the safeguarding of the element while enhancing its social functions. It foresees the implementation of structured apprenticeship and training cycles led by master artisans to support the transmission of their knowledge and techniques to a new generation of practitioners. In addition, the training activities and traditional techniques will be documented through audiovisual recordings, a training manual, and a digital archive to support the long-term transmission and visibility of knowledge associated with traditional Syrian glassblowing. Following the completion of the project, the crafts incubator in Dummar will continue to function as a practice space for traditional Syrian glassblowing, managed by trained master artisans and community members.

Criterion A.5:The requesting State Party will contribute 11 per cent (US$11,900) of the total amount of the project for International Assistance (US$111,600). Consequently, International Assistance is requested from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the remaining 89 per cent of the total amount of the project.

Criterion A.6:The project focuses on building the capacities of communities to strengthen the viability and transmission to future generations of traditional knowledge and techniques associated with Syrian glassblowing skills. Through structured apprenticeship and training cycles, at least forty participants, including individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities, will acquire skills in traditional glassblowing techniques, design and production. The project aims to ensure that young apprentices become skilled practitioners, contributing to the continuity of intergenerational transmission. Furthermore, ten to fifteen participants demonstrating strong performance skills will receive advanced mentorship enabling them to consolidate their apprenticeship. This initiative presents an opportunity for trainees to secure income-generating opportunities in the domain of traditional glass production. Through a training-of-trainers approach, master artisans and trainees be encouraged to continue transmitting knowledge and skills independently after the completion of the project.

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 safeguarding activities in the field of intangible cultural heritage.

Paragraph 10(a): The project is local in scope and will involve the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Tourism, the Union of artisans and crafts associations, and the Syrian Handicrafts Company (Abha).

Paragraph 10(b): The project’s methodology, which combines training, mentorship and support for livelihoods, could serve as a replicable model to safeguard other endangered crafts and practices in the Syrian Arab Republic. In addition, the project may help attract partnerships and investment from the private sector, thereby creating economic opportunities for artisans and trainees.

7. Approves the International Assistance request from the Syrian Arab Republic for the project entitled Safeguarding and transmission of traditional Syrian glassblowing skills, and grants the amount of US$99,700 for the implementation of this project;
8. 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;
9. Invites the requesting State Party to use Form ICH-04-Report to report on the use of the assistance granted.