Work Plan for FY 2018
1. Activity Focus and the Overview of Research Projects
The Work Plan for FY 2018 is developed under the scheme of IRCI’s Medium-term
Programme (2016-2020)(IRCI/2017/6GB/Ref.4b), which was approved at the 4th
Governing Board Meeting of IRCI (25 September 2015). In FY 2018, three projects areplanned for Activity Focus I (Promoting Research for ICH Safeguarding), and two
projects for Activity Focus II (Research on ICH Safeguarding and Disaster-Risk
Management).
Activity Focus I: Promoting Research for ICH Safeguarding
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 and develop the researchers’ community
through international conferences, experts meetings, and publications;(ii) Examine and develop strategies for optimizing the use of research data,
while collecting research information.
(Section III(1), Medium-term Programme 2016-2020)

Ia. 〈Mapping Project 1〉 Literature Survey on ICH Safeguarding Research in the AsiaPacific Countries
Ib. 〈Mapping Project 2〉 Research Data Collection on ICH Safeguarding in the AsiaPacific Region and Optimisation of its Use
Ic. Multi-disciplinary Study of ICH’s Contribution to Sustainable Development –Focusing on Education
Since FY 2013, IRCI has implemented a research project based on the mapping ofresearch information pertaining to the ICH safeguarding in the Asia-Pacific region. This
‘Mapping Project,’ aiming at instigating research for ICH safeguarding in the Asia-Pacificregion through analysing current trends and challenges, constitutes one of the mostimportant research activities undertaken by IRCI. Since FY 2016, this research project
has been carried out in the form of three inter-related sub-projects: (1) international
conferences/experts meetings; (2) systematic literature survey; and (3) optimisation of
the use of research information with the database.

Concerning FY 2018, IRCI continues to undertake (2) and (3) of the Mapping project.
However, (1) international conferences/experts meetings under the framework of theMapping Project is reconsidered, since a series of meetings and conferences that were
held in the past years as part of the project identified major issues and challenges
related to ICH safeguarding in the Asia-Pacific region. In particular, the importance offurther research concerning the contribution of ICH for sustainable development, andthe necessity to strengthen international research network for ICH safeguarding werepointed out in the discussions. Based on these recommendations, IRCI intends to move
forward to the next step to strengthen research capacity for ICH safeguarding in the
Asia-Pacific region, through promoting new research programmes in cooperation withmajor research institutions and universities in the region. In order to achieve thispurpose, IRCI proposes a new project ‘Multi-Disciplinary Study of ICH Safeguarding
Contributing to Sustainable Development Goals - Education.’ As the title of the projectindicates, this new project seeks potential contributions of ICH to SDGs.
Activity focus II: Research on ICH Safeguarding and Disaster Risk Management
Conduct research on the current status and the cases of the safeguarding ofintangible 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 and in the post-disaster recovery process, inconsideration of UNESCO’s focus in the Medium-Term Strategy (37C/4) on
the response to post-conflict and post-disaster situations (PCPD).
(Section III(2), Medium-term Programme 2016-2020)

IIa. Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on ICH and Natural Disasters
IIb. Study of Emergency Protection of ICH in Conflict-Affected Countries in Asia
This Activity Focus was devised in consideration of UNESCO’s concern on post-conflictand post-disaster (PCPD) situations, as described in its Medium-term Strategy 20142021 (37C/4). It also reflects growing national and international interests on heritage
management in the context of disasters 1. Against this backdrop, IRCI has been

undertaking two projects: one focusing on natural hazards and disasters, and the otherrelated to conflict.
The first one, ‘Regional Workshop on ICH and Natural Disasters in the Asia-PacificRegion’ is developed out of ‘Preliminary Research on ICH Safeguarding and DisasterRisk Management in the Asia-Pacific Region,’ that was implemented during FY 20161

In Japan, National Institutes for Cultural Heritage (NICH), to which IRCI belongs, set up in July 2014
National Task Force for the Japanese Cultural Heritage Disaster Mitigation Network (CH-DRM Net).

