The first meeting of the Bureau of the nineteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee was held on 5 March 2024, chaired by H.E. Ms Nancy Ovelar de Gorostiaga, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Paraguay to UNESCO.

Four International Assistance projects, including an emergency request and two projects in Africa, was examined and approved. A total of nearly US$ 400,000 is granted from the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund.

• Hungary is granted US$ 99,710 for the emergency request Safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage of Ukrainian displaced persons in the country. The project aims to develop a methodology for engaging museums with the Ukrainian communities displaced in Hungary, while supporting the safeguarding of their living heritage.
• Côte d’Ivoire is supported with a US$ 100,000 grant for the safeguarding and the promotion of the element Gbofe of Afounkaha, the music of the transverse trumps of the Tagbana community, inscribed on the Representative List in 2008.
• Kazakhstan is granted US$ 99,600 for the Revision of its national intangible cultural heritage inventory and capacity-building on the implementation of the 2003 Convention for the local communities in five of its provinces. This is the first time Kazakhstan benefits from the International Assistance mechanism of the Convention.
• Finally, in Uganda the Fund will provide US$ 99,601 to consolidate and upscale the efforts of community museums to safeguard the six intangible cultural heritage elements inscribed on the Lists. As the second phase of the project Strengthening the capacity of community museums to promote inscribed intangible cultural heritage elements, the aim is to train seven additional community museums. Uganda consistent approach affirms the pivotal role community museums play in safeguarding and transmitting intangible cultural heritage, whilst enhancing public awareness of its social and cultural significance.

The Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund provides dedicated resources for States parties to implement a wide range of programs, projects and activities dedicated to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, such as community-based inventorying, awareness-raising or specific activities such as safeguarding living heritage in emergencies.

The Bureau members of the nineteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee are: Germany, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam, Angola and Mauritania.