The Bureau,
- Recalling Chapter V of the Convention and Chapter I of the Operational Directives,
- Having examined Document ITH/15/10.COM 2.BUR/5 as well as file No. 01024,
- Takes note that Kenya has requested International Assistance for Documenting and Inventorying Intangible Cultural Heritage of the pastoralist Samburu community in northern Kenya: a focus on the region of Mount Kulal biosphere reserve:
The proposed project, which is designed in line with the 2006 National Heritage Act of Kenya, aims to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage of the semi-nomadic pastoralist Samburu community living within the Mount Kulal Biosphere Reserve (designated in 1979 through UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere programme) in northern Kenya. Due to external political, economic and cultural influences as well as environmental degradation, the viability of the living heritage is being affected. This concerns essential knowledge for the survival of the Samburu community and the maintenance of social order such as weather prediction rituals, other knowledge related to environmental resource management and rites of passages. The communities living in this arid area (the Samburu but also other communities including the Rendille, Gabbra, Borana and Waata) are in frequent conflict with each other over limited water, pastures and other resources. The inventorying exercise shall pay particular attention to the role that intangible cultural heritage plays in preventing or resolving conflicts and in maintaining social cohesion. Through capacity-building training, to be organized by the National Museums of Kenya, the Samburu community is expected to acquire skills necessary for participating in identifying and inventorying their traditions and practices and safeguarding them. Other planned activities include desk studies, field work and activities related to awareness-raising of the importance of safeguarding the living heritage of the Samburu community;
- Further takes note that this assistance concerns support for a project carried out at national level aimed at safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in accordance with Article 20 of the Convention, and that it takes the form of the granting of a donation in line with Article 21(g) of the Convention;
- Also takes note that Kenya requested an allocation of US$24,038 from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for implementation of the project;
- Decides that, from the information provided in file No. 01024, the request responds as follows to the criteria for granting International Assistance given in Paragraphs 10 and 12 of the Operational Directives:
- Decides to approve, as authorizing body, the International Assistance request from Kenya for Documenting and Inventorying Intangible Cultural Heritage of the pastoralist Samburu community in Northern Kenya: a focus on the region of Mount Kulal biosphere reserve (No. 01024) for an amount of US$24,038;
- Commends the submitting State for paying attention to the safeguarding of living heritage of a community in a remote area and to the role that intangible cultural heritage can play for maintaining social order and cohesion;
- Further commends the submitting State for envisaging to organise the capacity building activities by using the materials developed by UNESCO for this service and for planning to involve UNESCO expert-facilitators who are trained to use such materials;
- Requests the Secretariat to reach agreement with the submitting State on the technical details of the assistance, paying particular attention to the detailed budget of activities supported by the Fund of the intangible cultural heritage;
- Invites the State Party to use the ICH-04-Report Form when reporting on the use made of assistance provided.