International Secretariat
The International Secretariat supports countries in implementing the TASH Standard and serves the TASH Board.
Temporarily headquartered in Limbe, Cameroon — a city associated with the transatlantic slave trade and the historic Bimbia Door of No Return — the International Secretariat is a small team composed mostly of members from implementing, descendant, and supporting countries. The International Secretariat oversees the TASH Association and supports more than 20 countries in implementing the TASH Standard. Our work spans country support, policy, communications, data analysis, and administration.
With over 25 countries represented among our staff, we value our differences in backgrounds, culture, perspectives, and languages. We believe those differences are an important part of what drives innovation and progress in our field.
The International Secretariat collaborates closely with governments, traditional authorities, civil society organizations, academic institutions, museums, memorial organizations, diaspora communities, and international partners to advance the objectives of the TASH Standard.
Our goal is to support the creation of a global standard for remembrance, dignity, reconciliation, and historical accountability for the victims of the transatlantic slave trade. We assist member countries in preserving and promoting Doors of No Return and other embarkation sites; facilitating the respectful documentation and symbolic repatriation of soil from sites of enslavement; strengthening historical education and public awareness; and fostering meaningful connections between Africa and Afro-descendant communities worldwide.
Our culture is underpinned by our values of dignity, integrity, historical truth, inclusivity, professionalism, and respect for cultural diversity. With staff, advisors, and partners representing a broad range of countries, cultures, languages, and lived experiences, we recognize that our diversity strengthens our ability to preserve memory, promote understanding, and advance international cooperation.
Through collaboration, research, and service to our member countries, the International Secretariat helps ensure that the histories, legacies, and final journeys of millions of enslaved Africans are permanently honored, preserved, and never forgotten.
Recognized as
Limbe, CM
20+
25+
TASH National Secretariats
Sustaining implementation on the ground
Implementation of the Transatlantic Slaves Homecoming and Door-of-No-Return Standard (TASH Standard) requires sustained attention to day-to-day activities that support governments, traditional authorities, descendant communities, memorial institutions, academic bodies, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders in carrying out their responsibilities.
Among the commitments associated with TASH implementation is the ability to mobilize financial, institutional, and technical resources necessary to advance memorialization, historical preservation, reconciliation, cultural restoration, education, and the respectful symbolic repatriation of soil from sites of enslavement.
One of the most effective ways to accomplish these objectives is to establish a National TASH Secretariat staffed by dedicated personnel responsible for coordinating implementation activities, supporting national stakeholder structures, facilitating international cooperation, and ensuring that decisions adopted by TASH governing bodies are properly executed.
The structure, mandate, and functions of National TASH Secretariats may vary according to national circumstances, legal systems, institutional capacities, and historical contexts. Governments may determine the most appropriate institutional arrangements for hosting and supervising National Secretariats while ensuring adequate independence, accountability, transparency, and stakeholder participation.
1. Establishing a National Secretariat
Considerations, steps, and functions
Participating countries are encouraged to establish a National TASH Secretariat shortly after adopting the TASH Standard or expressing formal intent to participate in the Transatlantic Slaves Homecoming initiative.
Experience from international memorial and heritage initiatives demonstrates that dedicated institutions are essential for coordinating stakeholders, preserving continuity, managing international partnerships, and ensuring sustained implementation.
National Secretariats may be established through:
- Legislation
- Presidential or ministerial decrees
- Executive orders
- Government regulations
- Formal designation of an existing government office or institution
Countries can select the approach best suited to their constitutional and administrative structures. Formal legal establishment may be beneficial where Secretariats are expected to receive grants and donations; enter into agreements with domestic and international partners; manage soil repatriation programs; coordinate international memorial activities; procure consultants and service providers; and maintain national archives and historical databases.
Most countries may choose to place the National Secretariat within the government institution responsible for heritage, culture, diaspora affairs, historical preservation, education, tourism, foreign affairs, or national memorialization.
