Medium-term Programme (FY 2016-2020)
I. Duration
The duration of the medium-term programme is 5 years from FY 2016 to FY
2020.
II. Main Line of Action(1) Focusing on and within the geographic limitation to the Asia-Pacific region,
perform the functions outlined in Article 4 Paragraph 2 of the Agreement
between the Government of Japan and the United Nations Educational, Scientificand Cultural Organization (UNESCO) regarding the establishment, in Japan, ofAp4G pr
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an international research centre for intangible cultural heritage in the AsiaPacific region under the auspices of UNESCO (Category2) (hereinafter referred
to as “the Agreement”), through promoting research activities on the following
domains in consistent with UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of theIntangible Cultural Heritage (hereinafter referred to as “the 2003 Convention”),
whereby contributing to the enhancement of the safeguarding of intangible
cultural heritage and the research for safeguarding:(i)Current status of researches on the safeguarding of intangible
cultural heritage;(ii)

Policies and various methodologies for the safeguarding of intangible
cultural heritage;(iii) Good practices of the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage.

(2) Instigate the following activities during the course of implementing whatmentioned in Paragraph (1) above:(i)

Participation of young researchers who are engaged in the researchon the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage into the activitiesof International Research Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage inthe Asia-Pacific Region (hereinafter referred to as “IRCI”);(ii)

Collaboration with researchers and research institutions;(iii) Organising international experts meetings and research workshops
to discuss various methodologies and practices of the safeguardingof intangible cultural heritage.
(3)

Conduct following activities in the Asia-Pacific region with a view tocontributing to II (1) of the long-term programme:(i)Plan and implement research activities, with special attention tocontributingtoUNESCO’sMedium-TermStrategy(37C/4),

particularly its Strategic Objectives 7 (protecting, promoting andtransmitting heritage) and 8 (fostering creativity and diversity ofcultural expressions), as well as MLAs specified in Programme andBudget (C/5);(ii)

Contribute to the promotion of international cooperation in the AsiaPacific region in the field of the safeguarding of intangible culturalheritage, in accordance with the Medium term program of theNational Institutes for Cultural Heritage;(iii) Within the framework of IRCI’s objectives specified in Article 4.1 ofthe Agreement, contribute to the projects carried out by Sakai CityA
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to promote intangible cultural heritage for the general public.
III. Specific Contents of Activities(1) Promote research for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage,
through conducting the following activities regarding the practices andmethodologies of safeguarding, in cooperation with research institutions andresearchers working in the Asia-Pacific region:(i)

Instigate

research

activities

anddevelop

theresearchers’community through international conferences, experts meetings,and publications;(ii)

Examine and develop strategies for optimizing the use of researchdata, while collecting research information.

(2) Conduct research on the current status and the cases of the safeguardingof intangible cultural heritage in the Asia-Pacific region that are endangered bydisasters such as natural hazards, as well as research on the role of ICH for
disaster

preparedness

andin

thepost-disasterrecoveryprocess,inconsideration of UNESCO’s focus in the Medium-Term Strategy (37C/4) on theresponse to post-conflict and post-disaster situations (PCPD).

(3) In accordance with Article II(3)(iii) of Main Line of Action above, contributeto the following projects carried out by Sakai City for the general public:(i)

Projects to disseminate information on intangible cultural heritage
in cooperation with relevant research institutes and universities;(ii)

Projects to enhance understanding of intangible cultural heritage.