This workshop is the first of a series of three to be organized for African states. The second will involve States non-parties to the Convention in Central and Western Africa, and the third will bring together States Parties to the Convention from sub-Saharan African. These workshops are a follow-up to the sub-regional meeting organized by the UNESCO Section of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Dar es Salaam in November 2006 on the implementation of the 2003 Convention and inventorying intangible heritage.

The objectives are to:

• inform African non-States Parties about the Convention and, in particular, the preparation of nomination files for inscriptions on the Lists of the Convention;
• provide advice for preparing requests for international assistance, and;
• encourage the ratification of the 2003 Convention.

The workshop is co-organized by the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) of the South African Government and the UNESCO Offices in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Harare, Maputo and Windhoek.