In Zambia, community members and representatives from various institutions including university professionals, Departments of Culture, National Arts Councils, National Museums and Monuments and the National ICH Committees, came together to participate in a capacity-building workshop on the implementation of the 2003 convention, held from the 26th to 30th of March, 2012 in Lusaka.

The workshop, which will help to strengthen Zambia’s capacity to safeguard its living heritage, was part of a series of national workshops rolled out by the UNESCO Harare Cluster Office. It was organised within the framework of the UNESCO/Flanders Funds-in-Trust Project to strengthen national capacities for the implementation of the 2003 Convention in Botswana, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

In her opening remarks, the Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, the Honourable Everine Kabanshi, highlighted Zambia’s commitment to the safeguarding of ICH and the importance for the Government to domesticate the convention, fully involving communities and traditional leaders in the process.

The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Stephen Chifunyise and Mr. Lovemore Mazibuko, two of the network of experts trained in UNESCO’s “Training of Trainers Workshop.”

For more information please contact: c.mapfumo@unesco.org