2017. In contrast, ‘Study of Emergency Protection of ICH in Conflict-Affected Countries
in Asia’ commenced in FY 2017, to investigate ICH and its safeguarding in conflictaffected situations.
Figure 1: Timeline of projects in Medium-term Programme 2016-2020

2. Individual Project Outlines

Activity Focus I. Promoting Research for ICH Safeguarding〈Mapping Project 1〉 Literature Survey on ICH Safeguarding Research in the
Asia-Pacific Countries
Period of implementation: FY2015, FY 2016-FY2018
Geographic focus:

Entire Asia-Pacific Region

Background: Current trends of ICH safeguarding including the range of existing
activities and approaches have not been fully explored in the Asia-Pacific region. Also inmany cases, such information is not effectively shared among ICH researchers andexperts, which is limiting the development of productive discussions for enhancing ICH
safeguarding in many countries in the region.
The literature survey on ICH safeguarding began in FY 2015 as a part of the Mapping
Project. It reflects the results of the international experts meeting held in Malaysia in FY
2014, suggesting the necessity of identifying and mapping researchers engaged in the
study of ICH safeguarding, as well as theoretical approaches and practical safeguarding
measures of the ICH safeguarding.
Purpose: The overall aim of the Mapping Project is to expand and strengthen the
network of researchers related to ICH safeguarding in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as
to enhance and promote research for ICH safeguarding. The literature survey provides
the basic information for this purpose by collecting systematic information on existing
literature, research institutions and researchers, in cooperation with researchorganisations and researchers in the Asia-Pacific countries. It also tries to identify
theoretical approaches and practical measures taken in each country, and importantsafeguarding issues, through the analysis of collected literature information.
Progress/preparatory activities (during/before FY 2017): Following therecommendations made at the international experts meeting in 2016, IRCI revised thesurvey guidelines in FY 2017. This revision allowed to refine literature annotation sheets
for properly citing reference information in various formats, and to add the analysis of
the impact of the 2003 Convention to the elements of the country-by-country summary
report.
The FY 2017 survey focuses on the Pacific countries, many of which have not beensurveyed in previous years. As it has been difficult to find suitable experts/researchers
to undertake the survey for each country, due to the various reasons such as limited
capacities and timeframes, IRCI started to seek alternative methodologies for collecting

data, such as requesting cooperation from regional research centres.
The total number of countries surveyed in this project is expected to reach 33 by theend of FY 2017.
Activity details:
1. Conduct the literature survey according to the guidelines revised in FY 2017.
a) The survey on existing literature concerning ICH safeguarding research,
information on research institutions and researchers, is principally carried out incollaboration with local research institutions/researchers by signing contracts.
However, alternative methodologies are considered for effectively obtaining therequired information.
b) The survey is carried out for at least 3 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, in which
the survey has not been implemented.
c) Analyse on a country basis the concepts, practices and methodologies for ICH
safeguarding, as well as the impact of the 2003 Convention.
d) Each researcher under contract submits a survey summary paper, and provides
literature annotations following the format developed by IRCI.
2. Edit and publish the final report, which includes the summary of the entire project
including background, outcomes, and lessons learned.
Specific outputs:
1. Country reports/survey summary papers
2. Literature annotation sheets (which include literature information in local languages
with English summaries)
3. Collected information is made available through IRCI’s research database
4. Final report
Project partners/cooperating researchers and organisations:
1. Researchers in the field of ICH safeguarding in the Asia-Pacific region
2. Research organisations and museums in the Asia-Pacific region*See attached PDM (IRCI/2017/6GB/9/Annex 2a) for the detailed project design.

