Benefitting country(ies): Bahamas, Belize, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu

Overview:

In line with the Operational principles and modalities for safeguarding living heritage (or ICH) in emergencies, the project addresses the severe threats from natural disasters to the transmission and viability of ICH in five Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean and the Pacific, notably: Belize, the Bahamas, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. It aims to integrate ICH safeguarding into disaster risk reduction strategies, helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies through capacity-building approaches. Actions include community-based needs assessments and training, establishing national mechanisms and strategies through multi-stakeholder consultations, and intra- and inter-country cooperation through information exchange and networking.

News and activities:

• 2022-04-11 – Launch of a three-year project for safeguarding living heritage during emergencies in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific and the Caribbean
• 2022-04-07 – Inter-regional inception workshop for the project ‘Capacity-building for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in emergencies in Small Island Developing States in the Pacific and the Caribbean’

18/10/2023 - 15/04/2025 – Emergency response to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage of Lalibela, World Heritage property, and the surrounding area endangered by conflict01/10/2024 - 31/03/2025 – Capacity building on traditional Koryo celadon making practice