Project

Vodun, beliefs, social practices and ways of living

Benefitting country(ies): Benin

Implemented by the Ministry of Culture, this preparatory assistance request concerns the nomination of Vodun, beliefs, social practices and ways of living to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Originating in West Africa and practised wherever enslaved people were deported, it combines beliefs in deities, social practices through rituals, and a way of life. Vodun deities

  • Financial assistance:
    US$ 9,373 granted in 2025
  • Dates of implementation:
    11/08/2025 - 30/04/2026

Living heritage and the sustainable development goals: safeguarding intangible cultural heritage through formal and non-formal education in the Asia and the Pacific Region and in Africa

Benefitting country(ies): Benin Nepal Thailand

As part of the implementation of the funding priority under the 2003 Convention ‘Safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in formal and non-formal education’ and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Target 4.7), the project proposes to develop and pilot learning tools/materials/pedagogies concerning the integration of living heritage in non-formal education in the Community Learning Centers in Nepal and Thailand. It explores the

  • Project budget:
    US$ 180,000
  • Source:
    The International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO earmarked contribution to the Fund
  • Dates of implementation:
    01/04/2021 - 31/07/2025
  • Documents:
    Progress report - Nepal & Thailand: English
    Progress report - Benin: French

Strengthening capacities for periodic reporting under the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Africa

Benefitting country(ies): Angola Benin Botswana Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Comoros Congo Côte d'Ivoire Democratic Republic of the Congo Djibouti Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Gabon Gambia Ghana Guinea Guinea-Bissau Kenya Lesotho Madagascar Malawi Mali Mauritius Mozambique Namibia Niger Nigeria Rwanda Sao Tome and Principe Senegal Seychelles Somalia South Sudan Togo Uganda United Republic of Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe

Africa is the fourth region to be undertaking periodic reporting under the revised regional cycle approved by the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention Decision 14.COM 8. The present project aims to strengthen the human and institutional capacities of States Parties in the region, in conducting a thorough review of the state of safeguarding policies, programmes, and initiatives in

News and activities:

  • Project budget:
    US$ 250,000
  • Source:
    Saudi Arabia Funds-in-Trust
  • Dates of implementation:
    01/07/2023 - 01/07/2024

Action Plan for the Safeguarding and Promotion of the Oral Tradition of Gelede

Benefitting country(ies): Benin Nigeria Togo

The Gelede ceremony, held in honour of the primordial mother Iyà Nlà, is directed by women, reflecting their important role in Yoruba life. After weeks of preparations, singers and drummers open the night-time ceremony, followed by an orchestra and masked dancers wearing splendid costumes. The project aims at safeguarding the Gelede tradition in communities across Benin, Nigeria and Togo. Following t

  • Project budget:
    US$ 194,925
  • Source:
    Japan Funds-in-Trust
  • Dates of implementation:
    01/10/2003 - 01/11/2008
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