Activity Focus I. Promoting Research for ICH Safeguarding〈Mapping Project 2〉 Research Data Collection on ICH Safeguarding in the AsiaPacific Region and Optimisation of its Use
Period of implementation: FY2015, FY2016-FY2019
Geographic focus:

Entire Asia-Pacific Region

Background: Information on research related to ICH safeguarding in the Asia-Pacificregion is not effectively shared among ICH experts, which is limiting the development of
productive discussions for enhancing ICH safeguarding in many countries in the region.
In order to improve this situation and encourage information sharing, IRCI launched in
FY 2014 ‘Research Database on ICH safeguarding in the Asia-Pacific Region’ as a byproduct of the Mapping Project. The research database thus created, however, is still at
the elementary stage and requires further improvements.
Purpose: The overall aim of the Mapping Project is to expand and strengthen the
network of researchers related to ICH safeguarding in the Asia-Pacific Region as well as
to enhance and promote research for ICH safeguarding. This is done in this project bysystematic and functional management of information related to research for ICH
safeguarding with IRCI’s research database. While providing an increased number ofcollected information to the public, the project also aims to review and refine thefunctions of the database in order to facilitate more effective utilisation of the researchrelated information. It is expected that this database development and the effective
utilisation of information through the database enhance information sharing among
researchers, leading to the development of a common platform for ICH safeguarding in
the Asia-Pacific region.
Progress/preparatory activities (during/before FY 2017): Major project activities in
the past years focused on adding information that were collected through the literature
survey. By the end of FY 2016, more than 2,000 entries were integrated into the
database.
Review of the database function started in FY 2016, firstly by sending the questionnaire
to the ICH experts who undertook the literature survey for the Mapping Project, andsecondly by analysing their feedbacks at the international experts meeting held in
November 2016.
Activity details:
1. Add to IRCI’s research database new information found in the FY 2018 literature
survey. At the same time, reference data that were collected in the past years arereviewed and updated to ensure the consistency of information.
2. In order to make use of IRCI’s research database in more effective and suitableways, needs assessment of the database and the evaluation of its usability are
conducted.
a) Needs assessment for the database optimisation is conducted by interviewing ICH
researchers and experts in at least 6 countries covering all sub-regions of the AsiaPacific.
b) Evaluate the database function by ICT specialists in Japan, with a view to improveusability of the database.
c) Hold a review meeting to analyse the feedback of the needs assessment, todevelop a first draft of the specifications for database improvement.
3. Conduct a feasibility study to collect and utilise resources that are not widelydistributed or not digitised, in cooperation with archives and libraries in Southeast
Asia, holding rich ICH resources.
a) Grasp current condition of stored resources, including storage conditions andaccessibilities, through the visit to selected archives and libraries in Southeast Asia.
b) Understand the needs of archivists and librarians with interviews, and consider afeasibility to share their resources as part of the optimisation of IRCI’s database.
Specific outputs:
1. Increased amount of information on research database
2. Database users’ feedback regarding its usability
3. Specifications for the modifications and new functions of the database
Project partners/cooperating researchers and organisations:
1. Research institutions in the Asia-Pacific region and ICH specialists selected by IRCI
2. IT specialists/institutions in Japan
3. Libraries and archives in Southeast Asia

*See attached PDM (IRCI/2017/6GB/9/Annex 2b) for the detailed project design.

Activity Focus I. Promoting Research for ICH Safeguarding

Multi-disciplinary Study on ICH’s Contribution to Sustainable Development –Focusing on Education
Period of implementation: FY 2018-2019
Geographic focus:

Entire Asia-Pacific region

Background: Since FY 2013, IRCI has been developing a cooperative research
network in the Asia-Pacific region to promote research for ICH safeguarding through theMapping Project. The project identified important safeguarding issues in the region.
Among them, the importance of taking into account the contribution of ICH tosustainable development was highlighted as a relevant theme of further research. It
was also recognised that research network for ICH safeguarding has to be strengthened
to enhance research activities.
UNESCO emphasises on the contribution of culture to the sustainable development. In
the Major Programme IV of the draft 39C/5, UNESCO outlines the contribution ofculture to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Concerning ICH, potential
contribution is expected in SDGs 2, 4, 5, 11, and 17.
Purpose: This project aims to enhance research for ICH safeguarding by coordinating
research activities focusing on ICH’s contribution to SDGs, in cooperation with research
institutions in the Asia-Pacific region. In particular, contribution of ICH to SDG 4, which
focuses on education, is explored for FY 2018-2019, because education is one of theimportant safeguarding measures stipulated in Article 2 of the 2003 Convention and it
also has a strong impact on sustainable development. Through the implementation of
the project, IRCI also attempts to strengthen a multi-disciplinary research network for
ICH safeguarding that consists of various research institutions. It is expected that
research capacity of academic institutions in the Asia-Pacific region is reinforced.
Progress/preparatory activities (during/before FY 2017): In FY 2017, IRCI
identified potential project partners in the Asia-Pacific region to undertake research
activities, by contacting selected research institutions and universities to seek theirclose cooperation.
Activity details:
1. Coordinate research projects on a specific theme related to ICH’s contribution tosustainable development, to be undertaken by several research institutions.
a) Each institute undertaking the research consults IRCI to finalise its research plan.
b) Progress of research activities is regularly monitored and reviewed by IRCI, in
cooperation with external experts in related fields. IRCI provides appropriate inputs
on the basis of its expertise in ICH safeguarding that is in line with the 2003
Convention.
c) Final research outcomes are discussed in detail between each institution and IRCI.
2. Hold an international conference during the year 2019, inviting experts from theAsia-Pacific region. The conference discusses the results of the research undertaken
in above item 1.
3. Recommendations for the utilisation of ICH in formal and non-formal educations aredrafted and elaborated in cooperation with researchers participated in this project.
4. Publish the project report, which should include recommendations.

Specific outputs:
Project report
Project partners/cooperating researchers and organisations:
Research institutions in the Asia-Pacific region
ICH researchers
School teachers and leaders of non-formal education such as LCC
Padagogists and educators
Governmental officers in culture and education*See attached PDM (IRCI/2017/6GB/9/Annex 2c) for the detailed project design.

Activity Focus II. Research on ICH Safeguarding and Disaster Risk Management

Asia-Pacific Regional Workshop on ICH and Natural Disasters
Period of implementation: FY 2018
Geographic focus: Myanmar, Philippines, Viet Nam (in Southeast Asia); Fiji, Vanuatu(in the Pacific); other countries in the Asia-Pacific region; and other disaster-prone
regions such as Latin America and the Caribbean
Background: Natural disasters are one of the factors threatening ICH. Since AsiaPacific countries are frequently exposed to increasing numbers of natural hazards,
assuring the safeguarding of ICH in the context of disaster-risk management (DRM) is apressing issue. UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy for 2014-2021 (37C/4) emphasizes
the urgent need to respond to post-conflict and post-disaster situations (PCPD), and theUN’s Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 calls for the protectionof cultural heritage. Although there are increasing efforts to protect and rescue cultural
heritage that is affected by severe disasters, such activities are largely centred on‘tangible’ heritage, while the impacts on ICH are frequently overlooked.
Given such situations, IRCI started in FY 2016 a new project ‘Preliminary Research on
ICH Safeguarding and Disaster-Risk Management in the Asia-Pacific Region.’ As a
preparatory phase to investigate this new subject, basic data collection was done during
FY 2016-2017 in disaster-prone countries in the Asia-Pacific region to understand: a)
impact of natural disasters on ICH, and b) active roles of ICH for disaster risk reduction(DRR) and recovery. In this process, it was strongly recognised that major DRM
strategies have not been successful in effectively incorporating cultural dimensions, andthe active commitment of cultural sectors in DRM programmes remains limited. In
contrast, there are growing interests among DRM specialists to integrate traditional

