Overview of the MedLiHer project

The MedLiHer project aims at enhancing institutional capacities in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic to facilitate their effective participation in the international mechanisms established by the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, as well as to support the elaboration of specific safeguarding measures with the participation of communities and groups concerned in each of them.

The Hilali poets recount the history of a historic Bedouin tribe, adding improvised commentary to make the plot more relevant to contemporary audiences. Performances take place at weddings, circumcision ceremonies and other gatherings as well as for tourist audiences, in shortened forms.

© CULTNAT

The project plan proposes of a series of 3 phases:

1. Assessment in partner countries
   The first phase will focus on the development of an assessment study regarding the existing structures, programmes and experiences related to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage in each participating partner country. A first workshop will take place with the participation of the government officials in charge of setting up and coordinating the assessment process at the national level in order to draw up the surveys;
2. Networking and preparing project proposals
   The outcome of the assessment studies in each partner Member State will be evaluated and then presented during a meeting with government leaders and representatives of the major institutions/organizations active in the field of intangible cultural heritage. National and international safeguarding projects will be prepared on the basis of the strategies and priorities identified in the evaluations of each assessment study. The involvement of national and local organizations will contribute to developing an online network accessible via a multilingual interface managed by UNESCO;
3. Implementation of the projects
   The last phase of MedLiHer will focus on the implementation of the national or international safeguarding projects identified in phase II. Special attention will be given to safeguarding projects and to the support for the preparation of nomination files to the Lists of the Convention, as well as to the registry of good practices established under Article 18.

For more details, please consult the project document (English|French|Arabic) and the website of the Euromed Heritage 4 programme.