.

Mr Sayidafzal Mallakhanov obtained a Bachelor’s Degree (2000) and a Master’s Degree (2002) from the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies. Since 2002 he is working at the National Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan for UNESCO (Senior Expert/Deputy Secretary-General).\n\nHe was the coordinator for preparation following multinational and national nominations to the Representative List of ICH and Good Practices for ICH Safeguarding: “Katta Ashula”, Askiya”, “Navruz”, “Palov Culture and Tradition”, “Margilan Crafts Development Center: Safeguarding of the Atlas and Adras Making Traditional Technologies”, “Khorazm Dance – Lazgi”, “Miniature Art”, “Bakhshi Arts”, “Telling tradition of Nasreddin Hodja”, “Art of crafting and playing Robāb/Rubāb/Rubob”, “Traditional embroidery of Central Asia”, “Traditional folk games of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan”, “Sericulture and Traditional Production of Silk for Weaving”. Moreover, Mr Sayidafzal Mallakhanov was also coordinator of the Uzbekistan -ICHCAP Cooperative Project: Publishing an ICH Inventory Booklet (2015-2017) and the ICHCAP Project on Conducting ICH Video Documentation in Uzbekistan (2015-2018).\n

Graduating in 1980 with a Bachelor of Business Studies from Massey University in New Zealand, Galumalemana has always been most interested in art, cultural heirtage and human rights. In 2006, together with his wife Wendy, they established the Tiapapata Art Centre Inc., a charitable trust promoting traditional and contemporary arts and crafts in Samoa. He has amassed an extensive photographic and video record of many of Samoa’s most iconic expressions of material culture and has been associated as a Research Fellow to the National University of Samoa on gender issues.

Aidai Asangulova is one of the famous craftswomen in Kyrgyzstan and the head of the “Kiyiz Duino” Public Foundation. \n\nThe goal of PF “Kiyiz Duino” is to revive and safeguard traditional knowledge and skills related to crafts and the cultural space around it. “Kiyiz Duino” aims to draw general public attention to Kyrgyz traditions and customs; show people how a person can coexist with the surrounding nature in harmony, use its gifts without causing it harm; explain how important it is to take care of nature and preserve its purity for future generations.\n\nThe Foundation holds various community-based events, such as workshops on making Kyrgyz traditional clothing, or festivals to popularize traditional rituals and practices from local to national levels. They also actively cooperate in the safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage with governmental and nongovernmental institutions, participate in field trips, conduct research, and document ICH elements. \n\n“Kiyiz Duino” has contributed greatly to the preparation of nomination files as “Ak-kalpak craftsmanship, traditional knowledge and skills in making and wearing Kyrgyz men’s headwear” and “Elechek, Kyrgyz female headwear: traditional knowledge and rituals”.\n

Chairperson of Maldives Authentic Crafts Cooperate Society (MACCS) and an advisory board member of Homenet South Asia, Aminath has been dedicating her work to the revival of traditional handicraft in the Maldives and empowering homebased workers, especially women. With Aminath’s leadership, MACCS has facilitated the market for buying and selling some traditional handicrafts while creating and establishing a network of homebased workers and crafters across the country. The women led corporative, MACCS has also completed projects on restoration and regeneration for natural vegetation, strengthening the livelihood initiative of homebased workers in the SAARC region, strengthening of market links for sustainable hau cultivation in Fiyori, livelihood support program for wetland management-climate change adaptation and piloting alternatives to single use plastic bags in Male’ amongst others. Aminath, has documented various traditional crafts emphasizing the need for supporting sustainable livelihood activities