indigenous knowledge within DRR strategies. This trend suggests that ICH potentiallyhas a significant part to play in DRM process.
Purpose: The regional workshop in FY 2018 is programmed as an extension of thepast 2 years of preliminary research. Based on the outcomes of the FY 2016-2017
activities, it examines various issues related to ICH in the context of natural hazards
and disasters, and the active roles of ICH for DRR/DRM. It also explores practicaldirections for safeguarding ICH in the context of natural disasters/DRM, and possible
DRM strategies and practices that incorporate ICH. Reflecting discussions at theworkshop, it also considers possibilities to develop pilot projects that could be
implemented in the future.
The workshop also aims to extend its geographic focus to other disaster-prone regions
like Latin America and the Caribbean to share experience and expertise in related
research inter-regionally. It is expected that the workshop contributes to thedevelopment of further research focusing on ICH in the context of DRM, not only in the
Asia-Pacific but also in the other parts of the world, and to enhance active involvementof ICH researchers in such programmes.
Progress/preparatory activities (during/before FY 2017): The preliminary research(FY 2016-2017) has been implemented in cooperation with Tokyo National ResearchInstitute for Cultural Properties (under National Institutes for Cultural Heritage). IRCI’s
research team visited Philippines, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Myanmar, Vanuatu, and Viet
Nam in FY 2016 to understand the current situation, and to establish cooperative
relationships. The International Working Group Session held in January 2017 provided
an opportunity for researchers from the Philippines, Fiji, Vanuatu, and Bangladesh tocome together and discuss under the shared interest of disasters and ICH. In FY 2017,
the field survey assessing current situations at the local community level is in progress,
in cooperation with researchers and organisations in Fiji, Myanmar, Philippines,
Vanuatu, and Viet Nam. Case studies dealing with various disasters and socio-culturalsituations will be provided towards the end of FY 2017. All these activities will constitutethe foundation of the 2018 workshop.
Activity details:
1. A regional workshop is planned for 3 days in Japan, in the fall of 2018 or later, incooperation with the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties(Department of ICH).
a) An organising committee is formed among researchers in IRCI and the Tokyo
Institute, to discuss specific themes and arrangements of the workshop.
b) Visit to the Tohoku region is considered as a possible excursion, to understand therevitalization of ICH after the March 2011 disaster. One of the workshop sessions
will be on case studies of ICH and disasters in Japan, whereby sharing various

efforts in Japan with Asia-Pacific researchers.
c) Participants are selected among the researchers who joined the FY 2017 fieldsurvey in Fiji, Myanmar, Philippines, Vanuatu, and Viet Nam. Additional participants
may be sought from other disaster-prone countries. International researchers
active in related fields may be invited as a resource person.
2. In conjunction with the workshop, a working group session involving a few coreresearchers is planned, to discuss and draft recommendations for ICH safeguarding and
DRM in the context of natural disasters.
3. The workshop proceedings are published as a project report and are made available
on IRCI’s website.
Specific outputs:
1. Workshop proceedings/project report
2. Recommendations
Project partners/cooperating researchers and organisations:
1. Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (project partner)
2. Asia-Pacific researchers in ICH as well as DRM fields who contributed to IRCI’s DRM
projects during FY2016-2017, and from other disaster-prone countries (workshop
participants)*See attached PDM (IRCI/2017/6GB/9/Annex 2d) for the detailed project design.

Activity Focus II. Research on ICH Safeguarding and Disaster Risk Management

Study of Emergency Protection of ICH in Conflict-Affected Countries in Asia
Period of implementation: FY 2017-2020
Geographic focus: Conflict-affected countries in Asia
Background: Armed conflicts have negative impacts on local people, including thebearers and practitioners of ICH. Under such circumstances, ICH that has beentransmitted by people from generation to generation could disappear or face the dangerof extinction in the immediate term, due to various factors such as the loss of life andforced displacement.
There has been a growing international attention on the emergency protection ofcultural heritage that has been threatened/damaged by conflicts, and UNESCO’s

Medium-Term Strategy for 2014-2021 (37C/4) also emphasises the importance of
responding to post-conflict and post-disaster situations. However, major efforts focus
on tangible cultural heritage, while the situation of ICH in this context has not beenstudied and thus remains largely unknown. Therefore, this project tries to assess thesituation of ICH that has been affected by conflict, by conducting case studies inselected regions of conflict-affected countries in Asia. In consideration of potential
difficulties in implementing research, priority is given to the northern and eastern

provinces of Sri Lanka 2, while possible implementation of research is sought for otherconflict-affected countries such as Timor-Leste and Afghanistan 3.

