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

Adopted by the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage at its first extraordinary session (Chengdu, China, 23 to 27 May 2007), revised by the General Assembly of the States Parties to the Convention at its eighth session (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, 8 to 10 September 2020)

Article 1 Creation of a 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’).

1.2 In accordance with Article 25 of the Convention and Article 6, paragraphs 5 and 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

2.1 The financial period for budget estimates shall be two consecutive calendar years beginning with an even-numbered year.

2.2 The financial period for accounting shall be an annual calendar year.

Article 3 Purpose

In accordance with Article 25 of the Convention, the purpose of this Special Account shall be to receive contributions from the sources indicated in Article 5.1 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 Governance

4.1 The General Assembly of the States Parties (hereinafter referred to as the 'General Assembly' has authority over the appropriation of the resources under this Special Account.

4.2 In accordance with Article 7 of the Convention, the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (hereinafter referred to as the 'Committee') shall prepare and submit to the General Assembly for approval a draft plan for the use of the resources of the Fund, in accordance with Article 25 of the Convention.

4.3 The Director-General shall manage and administer the funds of the Special Account in accordance with the text of the Convention, the Operational Directives, the decisions approved by the General Assembly and the Committee, and the present Financial Regulations.

4.4 The Director-General shall, every two years, submit to the General Assembly and the Committee narrative and financial reports as indicated under Article 10 below.

Article 5 Income

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

(a) contributions made by States Parties;

(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.

5.2 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.

Article 6 Expenditure

6.1 The use of the resources of the Special Account shall be approved by the General Assembly on a biennial basis.

6.2 The Special Account shall be debited with the expenditure relating to its purpose as described in Article 3 above, including administrative expenses specifically relating to it and management costs applicable.

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

Article 7 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 8 Accounts

8.1 Subsidiary Accounts may be established by the General Assembly and the Committee.

8.2 The Chief Financial Officer of UNESCO shall maintain such accounting records as are necessary.

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

8.4 The accounts of the Special Account shall be part of the consolidated financial statements presented for audit to the External Auditor of UNESCO.

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

Article 9 Investments

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

9.2 Revenue from these investments shall be credited to the Special Account in line with UNESCO's Financial Rules.

Article 10 Reporting

10.1 A biennial financial report showing the income and expenditure under the Special Account shall be prepared and submitted to the Committee and the General Assembly.

10.2 A biennial narrative report shall be submitted to the Committee and the General Assembly.

Article 11 Closure of the Special Account

11.1 The Director-General shall consult the General Assembly at such time as he/she deems that the operation of the Special Account is no longer necessary. Such consultation shall cover the decision on the use of any unspent balance.

11.2 The decision of the General Assembly shall be transmitted to the Executive Board prior to the effective closure of the Special Account.

Article 12 General provisions

12.1 Any amendment to these Financial Regulations shall be approved by the General Assembly. The Executive Board shall be informed accordingly of any such amendments.

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