In 2003, the UNESCO adopted the text of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, a multilateral binding instrument to safeguard intangible cultural heritage. Amongst the Mediterranean partner countries, seven participated in the Convention: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia. However, no coordinated information about structures, programmes and experience connected with managing intangible cultural heritage is available to date in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. For this reason, the Medliher project intends to reinforce the institutional capacities of these four partner countries, and facilitate their effective participation in the international mechanisms established by the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The envisaged strategy is in three phases: the first phase will be devoted to drawing up surveys of existing structures and programmes connected with safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in the countries mentioned above, the second phase will involve developing national projects conceived on the basis of the needs of each partner country, the third phase to implementing national projects, and to preparing candidatures for inscription on the UNESCO Convention lists.

The project, addressed to the partner countries’ governmental communities and institutions, will lead to the safeguarding of the regional intangible cultural heritage according to the Convention’s criteria, as well as with the reinforcement of governmental institutions’ capacities. The Medliher project is lead by the UNESCO, in partnership with the “Maison des cultures du Monde” Association and the concerned ministries in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

• Safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage of the partner countries (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria) according to the UNESCO Convention’s mechanisms and with the participation of concerned countries
• Reinforcing partner countries’ capacities for the implementation of the Convention
• Reinforcing the regional cooperation
• Awareness on the importance of safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage in partner countries

• Ministère de l’enseignement supérieur (Commission nationale Egyptienne pour l’UNESCO) (Egypt)
  http://www.egnatcom.org.eg
• Ministère de l’éducation (Commission nationale Jordanienne pour l’UNESCO) (Jordan)
  http://www.jounesco.gov.jo
• Ministère de la Culture (Lebanon)
  http://www.culture.gov.lb
• Ministère de la Culture (Direction de la sauvegarde du patrimoine populaire) (Syria)
• Maison des Cultures du Monde (France)
  http://www.mcm.asso.fr

• Music & Performing arts
• Norms, Legislation & Inventories
• Intangible Heritage
• Research/Education & Training

• Evaluation of national des capacities of Mediterranean Partner countries
• Strengthening of institutional capacities of Mediterranean Partner countries
• At least four national projects, which include safeguarding strategies drawn with the participation of communities and parties concerned
• Enhancing the visibility of the intangible heritage of the region and the inscription of some of its elements on the UNESCO Convention lists
• Recognition of the value of safeguarding the intangible heritage of the region
• A multi-lingual website including a database structure nourished by the different partners and accessible to the wider public