The Bureau,

1. Recalling Chapter V of the Convention and Chapter I of the Operational Directives, concerning the approval of international assistance requests,
2. Having examined Document ITH/14/9.COM 4.BUR/1 as well as the international assistance request 00910,
3. Takes note that Mongolia has requested international assistance in the amount of US$24,900 for a project entitled ‘Improving the capacities of intangible cultural heritage related NGOs’:

The Foundation for the Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage spearheads the work of non-governmental organizations and civil society in the field of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in Mongolia. While non-governmental organizations play an increasing role in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and disseminating information about it in Mongolia, their capacities are still weak and a number of their managers and employees lack adequate knowledge of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Operational Directives for its implementation. The proposed project aims at building the capacities of these stakeholders through both the establishment of a national network of concerned non-governmental organizations, bearers, researchers, institutes and general public and the elaboration of a handbook. The latter would address the principles and objectives of the Convention as well as the current situation of intangible cultural heritage in Mongolia with particular emphasis on those practices that may be in need of urgent safeguarding. About sixty representatives of concerned non-governmental organizations and community-based associations would be actively involved in project implementation and will benefit from a national training workshop. The dissemination of the handbook and its use at the local level would also contribute to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage among the public at large.

4. Decides that, from the information provided in file 00910, the request responds as follows to the criteria for granting International Assistance given in Paragraphs 10 and 12 of the Operational Directives:
   1. The project responds to repeated requests from non-governmental organizations working in the field of intangible cultural heritage in Mongolia to gain adequate knowledge and tools to better integrate their work within the framework of the implementation of the 2003 Convention. The request was prepared with the participation of two of these non-governmental organizations; about sixty representatives of concerned non-governmental organizations will be involved in its implementation through a national network hosted by the implementing agency, the Foundation for the Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage (criterion A.1).
   2. Although the calculations behind the planned expenditures could have been more detailed, the overall amount requested seems to be appropriate and to adequately cover each and every of the proposed activities (criterion A.2). As presented, the budget clearly shows that the requesting State will share approximately one fifth of the costs of the activities for which international assistance is requested (criterion A.5).
   3. The team for implementing the project is clearly identified, has prior experience in managing projects financed by international sources and is institutionally supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The request clearly distinguishes between longer-term objectives and shorter-term results and offers a well-articulated set of activities in a logical sequence that seem appropriate to produce the expected results in the time foreseen (criterion A.3).
   4. The establishment of a network of non-governmental organizations and the publication of a handbook intended for non-governmental organizations, community-based associations and intangible cultural heritage bearers can be useful tools for training new interested groups and individuals and for increasing awareness of the importance of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage at the local and national levels (criterion A.4). The main objective of the project is to build the capacities of about sixty non-governmental organizations, community representatives, bearers and policy-makers (criterion A.6). The proposed activities will also contribute to reinforcing the technical and professional capacities of the human resources of the implementing agency.
   5. With regard to previously financed activities (criterion A.7), Mongolia has already benefitted from two UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust projects, respectively entitled ‘Implementation of the National Action Plan for the Safeguarding of Traditional Morin Khuur Music of Mongolia’ (2004-2009) and ‘Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage through the Strengthening of National Capacities in Asia and the Pacific’ (2011-2014). Mongolia previously received preparatory assistance from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the elaboration of two nominations to the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, ‘Mongol Tuuli, Mongolian epic’ and ‘Mongol Biyelgee, Mongolian traditional folk dance’ (both inscribed in 2009), as well as two international assistances: a first one in 2009 for a project entitled ‘The elaboration of the ’Inventories of the Representative list and list in need of urgent safeguarding of Intangible Heritage in Mongolia'' that was completed in May 2011 and a second one in 2012 for a project entitled ‘Safeguarding and revitalizing the Mongolian traditional epic’ (granted by the Committee in 2012) that is expected to be completed in June 2016. Up to now, Mongolia has provided the work stipulated by the terms of reference of the contracts signed under these projects, in line with UNESCO’s regulations (criterion A.7).
5. Approves, as authorized body, the international assistance request from Mongolia for ‘Improving the capacities of intangible cultural heritage related NGOs’ (No. 00910) for an amount of US$24,900;
6. Requests the Secretariat to reach agreement with the requesting State Party on the technical details of the assistance, paying particular attention to the detailed budgeting of the activities to be covered by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund.