Actions and strategies of international cooperation for the creation of the National Archive of Guinea-Bissau

This article examines the collaborative efforts of the Guinea-Bissau government, Portuguese and Brazilian public institutions, and universities to establish a national archive for the country, ensuring both legal and ethical compliance. It presents preliminary findings from the Project for the Preservation and Conservation of the Documentary Historical Heritage of Guinea-Bissau, funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Peacebuilding Fund in Guinea-Bissau.A key component of this project was a training course for technicians and administrators involved in archival and document management within Guinea-Bissau's public sector, led by professors from Brazil and Portugal. The methodology employed combined a narrative of experience, detailing the historical, geographical, and institutional context of public archives in Guinea-Bissau and the project's objectives, with a critical analysis based on bibliographic and documentary research, as well as on-site observation and action. The findings highlight a substantial amount of work remaining to address the challenges facing the creation of Guinea-Bissau's national archive, as well as the development and implementation of comprehensive archival policies and document management programs within the country.