Locating the Secretariat within a lead government institution may strengthen coordination with relevant ministries while providing sufficient authority to engage stakeholders and international partners. Countries may also establish autonomous or semi-autonomous secretariats where national circumstances warrant greater institutional independence.
Countries are encouraged to appoint a National Coordinator who serves as head of the National TASH Secretariat. The National Coordinator typically:
- Oversees Secretariat operations
- Serves as the primary point of contact for stakeholders
- Represents the country within the international TASH network
- Coordinates implementation of national TASH commitments
- Ensures execution of decisions adopted by national governing bodies
Some countries may appoint senior government officials as National Coordinators to demonstrate high-level political commitment. Others may recruit coordinators through open and competitive processes. In determining the most appropriate arrangement, countries may consider:
Ability to Build Trust
The National Coordinator should possess the ability to engage respectfully with diverse stakeholders, including descendant communities, traditional authorities, academic institutions, religious leaders, governments, civil society organizations, and international partners. Because TASH implementation involves sensitive historical issues, the ability to maintain trust and impartiality is especially important.
Familiarity with Government Systems
National Coordinators with experience in public administration may be better positioned to coordinate intergovernmental activities, secure resources, and facilitate implementation across ministries and agencies.
Functions of the National Secretariat
Administrative, technical, and substantive support
National Secretariats provide administrative, technical, historical, educational, cultural, and operational support necessary for implementation of the TASH Standard. While national circumstances may require additional responsibilities, the following functions represent common practice.
- Provide administrative support to national TASH governing bodies.
- Organize meetings, consultations, conferences, ceremonies, and stakeholder forums.
- Maintain records of meetings and implementation activities.
- Coordinate communication among stakeholders.
- Prepare annual work plans, budgets, and implementation reports.
- Manage procurement processes for consultants and service providers.
- Maintain archives relating to TASH activities.
- Coordinate international exchanges and partnerships.
- Monitor implementation progress and report regularly to governing bodies.
- Manage grants, donations, and financial resources dedicated to TASH implementation.
- Maintain registries of participating institutions and memorial sites.
- Conduct or commission research on slave embarkation sites, slave routes, and Doors of No Return.
- Support documentation of local histories, oral traditions, and cultural memory.
- Collaborate with historians, archaeologists, genealogists, and academic institutions.
- Coordinate the collection, documentation, transportation, preservation, and ceremonial transfer of symbolic soil from sites of enslavement.
- Develop procedures ensuring dignity, authenticity, transparency, and cultural sensitivity.
- Maintain records associated with all soil repatriation initiatives.
- Support preservation and restoration of Doors of No Return and associated heritage sites.
- Promote recognition of lesser-known embarkation locations.
- Coordinate with national heritage authorities and international preservation organizations.
- Develop educational materials and curricula.
- Promote public awareness campaigns.
- Organize exhibitions, lectures, conferences, and commemorative events.
- Support academic research relating to the transatlantic slave trade.
- Facilitate dialogue between African nations and Afro-descendant communities worldwide.
- Promote cultural exchange and reconnection initiatives.
- Assist governments in developing frameworks for ancestral reconnection programs.
- Coordinate engagement with other TASH member countries.
- Participate in international conferences and technical exchanges.
- Share lessons learned and best practices.
- Support harmonization of implementation approaches across participating countries.
- Maintain websites and digital platforms.
- Publish reports, newsletters, educational materials, and media releases.
- Promote awareness of the TASH Standard nationally and internationally.
- Document ceremonies, memorial projects, and historical preservation activities.
- Conduct policy research.
- Prepare recommendations and technical papers.
- Support legislative and regulatory reforms relevant to memorialization, heritage preservation, diaspora engagement, and cultural restoration.
Funding
Long-term sustainability
Long-term sustainability of National TASH Secretariats requires predictable and adequate funding. Funding sources may include national government budgets, international grants, development partners, philanthropic foundations, memorial and heritage funds, and voluntary contributions.
As a matter of good practice, governments are encouraged to progressively integrate Secretariat funding into regular public budgets to ensure sustainability and institutional continuity.