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Stephen Rwagweri attending the meeting |
Stephen
Rwagweri has been officially adopted in the UNESCO's global network of ICH
facilitators during the 4 days UNESCO's global network of ICH facilitators meeting
in Doula Cameroon from 18th to 21st December, 2023. In
the meeting, Africa was represented by Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and Burkina Faso and
each country was represented by one delegate. Uganda was represented by Stephen
Rwagweri.Mr Stephen Rwagweri was officially adopted in the UNESCO's
global network of ICH facilitators. He specializes in development of artisanal
and cultural enterprises, designing innovations in artisanal sector and
facilitating implementation of UNESCO core ICH mechanisms including
inventories, nominations, programme elaboration, implementation, and project
and periodic reporting throughout the world in countries which have ratified
the UNESCO’s 2003 Convention. According to Stephen, “Through this UNESCO global
network of ICH facilitators, we hope to access public mechanisms to support
social impact scaling of our African Continental Crafts enterprise and other
enterprises specializing in development of artisanal and cultural enterprises,
designing innovations in artisanal sector and facilitating implementation of
UNESCO core ICH mechanisms”
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UNESCO Certificate |
Capacity building is one of the five functions that UNESCO
performs to fulfill its mandate. As such, one of the top priorities for
implementing the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible
Cultural Heritage is its global capacity-building programme. The Programme was
put in place in 2009 to support countries in safeguarding their intangible
cultural heritage and harness its potential for sustainable development, while
promoting broad public knowledge and support for the Convention.
The 2003 Convention places communities at the center of all
its safeguarding activities. The capacity-building programme takes an inclusive
approach to ensure the widest possible participation of all relevant
stakeholders, especially relevant community groups, in the design and
implementation of safeguarding activities.
The capacity building program develops community-based
inventorying and safeguarding methods, supports the ability of States to
effectively implement the Convention, integrate the safeguarding of intangible
cultural heritage into sustainable development plans, policies and programmes
at all levels, strengthens institutional frameworks to help safeguard
intangible cultural heritage and enhances monitoring for the implementation of
the Convention.
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Stephen Rwagweri in Doula, Cameroon |
The Programme offers capacity-building services at country
level, combining training, advisory services, stakeholder consultation and
pilot activities. These can be adapted to specific country needs and thematic
topics, always with the view to ensuring the continued impact and
sustainability of safeguarding measures at national level.