1. The Centre has as its objective to contribute to the achievement of the strategic objectives and intended results of the programme of UNESCO in relation to the lines of action in the field of intangible cultural heritage and its safeguarding in the Region, notably:
2. to promote the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage at the national and regional levels by the effective implementation of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage;
3. to consolidate and strengthen national capacities for the identification and safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in the countries of the Region;
4. to strengthen cooperation between the countries of the Region in this field;
5. The functions of the Centre are:
6. to encourage States in the Region to adopt policy measures and legislative and administrative measures as provided for in Article 13 of the Convention;
7. to organize activities (i) to strengthen the national capacities of countries in the Region in the areas of identification, documentation, developing inventories and the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage present on their territories in accordance with the Convention and its Operational Guidelines, and (ii) to assist these countries to preserve and digitize multimedia data concerning this heritage;
8. to stimulate and organize cooperation in the exchange of experiences, expertise and information among countries of the Region, particularly in regard to the intangible cultural heritage found in two or more of these countries;
9. to facilitate networking among practitioners, communities, experts, officials, centres of expertise, research institutes, museums, archives, and other organizations and institutions active in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage at the regional, sub-regional and national levels;
10. to contribute to a better understanding of the intangible cultural heritage at the local, national, subregional and regional levels, and to raise awareness among the general public, especially the younger generations, of the importance of intangible cultural heritage, including by means of publications.

The activities necessary to achieve these objectives and functions will be planned and implemented in consultation with UNESCO.