Financial Regulations of the Special Account for the Fund for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.pdf

Article 1 Establishment of the Intangible Heritage Special Account

1.1 Article 25 of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Convention’) establishes a Fund called the Fund for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Fund’). Given the multi-donor nature of the Fund, it will be managed as a Special Account.

1.2 In accordance with Article 6.6 of the Financial Regulations of UNESCO, there is hereby created a Special Account for the Fund for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Special Account’).

1.3 The following regulations shall govern the operation of the Special Account.

Article 2 Financial period

The financial period shall correspond to that of UNESCO.

Article 3 Purpose

The purpose of this Special Account shall be to receive contributions from the sources indicated in Article 4.1 below and to make payments therefrom, to assist in the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in accordance with the terms of the Convention and the present Regulations.

Article 4 Income

4.1 In accordance with Article 25.3 of the Convention, the income of the Special Account shall consist of:

     (a) contributions made by States Parties to the Convention, in accordance with its Article 26;

     (b) funds appropriated for this purpose by the General Conference of UNESCO;

     (c) contributions, gifts or bequests which may be made by:

          (i) other States;

          (ii) organizations and programmes of the United Nations system, particularly the United Nations Development Programme, as well as other international organizations;

          (iii) public or private bodies or individuals;

     (d) any interest due on the resources of the Special Account;

     (e) funds raised through collections, and receipts from events organized for the benefit of the Special Account;

     (f) any other resources authorized by the Committee.

4.2 As stipulated in Article 26.1 of the Convention, the contributions of States Parties which have not made the declaration referred to in Article 26.2 of the Convention shall be made according to the uniform percentage determined by the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention.

Article 5 Expenditure

5.1 In accordance with Article 25.4 of the Convention, the use of the resources of the Special Account by the Committee shall be decided on the basis of guidelines laid down by the General Assembly.

5.2 The Special Account shall be debited with the expenditure relating to its purpose as described in Article 3 above, including direct administrative expenses specifically relating to it.

5.3 Expenditure shall be made within the limits of funds available.

Article 6 Reserve Fund

Within the Special Account there shall be established a reserve fund to meet requests for assistance in cases of extreme urgency, as foreseen in Article 17.3 and 22.2 of the Convention. The amount of the reserve shall be determined by the Committee.

Article 7 Accounts

7.1 The UNESCO Comptroller shall maintain such accounting records as are necessary.

7.2 Any unused balance at the end of a financial period shall be carried forward to the following financial period.

7.3 The accounts of the Special Account shall be presented for audit to the External Auditor of UNESCO, together with the other accounts of the Organization.

7.4 Contributions in kind shall be recorded outside the Special Account.

7.5 The accounts shall be submitted by the Director-General to the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention.

Article 8 Investments

8.1 The Director-General may make short-term investments of sums standing to the credit of the Special Account.

8.2 Interest earned on these investments shall be credited to the Special Account.

Article 9 General provision

Unless otherwise provided in these Regulations, the Special Account shall be administered in accordance with the Financial Regulations of UNESCO.