Purpose: This project aims to examine ICH under conflict-affected situations, andspecify the risk factors that threaten the viability of ICH. Through the implementation ofcase studies, the project also discusses possible safeguarding measures andmethodologies for mapping community’s ICH in conflict-affected situations. The projectis expected to contribute to the enhancement of research and discussions on ICH in
conflict-affected situations, and particularly the community-based approach, while
contributing to the development of possible measures for ICH revitalisation.
Progress/preparatory activities (during/before FY 2017): In the past, IRCI had
implemented projects focusing on the safeguarding of ICH elements in Timor-Leste and
Sri Lanka. This project is partly built on the experiences and cooperative partnershipthat were developed during the course of these undertakings.
During FY 2017, IRCI first tried to identify project partners in each target country. For
Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste, potential partners have been sought through focal points
established in the past project activities. For Afghanistan, IRCI has been consulting
UNESCO Kabul Office and government sections to request for their cooperation, while
conducting archival research to identify potential partners. In this process, it wasrecognised that understanding the ICH situation in the conflict-affected country as awhole is difficult. Alternatively, the project will be implemented as pilot case studies in
specific areas/regions in each country. IRCI is currently preparing a questionnaire, tounderstand the current situation of ICH in the target area.
New PDM has been drafted, reflecting the above-mentioned development of the
project.
Activity details:
1. Based on the information collected through the questionnaire, further data collection
and survey on the current situation of ICH are conducted in FY 2018 for the
aforementioned countries to identify remaining ICH elements.
2 Northern and Eastern Province of Sri Lanka which severely affected by the civil war (1983-2009).
3 Since emergency situations quickly evolve, some flexibility is maintained for the choice of the country.

a) Data collection and analysis are implemented as case studies, by focusing on
specific areas/regions of the country. Data collection focuses on specific ICH
categories that characterise the study area, rather than mapping all remaining ICH
elements.
b) Means of collecting ICH data is discussed with respective project partners andresearchers of each country, since suitable methodologies may vary depending onsocio-political situations and stability of the target areas.
2. Remaining ICH elements are identified and listed, while methodologies forinventorying/recording ICH under conflict-affected situations are discussed.
3. An intensive workshop is held in Tokyo for 2 days, toward the end of FY 2018.
a) It aims to discuss the progress and findings of the survey, and challenges identified
during the survey in order to outline possible safeguarding measures in theseregions. It also examines effective strategies for assessing community’s ICH in
conflict-affected situations, reflecting the community-based needs identification
methodology that was recently developed by UNESCO.
b) Participants are invited from the aforementioned countries (3 participants fromeach country). A few ICH experts are also invited as resource person.
4. Further activities in the following years are discussed in the process of implementing
the FY 2018 activities, which should examine effective safeguarding measures andplans for cooperative research activities in the future.
Specific outputs:
Recommendations for possible safeguarding measures and the proposals forcooperative future research activities
Project partners/cooperating researchers and organisations:
UNESCO Kabul Office, and other UNESCO offices
National Crafts Council of Sri Lanka; Ministry of Education and Culture of Timor-Leste;
and Ministry of Information and Culture of Afghanistan (Project Partner)
Experts in ICH safeguarding (Resource Person)*See attached PDM (IRCI/2017/6GB/9/Annex 2e) for the detailed project design.

3. Cooperation with Sakai City

In accordance with its Medium-term Programme (2016-2020), and within theframework of its mandate as specified in Article 4 of the Agreement between UNESCO
and the Government of Japan, IRCI has been contributing to the projects carried out by
Sakai City for promoting ICH to the general public.
In FY 2018, IRCI will contribute to ‘The Tokyo Symposium 2018 on Cultural Heritage,’organised by Sakai City in possible partnership with National Institutes for Cultural
Heritage, Japan (NICH). This activity is planned and organised by Sakai City with its
own budget. The symposium is currently scheduled to be held in July 2018 at the Tokyo
National Museum.
IRCI provides an updated panel display introducing its activities for ICH safeguarding,along with distributing its updated brochures and reports. This activity will not only
raise the public awareness of the importance of the ICH but also promote the visibilityof IRCI to the large public in Tokyo.