A training-of-trainers workshop for new members of the global network of facilitators of the 2003 Convention in Africa was held in Douala, Cameroon from 18 to 21 December 2023. The workshop was organised by the UNESCO Office in Yaoundé, in collaboration with UNESCO’s Living Heritage Entity.

As part of the global expansion of the facilitators network, the workshop trained 10 new facilitators from Africa on core concepts, methodologies and mechanisms of the Convention. The workshop aimed to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to support the implementation of the 2003 Convention’s global capacity-building programme. The first sessions were devoted to an introduction to the 2003 Convention, its implementation in the region, and a presentation of the capacity-building programme. Subsequently, participants explored themes such as ethics, gender, and the importance of community participation in the identification and inventorying of intangible cultural heritage. Interactive sessions also addressed the links between cultural heritage and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The activities highlighted the collaboration and active involvement of local communities, underlining the importance of community engagement and gender awareness in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.