The Bureau,

1. Recalling Article 23 of the Convention as well as Chapter I.4 of the Operational Directives relating to the eligibility and criteria of International Assistance requests,
2. Having examined document LHE/22/17.COM 1.BUR/3 as well as International Assistance request no. 01926 submitted by Colombia,
3. Takes note that Colombia has requested International Assistance for the project entitled Between the Amazon and the Andes: safeguarding and transmission of the Traditional knowledge and techniques associated with Pasto Varnish mopa-mopa of the Putumayo and Nariño departments of Colombia:

To be implemented by the Mundo Espiral Foundation, this twenty-month project is geared at enhancing capacities and conditions for learning and transmission of the ‘Traditional knowledge and techniques associated with Pasto Varnish mopa-mopa of Putumayo and Nariño’, an element inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding in 2020. The project seeks to support initiatives led by the practitioners (harvesters, woodworkers, varnishers) to guarantee the future safeguarding of the element. The project will develop four main activities: (a) capacity building training for trainers targeting fifty-five practitioners; (b) a pilot apprenticeship programme in which each practitioner will work alongside an apprentice in a one-to-one learning environment; (c) documentation of the life and work of the Pasto Varnish mopa-mopa practitioners, which will result in a publication and visual documentary; and (d) awareness-raising initiatives targeting youth apprentices, the communities of Nariño and Putumayo and key stakeholders, such as the private sector, local public entities and local non-governmental organizations. The project will culminate in an event focused on the two communities and a stakeholder roundtable to reflect on future opportunities and initiatives to contribute to the safeguarding and viability of the element. The pilot apprenticeship programme will also contribute to the ‘Safeguarding strategy of traditional crafts for peace building’, selected on the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices in 2019.

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 Colombia has requested assistance in the amount of US$98,925 from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the implementation of this project;
6. Decides that, from the information provided in file no. 01926, 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 project concerns the communities associated with Pasto Varnish mopa-mopa of Putumayo and Nariño. The main beneficiaries of the project are the practitioners and artisans of these traditional practices (harvesters, carpenters, carvers and varnishers) as well as future apprentices. The practitioners collaborated with the proposed implementing agency and the Ministry of Culture in the elaboration of the request. Specifically, they participated in three meetings aimed at identifying the risks and gaps that cause the element to be in need of urgent safeguarding. The project emphasizes the central and active role of the communities throughout its implementation, from planning to monitoring and follow-up.

Criterion A.2: The budget is presented in a structured manner, corresponds to the planned activities and is consistent with the timeframe. However, more detailed information could have been provided for certain items of expenditure, such as those related to documentation (Activity 4) and dissemination and awareness-raising (Activity 5).

Criterion A.3: The proposed activities are coherent and well-planned in terms of the objectives and expected results of the project. The project is structured around four main components: capacity building, documentation, awareness-raising and networking opportunities. The project will conclude with a stakeholder roundtable gathering practitioners, the private and public sectors and local non-governmental organizations to develop joint initiatives and work opportunities that could contribute to the safeguarding and viability of the traditional knowledge and techniques associated with Pasto Varnish mopa-mopa. Furthermore, the sequence of the proposed activities is logical, and the proposed timeframe seems to be realistic for achieving the expected results of the project.

Criterion A.4: The project is expected to strengthen the capacities of practitioners, who will then be able to share and disseminate their traditional knowledge and skills to members of the community, in particular to apprentices and other artisans. The production of audiovisual materials would promote the results of the project and thus raise awareness among civil society, youth and different stakeholders about the importance of safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. The project would also contribute to the viability of these practices and to the transmission of knowledge to other members of the community. The element ‘Traditional knowledge and techniques associated with Pasto Varnish mopa-mopa of Putumayo and Nariño’ is inscribed on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, and this project will contribute to the element’s safeguarding plan. However, the sustainability of the project depends on the approach taken to maintain its achievements. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the knowledge and skills transmitted during the project continue to be transmitted after its completion. To this end, it is recommended that the submitting State Party define mechanisms to continue the pilot apprenticeship programme and identify funding to cover the costs.

Criterion A.5: The submitting State Party will contribute 34 per cent and other partners will contribute a further 2 per cent of the total amount of the project for which International Assistance is requested from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund.

Criterion A.6: The project focuses on building the capacity of the communities to strengthen the viability of the traditional knowledge and techniques associated with Pasto Varnish mopa-mopa in order to transmit them to future generations. During the two training of trainers workshops, fifty-five practitioners and artisans will contribute to the conception of the ‘pilot apprenticeship programme’ in their areas of expertise: varnishing techniques, woodworking skills and mopa-mopa bud harvesting. The workshops will also aim to develop an educational certification for the crafts related to this element. The project foresees that the trained practitioners will subsequently train apprentices and pass on their skills and knowledge in a 100-hour pilot apprenticeship programme. In addition, the various training sessions will be recorded to document the knowledge and techniques associated with mopa-mopa.

Criterion A.7: Colombia has benefited from International Assistance from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for three completed projects: (a) ‘Intangible cultural heritage as a basis for resilience, reconciliation and construction of peace environments in Colombia’s post-agreements’ (file no. 01522, 2018–2020, US$99,400); (b) ‘My Heritage, My Region: strategy for capacity-building in social management of the intangible cultural heritage in two departments of the Colombian Orinoco region’ (file no. 01518, 2019–2020, US$99,950); and (c) ‘Safeguarding of the traditional knowledge for the protection of sacred natural sites in the territory of the Jaguars of Yuruparí, Vaupés Province, Colombia’ (file no. 01224, 2017–2018, US$25,000). The work stipulated by the contracts related to these projects was carried out in compliance with UNESCO’s regulations.

Paragraph 10(a): The project is local in scope and its implementation involves national partners, including the Ministry of Culture, local non-governmental organizations and local authorities.

Paragraph 10(b): The project’s strength lies in the establishment of a pilot apprenticeship model. This pilot apprenticeship programme and the methodology developed, as well as the content of the training workshops, will contribute to the ‘Safeguarding strategy of traditional crafts for peace building’, selected on the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices in 2019. The pilot apprenticeship programme could raise interest from the private sector and donors for further funding after the end of the project.

7. Approves the International Assistance request from Colombia for the project entitled Between the Amazon and the Andes: safeguarding and transmission of the Traditional knowledge and techniques associated with Pasto Varnish mopa-mopa of the Putumayo and Nariño departments of Colombia and grants the amount of US$98,925 to the State Party for this purpose;
8. Encourages the State Party to mobilize additional funds to pursue this pilot apprenticeship programme after the end of the project;
9. Requests that the Secretariat reach an agreement with the State Party on the technical details of the assistance, paying particular attention to ensuring that the budget and work plan of the activities to be covered by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund are detailed and specific enough to justify the expenditures;
10. Invites the State Party to use Form ICH-04-Report to report on the use of the assistance granted.