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/23/18.COM 3.BUR/3, as well as International Assistance request no. 02160 submitted by Uganda,
3. Takes note that Uganda has requested International Assistance for the project entitled Consolidating the promotion of intangible cultural heritage education in institutions of higher learning in collaboration with bearer communities:

To be implemented by the Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU), an accredited non-governmental organization under the 2003 Convention, this two-year project aims to promote intangible cultural heritage education in higher-learning institutions. The project builds on the achievements of a previous intervention aimed at raising awareness of the relevance of living heritage in Uganda’s current development context among the management and academic staff of four universities. This project entails conducting trainings for university staff and management on the value of living heritage and its relevance in the delivery of a bachelor’s degree. It also involves supporting four universities in the creation of digital archives for living heritage elements and facilitating collaboration on the safeguarding of living heritage between bearer communities and university students through activities such as internships, e-learning modules, galas and mentorships. Communications and community outreach activities will help raise awareness about the 2003 Convention among local non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations.

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 Uganda has requested an allocation of US$98,203 from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the implementation of the project;
6. Decides that, from the information provided in file n 02160, 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 is the result of discussions held during the implementation of the previous International Assistance project ‘Promoting intangible cultural heritage education in institutions of higher learning in Uganda’. In taking into account the lessons learnt at the end of the project in December 2020, the stakeholders concluded that it was necessary to continue building the capacities of teachers by training more staff in higher education on intangible cultural heritage. It was also noted that relations between academia and members of the communities needed to be further strengthened. The academic staff from the four universities involved in the previous project participated in the preparation of this request. Although the communities who create, maintain and transmit the intangible cultural heritage are not the direct beneficiaries of the project, they will be involved in the project implementation, evaluation and follow-up through the steering committee.

Criterion A.2: The budget is presented in a clear way and seems appropriate in general for the scope of the project and the desired results. The amount of assistance requested may therefore be considered as appropriate for the implementation of the proposed activities.

Criterion A.3: The project has been developed on the basis of the lessons learned from the previous International Assistance project. The request is clearly structured and presents fourteen activities which include: (a) awareness raising activities; (b) capacity-building workshops for teachers and students; and (c) the development of a digital archives and pedagogical material to promote the 2003 Convention. Each activity corresponds to the objectives and expected results outlined in the request. Furthermore, the activities are feasible within the proposed project duration.

Criterion A.4: The activities range from the training of teachers and students to the creation of digital archives (such as the creation of an online platform and the digitalization of resource materials on intangible cultural heritage). They will contribute, in the long term, to a better appreciation of the importance of intangible cultural heritage and to improved pedagogical skills on the subject. The digital archives that will be created are expected to generate interest for research related to the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage and cultural heritage in general. It is expected that documentation and materials developed during the project will provide a source of information on living heritage for communities, groups, and the teachers and students of the four participating universities.

Criterion A.5: The submitting State Party will contribute 3 per cent (US$2,688) of the total amount of the project budget (US$100,891). Consequently, International Assistance is requested from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for the remaining 97 per cent of the total amount of the project budget.

Criterion A.6: The project is in line with Article 14 of the Convention, which calls on States Parties to ‘ensure recognition of, respect for, and enhancement of the intangible cultural heritage in society’ through ‘specific educational and training programmes’. The request is clearly aimed at developing the capacity of teachers from the four participating universities. It will help expand the network of teachers who will be able to provide higher education courses on intangible cultural heritage by training twenty-four academic staff. The project will also support twelve students who will undertake an internship in institutions working in the field of living heritage. Furthermore, the digitalized archives will encourage exchanges among bearers and academic staff.

Criterion A.7: Uganda has benefited from International Assistance from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for six completed projects.^[1] The work stipulated in the contracts related to these projects was carried out in accordance with UNESCO regulations.

Paragraph 10(a): The project is national in scope and involves national implementing partners, such as the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO and the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.

Paragraph 10(b): The project is expected to increase the number of teachers able to provide university courses on intangible cultural heritage and to generate interest among students undertaking bachelor studies in cultural heritage. The project would also contribute to building bridges between universities, teachers, students, communities, bearers and practitioners, thus contributing to research and documentation on living heritage at the national level.

7. Approves the International Assistance request from Uganda for the project entitled Consolidating the promotion of intangible cultural heritage education in institutions of higher learning in collaboration with bearer communities and grants the amount of US$98,203 for the implementation of this project;
8. Requests that the Secretariat reach an agreement with the requesting State Party on the technical details of the assistance, paying particular attention to ensuring that the budget and the work plan of the activities to be covered by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund are detailed and specific enough to provide a sufficient justification of all the expenditures;
9. Invites the requesting State to use Form ICH-04-Report to report on the use of the assistance granted.

[1] (a) ‘Inventorying the intangible cultural heritage of four communities in Uganda’ (US$216,000; July 2013–March 2015,); (b) Preparatory assistance (List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding) for the project entitled ‘The male-child cleansing ceremony of the Lango people of North Central Uganda (Dwoko Atin Awobi lot)’ (US$8,570; March 2012–March 2013); (c) Preparatory assistance (List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding) for the project entitled ‘Madi bow lyre music, O’di’ (US$10,000; December 2013–March 2015); (d) ‘Safeguarding and promotion of Bigwala, gourd trumpet music and dance of Busoga Kingdom in Uganda’ (US$24,990; September 2015–August 2017); (e) ‘Promoting intangible cultural heritage education in institutions of higher learning in Uganda’ (US$97,582; June 2017–June 2020); (f) ‘Community-self documentation and revitalization of ceremonies and practices associated with Empaako naming system in Uganda’ (US$232,120; February 2018–February 2020); and (g) ‘Strengthening the capacity of community museums to promote inscribed intangible cultural heritage elements’ (US$61,471; May 2020–June 2022).