AADF and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport sign agreement for the second package of Albanian UNESCO nominations

The Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF) and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport signed today a Memorandum of Understanding / Framework Agreement to advance the preparation of the second package of nomination files for Albanian elements to be inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists and the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.

This collaboration builds on the successful partnership between AADF and Albanian institutions during the first nomination cycle, which led to the inscription of four important elements of Albania’s intangible cultural heritage on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List: Xhubleta, Transhumance, the Tropoja Dance, and Lahuta.

“The preservation of cultural heritage should not take place in isolation; it should be shared with others. Through our partnership with the Ministry, Albania is not only strengthening the appreciation of its own heritage, but also positioning itself to share it with the world. Together, we have achieved important results through UNESCO, and we are building on this momentum to position Albania as a global leader in intangible cultural heritage. This is not only about preserving the past, but about investing in the future — creating opportunities for our citizens and opening Albania to the world.”
— Mr. Michael D. Granoff, Chairman of the Board of AADF

The second package will include elements that are already part of the national register of intangible cultural heritage and meet all the required criteria for nomination in full compliance with UNESCO’s technical standards.

The proposed elements are:

• “Toast” (Dollia) – the Albanian ritual of hospitality, for the Representative List;
• Knowledge and tradition of wearing the plis, for the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding;
• The National Folklore Festival of Gjirokastra, for the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices;
• Spring rituals – “Moti i Madh”, for the Representative List, as a multinational nomination with Italy.

Under this agreement, AADF will support the process financially with a dedicated fund of USD 350,000, covering the research phase and the preparation of all nomination file components through the engagement of national and international experts.

This role positions AADF as a supporting partner in strengthening institutional and professional capacities for the preparation of high-quality nomination dossiers, contributing to the safeguarding, promotion, and international recognition of Albania’s intangible cultural heritage.

“The new Memorandum between the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports and the Albanian-American Development Foundation represents a strategic step toward the future. This collaboration aims to support the preparation and submission of four new nomination files for UNESCO inscription. The process is expected to be structured and supported both financially and technically. Its goal is to strengthen Albania’s presence on the international cultural stage, while also creating a sustainable model of interinstitutional cooperation. This is a long-term investment in our national identity.”
— Mr. Blendi Gonxhja, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports

Building on the experience gained from previous successful nominations, the expert groups engaged in this process will be composed of specialists proposed by research institutions with expertise in the study of intangible cultural phenomena. The formal submission of the dossiers will be led by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, while the evaluation process and final decisions regarding inscription remain subject to UNESCO’s internal assessment procedures.

Today’s ceremony served as the first public presentation of the four proposed elements, marking the official launch of the joint work on this next step toward promoting Albania’s most distinguished intangible cultural heritage values on the international stage.