Under the overall goal to enhance the capacity for the UCH safeguarding, the objectives of this consultancy are to support the national process towards ratification (or implementation) of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage 2001 (UCH Convention) by developing recommendations based on analysis on the two aspects; i) UCH-related policies/laws/legislation and ii) UCH-related programmes/initiatives, in the five states (Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau and Republic of the Marshall Islands) in Micronesia. The Assignment involves the following; • To map the current UCH-related policies/laws/legislation in the five states in Micronesia; • To map the current UCH safeguarding programme/projects both in the public and civil society sectors in the five countries in Micronesia; • To identify gaps to be addressed in order to strengthen the UCH safeguarding for sustainable development and to join (or implement) the UCH Convention; and • To provide recommendations as a way forward. In drafting the report, the following consideration were taken into account: • The diversity of types of UCH that exist in the countries concerned and their tangible and intangible aspects; • The policies/laws/legislation and Programmes/Initiatives pertaining to UCH safeguarding for sustainable development beyond the culture/heritage sector (eg. fishery, education, ocean transportation, environment, tourism, customs, climate change, etc.) • The programmes/initiatives both in the government and civil society sectors; • Linkage of UCH safeguarding to national sustainable development plan. OpenASFA input Published Not Known