Following Benin’s recent ratification of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, the country is developing a national process for implementation. In support of this process, a training workshop is jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Literacy, Craft and Tourism and the School of African Heritage in Porto Novo from 19 to 23 November 2012. It will bring together 23 key actors from Benin, but also 2 students of the University of Abomey-Calavi as observers, to build their knowledge on the basic concepts, mechanisms and state obligations of implementing the Convention at national level. It will also address the specific implications for implementation in Benin.

The workshop is held within the larger framework of UNESCO global strategy to build capacity on safeguarding and will be a milestone in a long-term process of political revision, community-based inventories and participation in the Convention’s international mechanism for cooperation (lists and international assistance).

The workshop is supported by UNESCO’s Regular Programme and Budget. It will be co-facilitated by two staff from the School of African Heritage and Ms. Marie-Thérèse Agueh, a facilitator trained by UNESCO. The closing ceremony will be chaired by the Minister of Culture.