Dr. Madeleine Sialou holds a Ph.D. in Culture and Development from the Regional Institute for Higher Education and Research in Cultural Development (IRES-RDEC) in Togo. She is a faculty member and researcher at the National Higher Institute of Arts and Cultural Action (INSAAC) in Côte d’Ivoire, her primary interest being the economic aspects of culture in general, and documentary heritage in particular. In the field of intangible cultural heritage, Dr. Sialou conducts initiatives to raise awareness and understanding, and monitor and assess implementation of the 2003 Convention.