UNESCO & international work
Nigel Encalada's international practice centers on the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage — the global treaty through which nations protect the traditions, performances, knowledge, and craft that define who they are. As a member of UNESCO's network of Global Facilitators, he trains government officials and communities, advises on national policy, evaluates international nominations, and helps living traditions win recognition on the world stage.
In 2023 he chaired the twelve-member Evaluation Body of the Convention — the expert panel that assesses every nomination submitted by states from around the world — a role that placed him at the apex of international decision-making on intangible heritage.
Roles
Botswana · 2023 (member 2021–2024)
Chaired the twelve-member expert body responsible for evaluating global nominations to the Convention's lists of intangible cultural heritage.
2021–2024 — Evaluated over 200 nominations submitted by State Parties for inscription.
Led international consensus on which of the world's living traditions merit UNESCO recognition.
Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Latin America · 2014–2024
Participated in and led fieldwork and capacity-building workshops on the 2003 Convention in Belize, Barbados, Beijing, Bonaire, Curaçao, Jamaica, Paris, Sint Maarten, Suriname, St. Kitts & Nevis, Grenada, the Netherlands, and Peru, as well as online workshops for representatives of the Latin America and Caribbean bloc.
Government officials and communities across four continents trained to safeguard their own living heritage.
Belize · 2012–2021
Served as Belize's National Focal Point for the Convention and Head of Delegation to the 9th–14th Intergovernmental Meetings, held in Colombia, Mauritius, South Korea, Ethiopia, Namibia, and France.
Represented Belize in the governance of a global heritage treaty over nearly a decade.
St. Kitts & Nevis · 2023–2024
Advised on the national Policy and Legislative Framework for Living Cultural Heritage.
A sovereign legal foundation for protecting the federation's intangible culture.
Belize · 2022–2023
UNESCO Consultant for the culture sector of the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment after Hurricane Lisa, and workshop facilitator on safeguarding intangible heritage in emergencies in SIDS.
Culture embedded in national disaster recovery planning.
EU Overseas Countries & Territories · 2022
Assessed international funding applications for safeguarding cultural heritage across EU Overseas Countries & Territories and Outermost Regions.
Helped direct European heritage funding to where it matters most.
Inscriptions
Technical and community expertise behind successful — and pending — nominations to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Belize · Inscribed December 2025
Community Coordinator and Technical Expert, with S. Solis (ISCR) and the National Kriol Council.
Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List.
Barbados · Inscribed December 2025
Technical expert with the Barbados Ministry of Culture, Office of the Prime Minister.
Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List.
St. Kitts & Nevis · Decision expected Dec 2027
Technical Expert preparing the nomination with the Department of Cultural Heritage.
Awaiting evaluation for possible inscription.
In the field
Missions, meetings, and fieldwork across the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
